Important Grooming Tips for Athletes

Strength and speed are critical in sports, but you should also consider your appearance. Hair, skin and nails go a long way in determining your comfort and confidence, so grooming isn’t something to take lightly. How can you look, smell and feel your best before and after workouts?

Grooming Tips

What Grooming Tips Should Athletes Know?

Caring for your body before and after workouts is key. Incorporate these grooming tips daily to improve your hygiene, whether you’re heading to work or a date after working out.

Try Cold Showers

The thought of cold showers can be intimidating. I’ll admit that I wasn’t a fan, but I’ve become accustomed to chilly water. I can’t go back because now I embrace it.

Why do people take cold showers? Research has demonstrated the benefits of sitting under a cool waterfall in your bathtub. A 2022 report shows cold water exposure can aid your immune system by producing T-cells and antibodies. Your immune system will thank you even if the cold water initially feels too much to handle.

Athletes benefit from cold showers because they help muscles after a workout. Soreness is commonplace after physical activity, so immersing yourself in cool water constricts your blood vessels and mitigates swelling.

The benefits sound great, but acclimating yourself to cold showers is challenging. Make the transition easier by gradually lowering the water temperature with each bath. This strategy was more sustainable for me than quitting hot showers cold turkey.

Wear Good Deodorant

Working up a sweat is the goal of your workouts. However, body odor is an unfortunate side effect of exercise. Your skin starts to smell bad when bacteria mix with the salt and water from your sweat. Various medical conditions — such as overactive thyroid or kidney disease — can exaggerate and worsen the scent.

The athlete’s solution for body odor is a powerful deodorant or antiperspirant. These products are essential if you exercise outside in the summer. Antiperspirants wield aluminum salts to reduce the amount of sweat coming from your underarms. While it won’t stop the smell completely, you’ll feel more confident that those around you can’t detect it. I always keep antiperspirant and deodorant on hand. Exercising before work necessitates this grooming routine for me.

Consider Your Sport

Body hair is a crucial detail for athletes and comes with differing opinions. Some guys prefer a clean-shaven face and well-groomed hair, whereas others don’t mind flowing locks and a Viking beard. Preference is critical here, but you should consider your sport when trimming your hair.

For instance, swimmers often remain clean-shaven to improve performance in the water. Michael Phelps and other elite swimmers have meticulously shaved to become more hydrodynamic, akin to marine life. Shaving hair can improve your lap times because you’re reducing drag.

Safety is also a consideration when it comes to dangerous contact sports. The CPSC reports that American football leads to almost 400,000 serious injuries each year due to its physicality. While beards are common among athletes, most elect to keep them carefully groomed to avoid having them caught or pulled in a tackle. Some sports teams, most notably the New York Yankees, have gone as far as to have strict rules about their players’ facial hair.

Develop a Routine

Regardless of your preferences, a routine is vital to keeping your appearance sharp. Find time in the morning, afternoon, or evening to shave or trim your hair. Maintaining your hygiene will make you feel more confident in your workouts and during the rest of your day. Creating and sticking to a schedule has benefits that extend to your mental health. Experts say effective routines help your stress and anxiety levels and improve your well-being.

Many swimmers prioritize pool time at least 1-3 times weekly. Lap times are typically better when shaving body hair, making swimmers up to two percent more aerodynamic. Shaving before swimming has also been shown to increase skin sensitivity and help prevent friction resulting in chafed thighs.

Care for Your Beard

Grooming Tips

Beards have a long history of male confidence. Research shows our ancestors associated facial hair with strength, attractiveness and health. If you have a beard, don’t take it for granted because physical activity can affect it. For example, friction from a helmet can cause ingrown hairs and unwanted pain.

Your routine should include beard maintenance to help your comfort and athletic performance. Trim your beard before matches and practices to ensure it doesn’t interfere with your vision.

Shower and apply beard oil when your workout is over. My favorite has a soothing sandalwood smell and conditions and moisturizes my beard while keeping a well-groomed appearance.

What Lesser-Known Tips Do Some Guys Forget?

Beard care and antiperspirant may be obvious for hygiene. However, a holistic approach to your cleanliness is vital for comfort and performance. Here are some lesser-known areas guys forget to check.

