Grooming routines don't need to be complicated. The ones that actually stick tend to be the simplest — a handful of habits done consistently rather than an elaborate fifteen-step process attempted once or twice and then abandoned. This guide is about finding that practical middle ground.
There's no shortage of grooming content on the internet, but a lot of it is either trying to sell you a product or written for someone who already has a full bathroom cabinet and half an hour free every morning. If you're starting from scratch, or trying to bring a bit more consistency to what you're already doing, this is written with you in mind.
Why Consistency Beats Intensity
Most grooming problems — dry skin, a beard that's lost its shape, hair that's harder to manage than it used to be — come down to inconsistency rather than a lack of the right product. Moisturising once a week and washing your face properly the other six days will do more good than following an intensive skincare programme for two days and then forgetting about it.
This is worth saying upfront because it reframes what a "good" routine actually is. It's not the most thorough one. It's the one you'll actually do, every day or close to it, without having to think about it too hard. That's the version worth building.
The Morning Essentials
A morning grooming routine doesn't need to take long. For most men, ten minutes covers everything that genuinely needs doing before leaving the house.
Face Washing
Use a proper facial cleanser rather than whatever bar soap happens to be in the shower. Soap is alkaline and strips the skin's natural moisture barrier more aggressively than a face wash formulated for the job. You don't need anything fancy — a simple foaming or gel cleanser suited to your skin type (dry, oily, combination, or sensitive) is enough. Wash with lukewarm water, not hot. Hot water feels good but dries the skin out over time.
If you shave in the morning, do it after washing your face. Cleansed skin and softened stubble makes for a closer, more comfortable shave with less irritation. Applying shaving foam or gel to dry, dirty skin is a shortcut that shows up in how your face feels afterwards.
Moisturising
A decent moisturiser applied while your skin is still slightly damp after washing locks in moisture more effectively. It takes about thirty seconds. If you haven't used one before, start with something basic and fragrance-free — strong fragrances can irritate some skin types. Most men find a lightweight lotion or gel works better for daily use than a heavy cream, which can leave a greasy feeling.
If you're going to be outside, use something with SPF built in. This isn't about skincare fanaticism — sun exposure is the primary driver of visible skin ageing and the incidence of skin cancer in the UK is genuinely significant. A moisturiser with SPF 30 takes the same thirty seconds and does two jobs at once.
Hair
How much time you spend on your hair in the morning depends on your cut and what product, if any, you use. But a few general points are worth noting. Don't apply styling product to soaking wet hair — it dilutes the product and reduces its hold. Towel dry to the point where your hair is damp but not dripping, then apply your product and style. If you're using a hairdryer, finish with a blast of cool air to help set the style in place.
Shaving: Getting the Basics Right
Poor shaving technique causes more skin irritation than poor products. Before you start experimenting with different razors or shaving creams, it's worth checking that your technique is sound.
Prep properly. Shaving after a warm shower is ideal — the steam softens the hair and opens the pores. If you're not showering first, apply a warm damp towel to your face for a minute before shaving. It makes a noticeable difference.
Use enough product. Shaving foam or gel should provide a genuine cushion between the blade and your skin. If it's drying out before you're done, apply more. This sounds obvious, but rushing through the second side of your face dry is a common cause of irritation.
Shave with the grain first. Going against the grain gives a closer shave but causes more irritation, ingrown hairs, and razor burn. If you need a closer result, shave with the grain first, then go across it on a second pass. Against the grain should be a third pass at most, and only if needed.
Replace blades regularly. A dull blade requires more pressure to cut, which increases friction and irritation. Single-use cartridges should be replaced every five to seven shaves. If your razor is tugging rather than gliding, it's overdue.
Finish with something soothing. An alcohol-free aftershave balm or moisturiser helps the skin recover from the abrasion of shaving. Alcohol-based aftershaves sting and dry the skin out — they feel like they're doing something useful, but largely they're not.
Beard Care: If You're Growing or Maintaining One
A beard requires active maintenance. It's not just a case of stopping shaving and letting it do what it wants. The minimum for a beard that looks intentional rather than neglected is washing it regularly, applying beard oil, and keeping the edges clean.
Washing. Beard hair should be washed two or three times a week with a dedicated beard wash or a gentle shampoo. Everyday shampoo can dry the beard out, and regular face wash doesn't do enough to clean through thicker growth. Wash thoroughly and rinse completely — residue in the beard causes itching.
Beard oil. Applied after washing while the hair is still damp, beard oil moisturises both the hair and the skin underneath. Dry skin under the beard causes itching and flaking (beard dandruff), which is more common than people realise and entirely preventable with consistent care. A few drops worked through with your fingers is enough — you don't need to saturate the beard.
Trimming. Even if you're growing your beard longer, regular trimming keeps it looking deliberate rather than overgrown. The neckline and cheek line, in particular, need attention every one to two weeks. If you're not confident trimming yourself, this is something your barber can maintain between longer appointments.
