This morning I was running late on my way to shoot a segment for the Today Show. Time ran away from me as I was getting showered, dressed and doing a final packing for a quick trip to Los Angeles right after the show. I have been getting TV ready and traveling for years. I have no excuses for being late. It is my job to be organized and look good, but this was just one of those mornings. I had three ugly hairs growing from my earlobe, and I became obsessed with tweezing them. I call them grandpa hairs and I find them to be an unbearable pet peeve. Of course, they just didn't pull out instantly. My tweezers seemed to slip over them as I pulled to no avail. After a good two or three minutes, I finally won the battle. This left less than five minutes to shave. I rushed through my morning shave with a fresh blade and sure enough, I cut myself. I put tissue paper on the cut and proceeded to get dressed. I put on a crisp white shirt and as I flipped my collar up to tie my tie, it made direct contact with the bleeding area. I got a mean blood stain on my shirt. This meant I had to start all over again. As I was tying my tie for the second time and carefully avoiding my self-inflicted wound, the phone started to ring. I knew exactly who it was. The car service was calling to see why I was delayed. I simply answered that I'd be right out and hung up the phone in an instant. I closed up my overnight bag, zipped up my suit tote and ran to the door.
As I caught my breath in the back seat of the car, I made sure I had everything with me. It was at this point that I realized things were looking a bit fuzzy. I instantly realized I had forgotten to put in my contacts. This was the easiest crisis of the day. I always have an extra pair in my bag and after a few tries, I popped them in place. (By the way, this isn't a simple feat while driving down an unpaved New York City street.) Finally calm and camera-ready, and I let myself become excited about the shoot. I got off directly at the Today Show plaza, dropped my bags in the green room, and went out to begin the first part of the segment.
I overcame these hurdles and held my composure because at this point in my life, I feel I could get ready in a pitch-black room. Most guys have trouble looking their best even when they have time to spare. It's not because they're lazy. It's because they don't know what to do. This is when all you significant others need to speak up and come to the rescue. This is your moment to give some tender loving advice about looking good. Here are some basic tips.
1) THE BATTLE OF THE UGLY HAIRS. If you're a man over 25, you know exactly what I'm talking about. They usually start to peep out of your nostrils, and then as time goes by, there is the problem of the stray wiry hairs that grow awry from your ear lobes. I'm not talking about a jungle of growth. It only takes one or two to looked unkempt. There are clippers available for nose hairs that are safe to use, quick and pain-free. Tweezers are the best bet for the ugly stray hairs that grow from your ear lobes. You don't have to buy an expensive pair, but there is a difference between good tweezers and less expensive ones. Tweezers with a wider tip seem to be easier for men to use.
2) HAIR PRODUCTS. Hair products are great tools to help keep men's hair looking good. Men with bushy hair can easily make their hair look controlled. Men who have finer hair can create the illusion of fuller and thicker hair. Try to avoid a wet and shiny plastic look from product abuse. If your hair even starts to resemble the "Situations," you have used too much product and should shampoo your hair and start over. Gels and creams, when used properly, will keep your hair in place without ever looking plastered down.
3) DANDRUFF. This can usually be remedied with any over-the-counter shampoo made especially for this purpose. Dandruff is a scalp condition, and is often not the problem at all. Most of the time I find that what seems like dandruff on guys is the result of product build up and improper "quick" shampoos. Take your time. Massage your head for a couple of minutes. It feels good and it will prevent flakes from occurring.
4) GET THE RIGHT HAIRCUT AND STYLE. There is nothing more weird looking than a guy who doesn't accept his hair texture. If you have fine thinning hair, don't try to look like Justin Bieber or Rob Lowe. It just won't work. Accept your hair and wear it proudly. If it is thick or thin, show it off. This is what always looks best. The same goes for your hair's curl or wave. Wear it proudly. Can you imagine Justin Timberlake with his hair blown straight? Even Mr. JT would look like a loser.
5) HAIR COLOR. Hair coloring for men has finally become acceptable. Every day I have more and more men as color clients. It is usually to cover those first few grays that occur around the sideburns. I often just color the hairs that need to be colored. I often suggest that men who color their hair at home use hair-color kits that are made especially for men. These colors have no lifting or lightening abilities. And if you miss a few hairs, it really doesn't matter. Your color will only look more natural. I also suggest leaving on the color for half the required time to blend the grays, instead of trying for full coverage. This will prevent any strong root line and avoid any chance of looking orange or too dark.
It's a competitive job market out there. Never before has it been so important to look vital and at the top of your game. Make a game plan when you're getting ready in the morning or for a special event. Think about your wardrobe ahead of time and make sure you take the time to shave, get a haircut and look groomed. If you are lucky enough to have a special someone in your life, ask for their input. I promise you that they will feel extra special knowing you care about their opinion. People will notice how good you look. Hey handsome! Have a good night!