Feet Washing

Most sports require shoes and socks to protect your feet and enhance athletic performance. One downside is your feet can get sweaty and risk infections — such as athlete’s foot — if you’re not careful. You could contract this infection from someone else, so thoroughly wash your feet and socks to care for your body. Athlete’s foot is more pressing if you share shoes or walk barefoot in the locker room, so be mindful of this infection.

Sunscreen Spots

Sunscreen isn’t only for beach days. This product is essential when you’re outside for long stretches, so get the SPF best for your skin. Remember to apply sunscreen behind your ears and other easy-to-miss areas because sunburn is the last thing you want. Athletes with photodamage may wrinkle and lose skin tone because of the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays.

Chafing

If you don’t skip leg day, you probably know what chafing feels like. Frequent movement can cause chafing and rashes after exercise, so use balm before your workout. This product is useful when running or cycling because you repeat the same leg movements.

Feeling Cool and Confident

Grooming is standard for job interviews, dates and weddings. However, body care also affects athletes and their performance. Maintaining proper hygiene can boost your confidence in the weight room and the workplace. Center your routine on what works for you and stick with it. Your body will appreciate it.

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Can UV Exposure Stunt Facial Hair Growth?

Conflicting opinions on ultraviolet (UV) radiation’s effects on facial hair circle around. Some people claim clear skies are beneficial for beards and mustaches. Others warn against sunbathing when trying to grow impressive facial hair. Which side of the fence is right?

The truth lies in the middle. Understand how the sun influences facial hair growth to know how therapeutic and destructive it can be.

UV Exposure

Does Sunlight Stop Facial Hair Growth?

No, sunlight doesn’t stop facial hair growth. On the contrary, the sun stimulates it. Solar radiation helps you grow the Chevron, a burly beard, a goatee, mutton chops, sideburns or whatever style your DNA permits. That’s because it’s an essential ingredient for vitamin D production.

Sunlight contains ultraviolet B (UVB) light that turns a chemical in your skin into vitamin D. Healthy levels of vitamin D — as well as vitamins A, B7 and C — allow your body to generate plenty of testosterone and convert some of it into dihydrotestosterone, a hormone vital in facial hair growth.

Timing matters to produce an adequate amount of this sunshine vitamin. The best time of day for sun exposure is midday. Experts suggest exposing your face, hands, arms and legs to sunlight without protection for 5-30 minutes between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. is crucial in preventing vitamin D deficiency. This period lets you get a safe dose of UVB radiation efficiently.

The recommendation may not apply to all, though. Race plays a role in vitamin D production because of melanin. This pigment is responsible for skin color and is a natural sunscreen protecting skin from damage from excessive sunlight exposure.

People with more melanin have to spend more time under the sun than those with less of it to stimulate facial hair growth. That’s why lighter-skinned individuals can produce sufficient vitamin D fast. In contrast, darker-skinned people need more prolonged UV exposure to create the same amount of the nutrient.

Does UV Light Stop Hair Growth?

UV light is a double-edged sword. It doesn’t stop hair growth but can damage beards and mustaches. This solar radiation can burn away the protective oils coating individual strands. Without them, your facial hair is more vulnerable to sun damage.

The more brittle your hair becomes, the less effective it is at safeguarding the skin underneath from UV rays. Less natural protection against sunlight increases your risk of skin diseases, including cancer.


Moreover, UV can change hair color. Overexposure to this invisible light can break down your hair’s melanin pigments, causing any hair on your face to appear lighter. Melanin helps combat the undesirable effects of excessive sun exposure, so losing it in your hair is bad news for your health.

How to Ensure Healthy Facial Hair Growth When It’s Sunny

Follow these five tips to grow and maintain healthy facial hair during months when the sun is at its most intense.

1.   Limit Sun Exposure

Rule number one is to catch some sun moderately. What’s moderate depends on your natural skin color. If you have lighter skin, you only need a small window to produce enough vitamin D your body needs to grow facial hair, so avoid basking — or baking — in the sun for too long.

Aside from damaging your facial hair, getting too much UV radiation increases your risk of skin cancer — a growing health concern. It affects more people than other cancers. Skin cancer is so prevalent no less than 20% of Americans will likely get it by the time they reach 70.

