3. Corral body hair
Body hair is totally normal, although some guys have more than the usual, with extra sprouting on backs, hands and toes. No need to trim unless you have an issue with back hair on the beach. If so, a one-time wax at a day spa will suffice for the season. Add trimming nose and ear hair to your must-do list since extra tufts appear more rapidly and visibly from nostrils and ear canals after age 50. Use a stick-on magnifying mirror like the Conair Suction Cup Mirror Close Up Magnification ($12, cvs.com) and small, blunt-tipped facial hair scissors (never use tweezers) like the Tweezerman Nose Ear Facial Scissors ($23, amazon.com) to trim, or an electric shaver made for this purpose, like the Goodline Grooming Co. Nose + Ear Hair Trimmer ($10, cvs.com). Or let a barber do the snipping.
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(Left to right) Dr. Scholl’s Odor-X Probiotic Extract Formula Foot Spray; Arm & Hammer Invisible Spray Foot Powder; Zorpads Odor Eliminating Shoe Inserts
Walmart (2); Amazon
4. Sweat proof your underarms, shoes and feet
C’mon, guys, drippy perspiration is fine during workouts and sports but wet underarm stains and a stinky aroma rising from shirts, footwear and tootsies needs tackling. As the season heats up, you do, too, and odors become even more noticeable. Armpits first: As I am sure you know the difference between a deodorant and an antiperspirant deodorant is that the first only neutralizes smell, while the second combats smell and wetness. Do yourself a favor and choose one or the other. Without help, shoes, sandals and especially sneakers hold unappealing scents hostage. So spray clean, dry feet (between toes, too) with an odor-reducing spray like Dr. Scholl’s Odor-X Probiotic Extract Formula Foot Spray ($8, walmart.com) or Arm & Hammer Invisible Spray Foot Powder ($7, walmart.com) and use freshening inserts like Zorpads Odor Eliminating Shoe Inserts ($24 for five pairs, amazon.com) to keep the reek at bay. Give sweaty sandals, sneakers, deck shoes and loafers a chance to air out and dry between wearings since moisture encourages bacteria buildup. For a quick DIY deodorizer, wipe footbeds of shoes with a little white vinegar or sprinkle baking soda in shoes overnight and shake out in the morning.
(Clockwise from top left) Gap No-Show Socks in True Black; Old Navy Low-Cut Socks 4-Pack for Men in Basic Multi-Pack; Birkenstock Arizona Essentials for Men; Swims Men’s Slip-On Washable Penny Loafers
Gap; Old Navy; Zappos; Amazon
5. Manage your “mankles” and footwear
A no-sock look is the new normal. However, some mature guys persist in wearing tall crew or dress socks with their shorts and sandals or sneakers. Not a good look. Instead, go sockless when wearing sandals and stick to low-cropped socks like the Old Navy Low-Cut Socks 4-Pack for Men in Basic Multi-Pack ($10, oldnavy.gap.com) or Gap No-Show Socks in True Black ($11 for a two-pack, gap.com) for sneakers and slip-on shoes. One more thing: Flip-flops and neglected toenails can wreck even the coolest look, especially for casual social events. Get a salon pedicure (DIY at home) and a pair of contoured support sandals like the lightweight, waterproof Birkenstock Arizona Essentials for Men ($50, zappos.com) or lightweight ventilated loafers like the Swims Men’s Slip-On Washable Penny Loafers ($82, amazon.com) as airy alternatives to leather before RSVP-ing yes to lunches, dinners and barbecues.
(From top to bottom) Foster Grant Marli Polarized for Digital; Privé Revaux The Bruce 2.0 in Chestnut Brown Tort; Ray-Ban RB2132 New Wayfarer Classic in Black/Polarized Green
Foster Grant; Privé Revaux; Sunglass Hut
6. Upgrade the sun specs
Your Rx frames are most likely updated but how about your sunglasses? Like sunscreen, men tend to keep wearing old sunglasses way past their flattery date and push them into the “not-so-important” category. Big mistake! Sunnies are one of your key allies in both eye health and looks because UV-protected lenses keep your peepers and the skin around them safe. A new pair of polarized shades in black or tortoise, like the Foster Grant Marli Polarized for Digital ($31, fostergrant.com), Privé Revaux The Bruce 2.0 in Chestnut Brown Tort ($40, priverevaux.com) or Ray-Ban RB2132 New Wayfarer Classic in Black/Polarized Green ($201, sunglasshut.com) will do that, prevent glare and make images sharper and easier to read on your cellphone screens.
(Clockwise from top left) Dockers Men’s Panama Hat in Tan/Navy; Banana Republic Classic Straw Fedora in Natural; Aenmt Wide Brim Boonie Sun Hat in Army Green; L.L. Bean Men’s Sunday Afternoons Brushline Bucket Hat in Mineral/Timber
JCPenney; Banana Republic; Amazon; L.L. Bean
7. Address your hat situation
Plenty of 50-plus guys wear a baseball cap from May to September. It appeals to all but especially those with thinning hair. What you don’t think about is that baseball caps lack an ear- and nape-shielding brim, making those areas targets for UV rays. Wearing the cap backwards doesn’t exactly help things, either. Bucket hats with sloping all-around brims, like the L.L. Bean Men’s Sunday Afternoons Brushline Bucket Hat in Mineral/Timber ($36, llbean.com), are crushable enough to fold up in a pocket and pair well with casual clothes. So do “boonie” hats like the Aenmt Wide Brim Boonie Sun Hat in Army Green or Navy ($16, amazon.com) with a wider brim for even more shade. Dressier times, like outdoor parties when you’re in real pants and a shirt, call for a little more structure. Try a woven paper fedora like the Banana Republic Classic Straw Fedora in Natural ($80, bananarepublic.gap.com) or a panama style like the Dockers Men’s Panama Hat in Tan/Navy ($28, jcpenney.com). Your scalp, neck and ears will be grateful at your next skin cancer checkup.
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