For a more detailed breakdown of beard care by beard type, see our beard maintenance guide.
The Evening Routine
If you only do one skincare thing in a day, do it at night rather than the morning. The skin repairs itself while you sleep — giving it the conditions to do that properly makes a real difference over time.
Cleanse properly. If you've been out during the day, your skin has accumulated pollution, sweat, and product residue. Washing this off before bed is more important than washing in the morning, particularly if you live or work in an urban environment.
Nighttime moisturiser. You can use a slightly richer moisturiser at night than in the morning, since you don't need an SPF and you're not going out. It doesn't need to be expensive — consistency matters more than price point.
Eye cream. Optional, but worth mentioning for anyone who notices dark circles or puffiness. The skin around the eyes is thinner than the rest of the face and responds quickly to basic care. An eye cream with caffeine tends to help with puffiness when applied in the mornings.
Hair: Beyond the Morning Style
What you do with your hair day-to-day matters, but so does what you do between haircuts.
Washing frequency. How often you should wash your hair depends on your scalp type. Oily scalps may need washing daily or every other day. Dry scalps benefit from washing every two to three days. Washing too frequently strips natural oils and can make an oily scalp produce more oil in compensation. If you're not sure, err toward washing less often and see how your scalp responds.
Conditioner. If your hair is longer than an inch or so, conditioning regularly keeps it manageable and reduces breakage. Apply from mid-length to ends rather than the roots, which can make hair flat.
Heat.. Hairdryers, straighteners, and other heated tools are harder on hair than air drying, but used carefully — with a heat protectant and at a moderate temperature — the difference isn't dramatic for most hair types. The issue is more with very high heat settings used daily over a long period.
Regular cuts. How often you need a haircut depends on your style and how quickly your hair grows. Fades and short styles need more frequent attention — every three to four weeks — while longer styles can stretch to six to eight weeks. Leaving it too long between cuts usually means more work to bring it back into shape and more hair taken off than you'd planned.
Nail and Hands
Often overlooked but noticed more than people realise. Keeping nails trimmed and clean is basic hygiene. If your hands are visibly rough or dry — particularly common in colder months or for people who work with their hands — a basic hand cream used a few times a day makes a significant difference quickly.
Building the Habit
The practical difficulty with grooming isn't knowledge — most people broadly know what they should be doing. It's establishing habits that run on autopilot rather than requiring conscious effort every time.
A few things that tend to help. Keep products somewhere visible. Out of sight means out of mind, and if your moisturiser is buried in a cabinet you rarely open, you won't use it. Group things together so the morning routine flows logically from one step to the next. And start with fewer steps rather than more — trying to change ten things at once usually means reverting to your previous habits within a week.
Even three consistent habits — proper face washing, moisturising with SPF, and keeping your hair clean and cut regularly — will produce noticeable results if you maintain them.
A Note on Products
The grooming product market is large, competitive, and full of things you don't need. Price is not a reliable guide to quality. Some genuinely good products are affordable; some expensive ones are mostly marketing.
When choosing products, look at ingredients rather than claims on the packaging. A moisturiser that contains glycerin, hyaluronic acid, or ceramides will hydrate your skin. A shampoo that's sulphate-free tends to be gentler on the scalp. A beard oil that lists jojoba oil or argan oil high in the ingredients list is doing more meaningful work than one with a list of synthetic fragrances.
When in doubt, fewer better products beats a crowded shelf of things you half-use. If you're not sure what suits your skin or hair type, a grooming consultation at Maverick can help you work that out properly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should a daily grooming routine take?
For most men, a basic morning routine of face washing, moisturising, and sorting your hair should take between five and ten minutes. If it's taking significantly longer than that, it's probably more complex than it needs to be.
Is it worth spending more on grooming products?
Not necessarily. The more important factor is using products that suit your skin and hair type and using them consistently. Some mid-range products are excellent; some expensive ones trade on branding more than formulation. Look at ingredients rather than price tags.
My skin is oily. Should I still moisturise?
Yes. Oily skin still needs hydration — skipping moisturiser can actually cause the skin to produce more oil in response. Use a lightweight, oil-free gel moisturiser rather than a heavy cream, and look for the term "non-comedogenic" on the packaging, which means it won't block pores.
How often should I get a haircut?
It depends on your style and how quickly your hair grows. Short styles and fades typically need a trim every three to four weeks to maintain their shape. Longer styles can often go six to eight weeks. If you're frequently thinking your hair looks a bit off, you're probably stretching the interval slightly too long.
What's the difference between beard wash and regular shampoo?
Beard washes are formulated to be gentler than regular shampoos and less likely to dry out the coarser hair of a beard or the skin beneath it. Regular shampoo will clean a beard, but used frequently it can strip natural oils and cause dryness and itching. A gentle dedicated beard wash or a mild unscented shampoo is preferable.