25 new rules for looking (and smelling, and feeling) good

Every year brings new grooming trends, and with TikTok-fuelled hype and outdated routines clashing, it’s easy to feel lost. So, we asked top pros—celebrity hairstylists, skincare experts, and fragrance wizards—how to really glow up in 2025. Here’s what they had to say.

1. Know Your Face (and Hair)

Josh Knight (Paul Mescal’s stylist) says the right haircut depends on your face shape. Got a square jaw? Add height. Heart-shaped? Try a mod-style cut.

2. Love Your Lips

Lip balms aren’t optional. Get one with SPF, stash it in every pocket, and avoid sunburned smackers.

3. Bring Back Braids

Cornrows with patterns, beads, and clamps are making a return. Toni & Guy’s Dexter Dapper says they’re both expressive and protective.

4. Be Gentle With Skincare

Stop scrubbing your face like you’re cleaning a pan. Let SPF and creams sit and form a barrier, says Isamaya Ffrench.

5. Don’t Blind Buy Perfume

Spray, wait an hour, then decide. Roja Dove insists that scent evolves over time, so let it breathe before you buy.

6. Build a Skin Recovery Routine

Post-workout? Your skin needs recovery too. Think of it like muscle repair, says Carole Bamford.

7. Change Your Haircut (Once in a While)

Jody Taylor says men stick to the same haircut for years. Try something new—you might be surprised.

8. Use a Diffuser

Maxwell Oakley says a diffuser gives air-dried texture with less puff. Perfect for waves or curls.

9. Ignore the Gender Tag on Fragrance

Perfumes don’t need to say “for men” to smell amazing. Lyn Harris says: if it suits you, wear it.

10. Don’t Overload on Hair Product

Too much pomade = helmet hair. Ollie Cox recommends starting with a little and adding more if needed.

11. Don’t Overclean Your Skin

Scrubbing too hard or too often makes your skin irritated and dry. Shane Cooper says: protect the skin barrier.

12. Go Easy on the Hair Dye

See grey? Don’t panic. Sam McKnight suggests going a shade lighter to keep things natural.

13. Upgrade Your Shower Head

Hayden Cassidy says a filter protects hair and scalp from hard water and pollutants. Worth it.

14. Wash Pillowcases More Often

Before blaming your products for breakouts, clean your sheets. Angelo Mitakos swears by it.

15. Treat Your Nails Right

Cuticle oil is a game-changer. No more dry, cracked skin around your nails, says Itunu Oke.

16. Try That Weird Light Mask

Yes, the LED mask looks wild. But Adeela Crown says it helps with acne, collagen, and skin tone. Sci-fi glow incoming.

17. Stop Stealing Her Skincare

Men’s skin needs its own stuff. Dr. Yannis says: learn your skin type, and build your own routine.

18. Book a Pro Treatment (Sometimes)

Dr. David Jack compares it to servicing a car. Two to three skin treatments a year can boost tone and firmness.

19. Elevate Your Fade

Fades aren’t going anywhere—but burst and shadow fades are trending, says Marcia Lee. Try one with longer curls on top.

20. Invest in Skin Regeneration

Polynucleotides and Profhilo treatments hydrate and strengthen skin from within, says Dr. Suha Kersh.

21. Read the Instructions

Luke Davies says most guys just slap on product. Take a second to apply it evenly—you’ll look better instantly.

22. Chill With the Shampoo

Charlie Cullen says overwashing strips natural oils. Skip a day or two. Your waves and curls will thank you.

23. Prioritize Beauty Sleep

Eight hours boosts blood flow and collagen. Add a night mask, and wake up glowing, says Murray Clark.

24. Elevate Your Dental Routine

Go beyond basic mint. Selahatin’s gourmet toothpaste (bitter orange and grapefruit, anyone?) makes brushing luxe.

25. Keep It All Yours

At the end of the day, the best grooming routine is one that works for you. Trends come and go, but healthy habits stick.

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