April 22nd 2016

Right guys. It’s the night of your first date, and you’re looking in the mirror, pretty happy with what’s staring back. You’re looking sharp in your chinos and brogues. You’re feeling confident in your ability to order something special. The only thing playing on your mind is the facial Hair situation. What do you do? What’s most appropriate? Do you turn up clean shaven or keep the stubble? Or if you’re sporting a rugged, grizzly beard, do you let it loose in all its untamed bushy glory, or trim it back to look a bit more respectable? Well the short answer is, it doesn't really matter one way or another, so long as you look smart and tidy. Although first dates can be daunting affairs, you need to make sure you put your best self forward, and feel comfortable while doing so. Plus, it helps to appear at least a little bit similar to your profile picture. Here we take a quick look at a few tips to help you look well-kempt, whether clean shaven or not:

Stick: Keep The Facial Hair

If you want to turn up with anything from designer stubble to a full blown beard, you really need to get yourself a good quality beard trimmer. A quick trim now and again will keep you looking consistently neat and tidy. Beyond that, you need to start treating the hair on your face like the hair on your head. Make sure you shampoo and condition it regularly (but make sure you invest in some beard shampoo, as the stuff for the hair on your head will rob your Facial Hair of essential oils). Once your beard is dry, brush it through to help rid it of tugs and tangles. You should also keep your neckline trimmed to really smarten yourself up. A good rule to follow is the “two finger” rule. Place your index and middle fingers on your Adam’s apple, and then trim everything below your index finger. And don’t be afraid to grab a pair of scissors and tackle some of the rogue moustache hairs hanging down over your lips. This will help you look smarter, and make the goodnight kiss a little less, shall we say, prickly?

Twist: Go Clean Cut

If you’re showing up smooth, then make sure you exfoliate properly! This, along with a quality razor, will help you enjoy a closer and better shave, and also prevent skin irritation. Speaking of which, if you do suffer from sensitive skin, make sure you’re using fragrance and alcohol-free shaving creams and balms. And please, for the love of all that is holy, make sure you've left yourself enough time for a shave before rushing out the door. Turning up for your date covered in nicks and tiny bits of toilet paper covering your freshly self-inflicted shaving wounds is not a good look. Shave with the grain, rinsing your razor with every single stroke, before applying some moisturiser to keep your skin fresh and healthy. Then, if you absolutely must, you can slap on a conservative amount of aftershave (you really don’t want your date to smell you before she sees you).

So guys, do you Stick or twist? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter!

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