FOR THE GUYS: Keep Looking Great With These Top 10

Consider Exercise Non-negotiable 

 "The No. 1 way to improve your appearance is to get fit."

The dreaded and/or the beloved labor of love for the human spirit. You can either hate it, love it, or cope with it but it's something we all need to do to keep ourselves in tip-top shape. Besides guys we love to see you sweat lol. Yea I said it! There's nothing hotter than a guy working out and showing a discipline we rarely see anywhere else, unfortunately. I've heard the usual 30 minutes a day per workout or exercise routine. It may not be easy to do with work, home life, and other obligations so we must make it work in our lives. First thing before you start your day amp up your endorphins for a charge. It's better than starting off the day like a snail or a sloth.

Drink Eight Glasses Of Water A Day

"Staying hydrated keeps you healthy and reduces the appearance of wrinkles."

Not only does staying hydrated keeps you healthy and reduces the appearance of wrinkles it keeps you from passing out from extreme heat like what what's been going on lately with this global warming phenomenon. How many times have I seen this. I'm starting to wonder if it's even possible to drink 8 glasses of water a day without feeling the need to run to the toilet every second! The only downfall. 

Water is also in the food we eat so make sure you add fresh vegetables and fruits like watermelon, all melons, peaches, oranges. tomatoes, cucumbers, mushrooms to your diet. If water is not your thing try Gatorade which is filled with electrolytes if you're active. As a kid I didn't think I would ever like water because it was "tasteless" but over time it became customary to drink it since my mother is an avid water drinker. Now I love it. Try flavoring to add to your water if you need that taste like Crystal Light or any other brand that works for you. And I aint talking about Kool-Aid neither!

Get Eight Hours Of Sleep

"Those seven to nine hours that you should be spending unconscious every day are when your body repairs itself."

Are you wondering who really does that?!? Sometimes I wonder too, but I will say from first hand experience there was one night where I actually had 7 hours non-stop rest and felt like I could fly around the world the next day. I kid you not! It was a shame my time was spent working at a slow-moving, boring, retail store during the weekday because I felt like running a mile. When you get enough sleep in a night you will soooo notice it. I'm usually up late watching tv or blogging therefore I'm depriving myself of the beauty sleep. So guys do your mind and body a favor and hit the sack for those 8 hours and actually feel the difference the next day! If you can't do 8 then try 6-7 hours. It's way better than 2 or 3 hours. 

Unless you want everyone to see your Halloween costume early as a haggard zombie then be my guest.

Avoid Sugar And Simple Carbs

 "Lean protein. veggies, slow-digesting grains, & healthy fats will reduce bloating and decrease puffiness."

In a world of quick, accessible, and "fast" fast food many of us are forgetting how to eat "correctly." Are you getting the feeling that you're being lectured about your fruits and vegetables? Well guess what today is your lucky day... you are! Even though that double cheeseburger with thick cut fries and vanilla milkshake with the caramel drizzle is the bizness do you really think it's best to eat that everyday or more than two times a week? I mean seriously on the real, I love my burgers, fries, tacos, pasta, fried chicken and every other yummy creation known to man but you can actually get so much out of eating all the right stuff if you make it work for your taste. If you don't know how to cook then try small with already prepared meals. Check the sodium and fat content on the nutrition label, be aware if it's in a can (possibly contains a lot of sodium), packaged, or in the frozen food section (vegetables and fruits are "flash frozen" sealing in a nutritional value even more substantial than regular produce).

What I've done is taken the traditional "college student staple" ramen noodles and Hamburger Helper and opted for alternative ingredients suggested on the box with milk and butter. Use olive oil and more of it if it's mentioned. During the cooking process I've added fresh vegetables (asparagus, kale, mustard greens, arugula, spinach, various mushrooms, green, red, and orange peppers, squash, zucchini squash, cherry tomatoes, carrots) that enhance the meal with a lean meat like roasted or baked skinless chicken, beef, steak, or even Italian sausage. Try different variations for your liking and see what great dishes you come up with! Also check your seasoning for its sodium content and learn how to taste your food as it's cooking. You can add in but you can't take out so add a little at a time. I've been culprit to adding salted water that I've cooked my veggies in to my Hamburger Helper (trying to short-cut and not have an extra pot of hot water) and made the worst accident of creating overly-seasoned food that ended up mostly getting shoved down the disposal. Don't make the same mistake I made!

Don't be a stranger to grains neither. Try whole wheat bread or whole wheat pasta, use almond flour instead of regular flour if you bake, and use specific oils for certain cooking like canola is best for marinades, dressings, and sauteing whereas vegetable oil is best for frying, baking, and cooking. Olive oil is the best for browning meats, marinades, dressings and sauteing vegetables. Check the bottle for what the olive oil is specifically good for and get a good large size on sale or at a good price because it is the GOOD oil with the healthy kinda fat you want to have around. And not to be graphic but you will notice how much easier your passages will feel when it's time to hit the potty. Just had to add that fact!

Cleanse, Moisturize, Apply Eye Care Cream, And Use Lip Balm Every Morning

"A basic skin care routine is an absolute must for improving your appearance."

Ok so I'm no psychic but why do I have the feeling there are groans happening all across the board?!??

Yes, it looks like a "beauty routine" that's meant for us girls but it's a new age fellas. I think it's time to re-do the scheme of things for what "girls do" and what "guys do". No more what's macho and what's "sissy". This is 2013 and you [all of you] are too fine to be walking around not caring about the pimple or zit that is scattered in multiples across your face, the oil slick across your forehead and nose, or those dry chapped lips you constantly flip under doing the "LL COOL J" to keep them from drying out. 