Avoiding UV rays is challenging anywhere, even at home. The sun can penetrate your indoor spaces deeply, leaving you with few hiding spots. Fortunately, there are viable solutions to protect yourself without wearing sunscreen. Growing trees and thick foliage around your home or switching to energy-efficient windows will significantly reduce your chance of unexpected UV overexposure.

2.   Moisturize With UV Protection

Using a moisturizer prevents dryness due to washing your facial hair during warm months. Choose a product with Sun Protection Factor 30 or higher to keep your beard hydrated while rendering most of the UV radiation hitting your face harmless.

3.   Put a Premium on Grooming

Split ends indicate damaged hair. You can’t undo them, so you should trim them to give your facial hair a chance to regrow stronger and healthier.

Contrary to popular belief, shaving your face doesn’t accelerate facial hair growth rate. Observe how fast your beard can grow to your desired thickness to determine your suitable trimming frequency.

If you have a patchy beard, shave off the sparse strands to look neat because they’re too far from each other to cover your skin. Use a traditional razor instead of an electric trimmer to avoid having a five o’clock shadow.

4.   Wear Sunscreen

Applying sunscreen to your facial hair sounds strange, but it works like a charm. Utilize a moisturizer with SPF to both keep your beard feeling fresh and protect it from the sun. It can protect your beard from sun damage if you coat your hair with it thoroughly and reapply it every once in a while.

While you’re at it, use some on the skin under your beard. It can complement your facial hair’s sunlight-blocking prowess, keeping the skin where your beard grows healthy. Keep in mind that you’ll want to utilize a chemical sunscreen to avoid leaving a white cast on your skin.

5.   Wear a Beard Cover

A beard cover is more of protective gear than a fashion item. It’s something you wear when you have to be under the sun in unshaded areas for long periods because of your job.

This device can only block some sunlight because it’s porous. Still, it’s better than wearing nothing and leaving your facial hair bare.

Healthy Is the Beard the Sun Shines On

Sunlight is a non-negotiable requirement to grow as much facial hair as your genes let you. UV rays can be damaging, but they’re not the enemy — overexposure is. Be mindful of how much daylight your skin absorbs and when you receive it to stay in the shade no less than you must.

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Are Beards Becoming More Common in Business Settings?

Your appearance means a lot in the business world. You’ll have an easier time dealing with partners and customers when you look and sound professional. How does facial hair fit into the equation? Are beards unprofessional in the modern landscape? Clean-shaven faces were once the norm, but facial hair has become more accepted in the office. Here’s what you need to know about modern customs.

beards

Do Beards Have a Place in Business

The 20th century mainly saw clean-shaven men in media and offices because cleanliness represented professionalism. However, society has gravitated toward facial hair — especially men with professional beard styles. Some professions may discourage it, but you have more freedom to wear your beard in the workplace. In fact, there’s a good chance your boss also has one.

YouGov has tracked facial hair trends for over a decade and has seen a shift in perception. Its 2023 survey asked British men if they have facial hair and how they wear it, and the change since last decade has been drastic.

Over 60% of men in 2011 had no facial hair, but that number has dropped to 46% in the last 12 years. The proportion of men of any age with a beard and mustache has skyrocketed from around 10% to over 30%.

This trend is even more pronounced for men between 18 and 39, with over 40% of this age group sporting beards and mustaches. The beard-growing trend has also affected women, with a 13% increase in those who prefer men with beards. In 2011, 66% of British women liked a man without a beard, but that number has dropped to 36% in 2023. The survey finds that 44% of women don’t prefer either style.

Beards in the Workplace

People have become more accepting of beards and have even encouraged them in daily life. How does it translate to the workplace? A recent survey from Hims polled 500 men who have jobs.

The survey finds that 63% of respondents kept their facial hair when interviewing for their current role. About 40% sported a beard, 30% had a goatee and 20% wore a mustache. The survey also notes about 72% of respondents did not review their company’s beard policy before starting the interview. About 90% of men say their policy allows beards at work, with most saying there’s an expectation to keep their facial hair neat.

What Obstacles Do Beards Face in the Workplace?

While facial hair has become more acceptable in the workplace, some of your co-workers may still say beards are unprofessional. These obstacles demonstrate what you may have to go through with a beard.

