FHM Asks: Well Groomed or Over Preened?

There has been a massive shift in the grooming industry all over the world. Skin and hair care brands are invested in men’s grooming like never before, and men on their part are not shying away from indulging in pampering sessions anymore. But, are the ladies impressed? We asked 8 women about men’s grooming and what becomes too much for them.

Samridhi Roy, 23, Content Creator, Chandigarh

I don’t get the obsession with beards! Taking care of it like they are living things or worse, babies. A functional care routine is understandable. You trim, you shave and you get over it. What gets me is making your bushy, overgrown beard the centre of attraction, in real life and on social media. One can do with a man who gets his manicures and pedicures done but one can’t do with a man whose hands won’t leave the tangles of his beard. Got only one lifetime to live and love!

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Pankhurie, 21, Student, New Delhi

I appreciate effort and I like a well groomed man. But what irks me is the overuse of hair products; all kinds of gels, serums and sprays. Men now a days make sure that every single strand on their head is gelled and set, nothing should be out of place. Whatever happened to the messy mop? I get it that you’re trying to style your hair and you want to keep them away from damage. I do. But lay easy on the products. Messy hair have their own charm, especially when we want to run our fingers through them.

Amrita Ahuja, 24, Creative Writer, Mumbai

The biggest turn off for me is the practice of using hand sanitizer all the time. I mean it is good to keep yourself clean and everything but taking out a sanitizer from your pocket every other minute becomes too much. Too much! Oh and don’t get me started on chest waxing and eyebrow threading. That’s extremely common now and puts me off instantly. Let’s not forget ruggedness and toughness are still some of the qualities that women get attracted to. I guess excess of everything, even grooming is bad!

Shrestha Mudgal, 24, Market Researcher, New Delhi

I am okay with almost everything but the usage of an entire bottle of the most generic fragrance in one go is a big no for me. It is so off putting when men use excessive amounts of fragrances on their clothes and themselves. I think they need to be subtle in their grooming endeavours. You may think that the Axe advertisements are the gospel truth when it comes to women getting attracted towards men but they are not. I can speak for myself and my sisterhood that we would rather get a whiff than a lot of sneezes.

Sanya Husain, 22, Student, Pune

I know vanity is different from grooming but I think some people including men, don’t. I absolutely detest when men keep ruffling their hair trying to set them. In addition to all the hair setting, they also keep checking themselves out in the mirror, in their phones or in every reflective surface possible. I don’t think the hair on their head would turn grey or disappear if they don’t look at them or run their fingers through them constantly. I am sure it is something most men dislike in a woman too.

Monika Upneja, 25, Business Development Manager, Hyderabad

I am all for a well groomed man. I wouldn’t have it any other way actually. But I can’t take it when they get extremely obsessed with keeping their shoes clean. What’s funny is that I totally get the importance of clean shoes but you have to let up sometimes. You polished them or washed them, now you are out in the open. They will definitely have a speck here or there. So, just let your shoes be! There is absolutely no point in cleaning or fussing over them multiple times in a day.

Preksha Jain, 22, Student, Mumbai

When men get their eyebrows threaded! All cool, it is their choice. But when the threaded brows start getting leaner and leaner, all hell breaks loose for me. I can’t look at them. Women too are aiming for fuller eyebrows now. But I have recently noticed a few men with extremely shaped eyebrows. Those thin lines did not look good on Joey Tribbiani; they are definitely not going to look good on you. I appreciate a neat and clean eyebrow but an excessively shaped, thin pair does nothing for me. It is repulsive!

Deachan Angmo, 24, Artist, Ladakh

I loved it when most men started getting their manicures and pedicures. It was fantastic to see clean nails. Under arms waxing was necessary too, for the sake of hygiene. A waxed chest is bearable too. But waxing the hair off the arms and legs. Woah! What’s happening? I think men look absolutely fine with hair on their arms and legs, more than fine. And they should not get them waxed. Not in the name of grooming, not in the name of cleanliness and not in the name of hygiene. Not at all.

From the December 2018 issue of FHM India.