Best grooming tips ever

We've gathered 20 grooming experts to share their single most useful piece of advice for the modern British man. From taming body odour and unkempt hair to baldness and shaving irritation, we reveal the most useful tips to keep you looking at your best.

Invest in a good-quality shaving brush
'Not only are they the best way to create a lather, they also lift stubble so it's easier to cut and help exfoliate skin, ridding it of razor-clogging dead skin cells,' says master barber and founder of gentlemans-shop.com Robert Johnston.
Wait before you shave
'Thanks to an accumulation of fluid overnight, skin tends to be puffy first thing in the morning,' warns grooming expert Jason Shankey. 'So give skin 10 minutes or so to settle and for any 'sleeping marks' to subside and you'll have a better surface for shaving, which means less nicks and cuts.'
Save time and money with a shave oil
'Use a good shaving oil like Melogy's 100% Natural Shaving Oil (£32 for 30ml from melogy.com) to facilitate all three stages of your shaving routine,' suggests grooming expert and barber Carmelo Guastella. 'Not many people realise it but they're not only great for softening stubble and for preventing razor burn during the shave but can also be used post-shave to nourish your skin.'
Get plenty of water - but not from where you think
'The most overlooked element of good skincare is hydration, and surprisingly that comes mostly from food, not liquid,' says independent nutritionist Ian Marber. 'You can drink plenty of water, of course, but large amounts of liquid are simply excreted, as we all know! The water in fresh fruits and vegetables, on the other hand, is slowly absorbed along with other nutrients, and assimilated in a consistent way. So eating more fresh produce will result in better skin tone and quality than just drinking more water.'
Go lightly for the perfect shave
'One of the most common mistakes men make when shaving is thinking that if they press harder, they will get a closer shave,' says Dr Nigel Kermode, Director of Global Blades and Razors Research and Development at Gillette. 'In reality, the closeness of the shave is largely determined by the quality and design of the razor. In fact, men should take gentle strokes for a close and comfortable shave. Let the razor do the work, not you!'
Scrub before you mask
'Applying a face mask to the skin is a great way to cleanse skin deep down but exfoliating the skin beforehand with a face scrub can literally double the effects of the mask,' points out Jo Givens, Treatments Expert at Liz Earle Beauty Co.
Scrub before bed
'Many men make the mistake of using scrubs just before shaving,' says Sally Penford, Education manager for the International Dermal Institute. 'But shaving itself exfoliates and sensitises the skin so a much better idea is to use a scrub the night before - that way you'll reap all the benefits but won't further aggravate the skin in the process.'
Make your fragrance last by spraying your hair
'Hair holds scent very well as it's porous and so the odour will penetrate and last if you spray it,' says renowned perfumier Roja Dove. 'It's a great tip if you're going out or have a special occasion but don't do it on a daily basis or the alcohol in the fragrance could dry the hair out.'
Use a gel if you want great self-tanning results on your face
Using fake tans on the face can be tricky if you have stubble or facial hair but not if you use the right products. 'For best results use one of the new breed of tanning gels like St Tropez Self-Tan (£25 from st-tropez.com) as they provide better coverage and are less likely to adhere to the hairs,' says the self-tanning expert James Read. 'If you do need to shave after applying, though, always use an electric shaver as they won't strip the tan from your skin.'
Prepare properly for your waxing
'Waxing hurts more if you are tired, hungover or dehydrated, so stay off the sauce the night before your treatment. A shot of Dutch courage might seem like a good idea on the day, but alcohol dilates the blood vessels, meaning you'll look like a lobster for longer,' warns male waxing expert Andy Rouillard of Axiom Bodyworks.

'Instead, drink plenty of water and pop an Ibuprofen about 30-45 minutes before your wax, which will help reduce the sting and inflammation. Then apply a soothing antibacterial product to help calm things down and prevent pimples. Outback Organics Post-Wax Spray (£8.99 from outbackorganics.co.uk) does the job nicely.'
Shave at night
'If you always end up having five minutes in the morning to wash and shave, and in turn end up with a red and sore neck then shave at night,' advises Richard Sawyer, International Education Director for Lab Series Skincare for Men.

'That way your skin will have time to recover from any redness and irritation and you are less likely to suffer friction and further pain from your shirt and tie rubbing your neck in the morning.'

As an insurance policy he recommends spraying your face with Lab Series Moisturising After Shave Soothing Spray (£29 for 200ml from labseries.co.uk) after shaving before you go to bed and then again in the morning before you get dressed.
To change your smile change your fillings
Teeth whitening might be the obvious option to improve your smile but according to Dr Uchenna Okoye, Clinical Director of London Smiling Dental Group, if you're a man the first step should be to change your fillings.
'Men have bigger jaws than women so you tend to see more teeth - and more fillings - when they laugh or smile so for an instant 'smile lift' think about replacing silver fillings with white ones. If you're on a budget choose the bottom teeth first as they're what people tend to see when you laugh out loud.'
Double your chances of a great hairstyle with two products
'If you want to take your style to the next level a good trick is to try the two-product approach,' says celebrity hairdresser Michael Douglas. 'Apply a gel such as the Shockwaves Natural Definition Styling Gel (£2.54 from tesco.com), blow dry then finish with a touch of wax, clay or gum. I can't think of a hair style where I do not use this technique.'
Style hair when slightly damp
'This allows the product to adhere better to the hair and keeps the style under control but also ensures the hair remains pliable, allowing you to re-mould it at any point throughout the day,' says hairstylist Denis Robinson, who's dressed the tresses of some of the world's biggest celebrities. 'Product applied to dry hair, on the other hand, sits on the surface and doesn't look as good.'
Always apply a moisturiser before crashing out
According to Paolo Giacomoni, Executive Director of Clinique's Research and Development, after a hard day fighting off environmental nasties, skin switches to repair mode at night, making this the optimum time to apply creams aimed at reversing skin damage.

'At night the skin's oxygen consumption and blood flow increase,' he says. 'These are indicators that the skin is preparing for the next day.'
Keep eye creams in the fridge
'Not only does this make them more refreshing but also improves their ability to shrink eyebags,' says leading make-up artist Daniel Sandler. 'Take your cream out a few minutes before using, though, so it's not so cold it shocks the skin and damages capillaries.'
Be aware of your scent circle
'Everyone has a personal 'scent circle' approximately an arm's length from the body,' says Mary Ellen Lapsansky of the Fragrance Foundation in New York. 'Ideally, no one should be aware of your fragrance unless they step inside your 'circle'!' You have been warned!
Double up for the perfect shave
'For a fast and efficient way to improve the quality of your shave try putting an oil under your shaving foam or gel for a super-smooth, close, clean shave,' says Noella Gabriel, who's responsible for developing the skincare products and treatments for spa and skincare brand Elemis.
Know your notes
Okay, so I complied this list but what's my best tip as someone who writes about male grooming for living? Well, if you want a fragrance that's definitely going to be seen as sexy by women go for one like Tom Ford Extreme For Men (£80 for 50ml from harrods.com) which contains sandalwood, patchouli, vanilla and amber - a famous 'nose' once told me these notes tend to be seen as more sensual by women. Just sayin'.
Go easy if you're greasy
'If you have greasy hair it's important not to rub the scalp too hard when washing as this stimulates the sebaceous glands and makes hair even oilier,' says top hairdresser Charles Worthington.

So there you have it - 20 leading men's grooming experts have eached shared their single most useful grooming tip. What's yours? Why not share it in the comments below?