Perception

Santa Claus is a famous jolly figure with a big beard, but even he has difficulty changing people’s perceptions. Although time has been kinder to beards, stereotypes still exist among the general population.

For instance, a 2021 Adaptive Human Behavior and Physiology study examines how people see masculinity and aggressiveness in men’s beards. The results show the respondents had the best accuracy when associating bearded faces with anger and aggressiveness. Conversely, the participants had an easier time associating happy expressions with those sporting no facial hair.

This research demonstrates stereotypes still exist for guys with beards. You generally can wear facial hair in a business setting, but you must be careful not to reinforce typecasts like anger and aggressiveness.

beards

Dress Codes

While times have changed to support beards, you may have to abide by your company’s dress code if it says you cannot wear one. Some businesses enforce this policy for professionalism, whereas others create the rules for health and safety protocols. For example, if you work in manufacturing or food services, your employer may require shaven faces to comply with regulations.

The military is another place you must comply with the beardless dress codes, but times could be changing. A 2022 report indicates the Air Force has considered allowing a quarter-inch-thick beard in a new policy. However, it’s unclear if or when the new rule will take effect.

Laws

You could argue beards are a freedom of expression, and the law should protect your facial hair. However, there isn’t much legal help on your side. Employers have the right to create dress codes and grooming standards as they see fit for their operations.

So, if the boss says you can’t have a beard, they’ll likely get away with the policy. However, the circumstances change if you wear a beard for religious reasons. Federal laws protect your beard from discrimination if it’s part of your religion.

How Can You Craft Professional Beard Styles?

The proportion of people saying beards are unprofessional has declined in recent years. However, sporting professional styles is integral to ensure your boss doesn’t say anything about your facial hair. Here are a few tips for looking acceptable in the office.

Trim Your Facial Hair

Beards can look stylish and socially acceptable until they reach a certain point — then they become scraggly and unkempt. Experts say trimmed facial hair is best for looking presentable in business casual settings. Trim it regularly to keep your beard looking its best.

If necessary, create a grooming schedule to ensure your facial hair doesn’t get out of control at any point of the week. You can save time by trimming the night before work, but the morning may be better if your beard grows fast.

Comb Your Beard

Beard length won’t be as much of an issue if you groom it wisely. For instance, use a comb to style and shape your facial hair in particular directions. This tool is also helpful in distributing beard oil and beard balm, ensuring your facial hair has adequate moisturization throughout the day. Keep a beard comb nearby to groom yourself at work and look your best for meetings.

beards

Pick a Fitting Style

Professional beard styles vary by the guy, with some lineups looking better than others. Find the one that fits your head shape and wardrobe, as it will make your facial hair look more acceptable in a business setting. For instance, a man with a square face looks stylish with a goatee, whereas a triangular head may look better with a full beard and mustache. 

Are Beards Unprofessional? Not Anymore

Beards have a complicated history in the business world. If you worked in a 1950s office, you wouldn’t see many beards because people deemed them unprofessional. However, times have changed to be more accepting of facial hair.

Beards are more common in business settings, but you must ensure yours is tidy and groomed. Some workplaces may forbid beards for health or safety reasons, so examine company policy before growing your facial hair.

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Does Your Diet Impact Your Facial Hair Growth?

A man’s diet is one of the most overlooked contributors to his beard health. While your beard’s shape and thickness largely come down to genetics, your eating habits can also have a significant impact on facial hair growth. In this guide, we’ll help you understand the connection between food and facial hair and review some key dietary adjustments to make.

facial hair growth

The Science of Facial Hair Growth

Although you may treat your facial hair differently, it has the same makeup as the rest of your hair. Every single hair follicle has the same growing process, which starts at the roots underneath your skin. These “hair bulbs” frequently grow new cells that form new strands of hair, but only some of them poke through the epidermis and are visible to the naked eye.

On average, a hair strand should grow 1 centimeter per month, assuming the person has an active lifestyle and adequate diet. This number can differ based on factors such as gender, age and individual genetics. Most men between 15 and 30 years old are naturally at the upper end of the hair growth spectrum, thanks to their higher testosterone levels.

