Men, the calendar may say we are knee-deep in winter, but Louisiana is clearly ready to start spring. Instead of clinging to our winter scruff in an attempt to defy nature, we should welcome spring weather with open arms and freshen up our style.
The image of a burly, barrel-chested lumberjack may be something we’re more open to seeing during the short winter months, but when the weather gets nicer, unkempt beards, overgrown hair and dry skin won’t cut it anymore. School has begun and hibernation has ended. Time to stop looking like a bear.
To be clear, I do not believe beards are an element of poor style. I pride myself on my ability to sport a beard and remain stylish. But there is a fine line between a sophisticated facial hairstyle and a scraggly mess.
Everyone grows facial hair differently, so it’s impossible to say exactly how to groom it. A few rules of thumb do exist, though, and they’re fairly basic.
Avoid “neckbeard.” Keep the length moderate — just long enough to appear full, but no longer — and avoid quirky styles like soul patches and lambchops. Keep it clean and full.
Hair is another tough thing to define. By the time he can drive himself to the barbershop, every man should be fully aware of how his hair grows and what it takes to make it look good.
I believe cleaner is always better. Cleaner doesn’t always mean shorter, but even a long hairstyle has details that need attention. Know your hair, and don’t be lazy or cheap. Haircuts can be affordable and shouldn’t be avoided when they’re truly needed.
Find photographic examples of a hairstyle you think would suit you well, and bring that to your barber — he or she can take it from there.
After hair, it’s time to care for our skin. The media has been dictating to us for our whole lives that proper skin care is a mostly feminine practice.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
Just because we’re men does not mean it’s OK to let our skin dry out and look bad. Even if you think you don’t have a problem with dry skin, you can still condition it. Every man should at least use body lotion on a daily basis.
If you’re interested in maintaining your skin, body butter is a magical product. You will thank yourself later in life when your skin still has some elasticity, and you’ll thank yourself in the short term when your skin looks and feels great.
Once we have grooming under control, we can worry about dressing well.
Spring style is, and should be, different from winter style. Just because flip-flops are finally comfortable enough to wear outside again, does not mean they’re stylish. Instead, reach for a pair of penny loafers and go sockless. They’re just as cool and comfortable as a pair of sandals, but bring an element of style that can turn heads.
Keep your pants on, gentlemen. It’s not quite hot enough to use the weather as a constant excuse to wear shorts. Stick to your lighter-colored slacks to keep your style fresh and cool, but sophisticated. If shorts are a must, try to keep them solid-colored and slightly above the knee.
Baggy cargo shorts tend to look young and lazy.
Dress shirts don’t have to retreat into the back of your closet until next fall, either. Stick to the brighter colors in your wardrobe and don’t be afraid to mix and match. Spring is a great time to let loose a little and experiment with color combinations and patterns.
Connor Tarter is a 20-year-old communication studies junior from Dallas, Texas.