Exfoliating removes dead skin cells and I promise after you do it you'll notice a big difference! You'll feel like you removed an old face and put on a new one. Always follow up with moisturizer or you'll feel like a dry itchy piece of hay. Why go through the trouble just to feel like that?!? So don't forget it!

Throw that rag you usually wash your face with somewhere else and actually buy yourself worthy products that keep your skin looking its best! We promise we won't judge because it shows you care just as much about the damaging affects of the sun (UV rays, skin cancer, i.e.) and the aging breakdown of your youthfulness you don't want to see. You are trying to stay fly right?

Shave After Showering 

"Will open up your pores, plump up and soften your facial hair which will reduce chances of developing ingrown hairs and experiencing razor burn."

Shaving is never fun. Actually I hate it and the smelly old-school NAIR product is even more annoying and messy for us ladies. Whether it's wax strips, standard or electrical shavors, all of them are a job Guys be lucky you don't have to stress over the hair-removal routine like we do. There has to be truth to the heat though. There's something about supple, moisture tinged skin that does change the follicle of hair. 

I'm sure someone out there has experienced the same stinging moment like our boy in the movie "Home Alone." Enough reason to try this out.

See A Barber Every Three To Six Weeks

"Keeping your hair trimmed is an easy way to ensure that you look polished."

It's all about looking the part. Not on a superficial note guys whatsoever. There's something about getting hair trimmed and even that makes us all feel better. If you're going for the long hair look then you should want to at least keep it looking well kept up as if you know what you're doing. You don't want to look like a walking hobo, just saying. In my opinion, if you're going to be chill and relax with your look then make sure it looks well-maintained and then it won't look like you don't give a d*mn. The reaction will be more, "Oh he got that laid back look going on but he makes it look GREAT." It's the little things that make the big difference then everything else just follows suit.

Floss Every Day And Whiten Teeth Every Six Months

"For a more attractive smile, nothing beats regular flossing as it gets rid of any unsightly build up...a drugstore whitening kit, [ ] will do an excellent job of lightening the color of your teeth."

Makes a big difference when you floss and when you don't. I try my best to do it every night before I go to sleep usually after watching an episode from one of the notorious reality tv shows or more "traditional" tv shows. The best time to do it is before I start feeling "sleepy" because then I won't do it.

Making it an every day effort definitely keeps your chompers and gums healthy. Also reduces plaque build-up and you know how unsightly that looks. We've all seen grills with the white or even worse that icky dark brown or green gunk hidden between teeth. Yup, ugly and disgusting right? So keep your valleys free of debris and floss at least before you go to bed during your nighttime brushing routine. If you're prone to falling asleep or feeling too tired get it in sometime during the evening after that last major meal, just one quick swipe from side, middle, and side then you good. You might as well brush and swish the good ole' mouthwash too, you're already in the cleaning mood anyways! There's a mouthwash that was recommended to me the last time I went to the orthodontist called ACT Total Care for its fluoride content & a new brand by Listerine with Fluoride [Click here for coupon]. It's purple as opposed to the traditional green liquid. Plackers are handy if you don't want to worry about the traditional menthol string. By the time you visit your orthodontist for your 6 month cleaning you'll impress your dentist and give them less work to do because you did most of it! Plus you're keeping your heart healthy by taking care of your lovely mouth.

DID YOU KNOW: Your mouth is vulnerable while you sleep. That's because your mouth is dry, which allows plaque and gingivitis germs to multiply. READ >>> Listerine benefits at night & during the day.

WHAT DOES THE DENTIST RECOMMEND? READ >>> If you have sensitive teeth and more!

Shampoo No More Than Once A Day

"Ideally, you should wash your hair no more than a few times a week as over-shampooing can strip your hair of its natural oils, leaving it dull and brittle."

True that! And as a black female this is like a "rule of thumb" because usually the protocol is 2 weeks before water hits this scalp lol. What I've come to understand is it's OK to have a little water get into the crevices of this coily hair because our scalps need water too! Some of us may prohibit it but we know we need a little bit every once in awhile. My past hair stylists have told me it's important to not over-wash hair because you're washing away all the good oils your scalp naturally produces. Every time you comb your hair those oils help to keep your mane shiny, healthy, and most importantly sexy. So guys read on further at the source link below because these reasons are true for you if you have a routine of working out. And kudos for keeping yourself looking fly!

Change Your Bedsheets

"Dirty pillow cases are a prime reason for breakouts, so switching your sheets once a week will reduce your skin's contact with pore-clogging grime"

This is seriously true guys. I've noticed break-outs on my cheeks and forehead and never thought about my pillow case being the cause. With the hair products used in my hair after going to the hairdresser and build-up of residue and hair oils over time absorbs into the pillow. If you're a "wild" sleeper, meaning you remember falling asleep face up and wake up the next morning with your face deep into the pillow then this applies to you. Back in the day I used to sleep like crazy, but I've calmed down since getting older lol. You can't deny there's nothing better than feeling the soft coolness of fresh new bed sheets and changing out a pillow for a clean one. Notice the smell, doesn't it just make you feel better? I love laying my face into a clean pillow and believe me it's a challenge to sleep in a manner that prevents you from waking up the next day with your face pressed up against it but as long as you think of how much better your skin will be when your girl friend wants to touch your face or kiss your cheek or when you have a hot date to go on you'll do this more frequently. Your skin is a window, just like your eyes, to show the world how much you care about yourself and that you take pride and the utmost care in your health. 

Reference source: ASK MEN article TOP 10: Habits That Improve Your Appearance By Farah Averill