You could use beard oil to help the growth phase, but growth stimulants work best if you combine them with healthy and beneficial lifestyle choices. You must replenish your hair follicles with organic nutrients as well as hair care products if you want your beard to reach its full potential. That’s where your diet comes into play.

Testosterone-Boosting Foods

For most men, testosterone levels peak in their late teens and early twenties. That means their beards may experience a decline in thickness as they reach full maturity. If you’re experiencing this, you could get a natural testosterone boost by changing your eating habits. The following foods are excellent sources of testosterone:

  • Spinach
  • Beans
  • Oysters
  • Coconut
  • Pumpkin seeds
  • Fatty fish

Alternatively, you could take a testosterone booster supplement instead of changing your diet. These supplements directly raise your DHT levels and can lead to fast facial hair growth. However, there is a major risk involved if you’re prone to balding. A sudden spike of DHT can accelerate hair loss and make your beard look worse, not better.

In case you haven’t noticed the theme yet, it’s always best to take a natural approach over an artificial “quick fix” when it comes to your health. Improving your diet might have slower results, but it’s much better than taking hair growth supplements that could backfire in the future.

Daily Protein Intake

Protein is the key macronutrient that stimulates facial hair growth. Hair follicles primarily consist of keratin, the main protein structure that makes up skin, nails and internal organs. Getting frequent servings of beef, chicken, eggs and dairy products can help you maintain high keratin levels and healthy hair follicles.

High daily protein intake is also an important part of maintaining your peak testosterone levels as you get older. To prevent your skin from getting irritated and breaking out, apply a shaving cream or oil and use a straight razor when shaving.

Healthy Fats

Healthy fats are always unsaturated, which means they don’t create fatty acid deposits in your bloodstream. Instead, they remain liquid and flow through your bloodstream, providing much more nutritional value with none of the health risks.

Omega-3 fatty acids are particularly beneficial for facial hair growth because they strengthen your cell walls and keep your skin, nails and hair healthy. They can also work wonders for your cardiovascular system, which makes them more important as you get older.

Ideally, most of your healthy fats should come from seafood, which is an abundant source of omega-3 fatty acids and high in protein as well. Oysters, clams and crabs are great sources, and they may boost your testosterone in the process. Avocados, nuts and seeds are also viable options.

If allergies or dietary restrictions prevent you from eating seafood, you can also take a fish oil supplement. Fish oil has proven to help with hair growth by delaying the catagen phase and increasing the number of hairs in the anagen phase.

Vitamins and Minerals

Your diet must be rich in vitamins and minerals if you want healthy facial hair. Perhaps the most important nutrient worth mentioning is Vitamin D. Although the vitamin itself doesn’t lead to more hair growth, your body’s Vitamin D receptors help the skin produce more hair follicles and restore old hair growth.

Your facial hair will also benefit from a consistent supply of the following nutrients, vitamins and minerals:

  • Vitamin A: This vitamin helps the skin produce stay moisturized and combat acne. Leafy greens and tomatoes are two good sources.
  • Vitamin C: Plays a key role in the healing process of body tissue, including the skin and hair. Berries, oranges, lemons and potatoes are the main foods with this vitamin.
  • Biotin: As a core ingredient in keratin production, biotin is the main protein that makes up your follicles. Bananas are the prime sources, but some rare berries have biotin as well.
  • Zinc: Zinc is a useful nutrient that boosts immune system function. It’s plentiful in red meat, poultry and seafood.
  • Iron: Iron is the main producer of hemoglobin, which is responsible for supplying organs with oxygen. Whole grains and beans are great sources.

Eating all of the foods mentioned above isn’t mandatory, but you should get a sufficient amount of fruits, vegetables and whole grains every day. There are also supplements available for virtually every nutrient. They will help you unlock your beard’s full potential and contribute to a much healthier lifestyle overall.

Healthy Diet, Healthy Beard

Eating the right foods won’t guarantee that you grow a full, luscious beard. Your genetics still determine whether you can grow a complete beard or not.

However, you can get the absolute most out of your facial hair by eating testosterone-boosting foods, increasing your daily protein intake, mixing in some healthy fats and getting your daily serving of key vitamins and minerals. A healthy diet ensures a healthy beard.

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