Mission: Pogi

So you want to be pogi, eh? Luckily, these days being handsome doesn’t just mean having the soulful eyes of Papa Piolo, the abs of Channing Tatum, and the caramel complexion of Derek Ramsay. Pogi can mean someone who always looks mabango and presentable, someone who looks like he’s got his sh*t together. Sure, a good sense of humor plays a big part in being attractive, so does a good heart, but before you get to chat up that hot chick or drag her along to one of your charitable events, you need to catch her attention first. Read on and get on it, man.

Skin

Two things: one, stop using your girlfriend or sister’s skincare items. Men’s skin is different from women’s so yours is bound to have its own special needs and concerns. “Men have specific issues like oilier skin with larger pores.  Testosterone increases sebum production making them prone to acne. They also have more incidences of razor burn and ingrown hair due to shaving the wrong way,” shares Dr. Windie Hayano of The Skin Inc. Dermatology and Laser Center (www.skininc.ph). The basics for skin care are to cleanse, tone, moisturize and protect. Get a face wash that makes your skin feel clean and smooth, not squeaky-clean and tight. Try and smile after you wash your face, does it feel like your skin’s about to crack? Chances are your facial cleanser is too harsh. You skin should feel supple and soft. Those battling acne usually make the mistake of getting something overly harsh, but going gentle will make your skin rebel less. Toner is for cleaning up any residual dirt or products left on your skin and can also be treatment for acne-prone skin. Moisturizer is, well, for moisturizing. All skin types benefit from a moisturizer, even oily skin as those who have acne usually have dry spots on their face from pimple medication. The right kind of moisturizer (usually a gel type or something similarly lightweight) will help control the slick-fest and treat these flaky areas. The last step would be to protect your skin with sunblock — yes, even if you’re not going to the beach. “You need to apply and reapply sunblock every two to three hours. Especially if you sweat or rub your face a lot,” shares Dr. Yanee Vazquez of Aesthetic Science (www.aestheticscienceclinic.com). Now, the aim is not to get the pinky-white skin that you see on skincare ads. You don’t need to be flawless, and you certainly shouldn’t be more makinis than your girlfriend! We’re supposed to be the pretty ones, not you. Leave the cute blushing to us. Just keep your skin skin-disease free and clean. Go and visit a dermatologist to get the guesswork out of what will work for you.

Two, the rest of your body is covered in skin, too. In case you haven’t noticed. Skincare extends to the rest of your body so check for warts, fungal infections (goodbye, athlete’s foot, more so if you’re not even an athlete), scaly bits, etc. There is more to body cleansing than just mountain-pine-smelling soaps. There are specific body washes made for men on the market today that can even double as shampoo, if you’re a busybody.

“The important thing to remember is maintenance. Start with having a skin care routine that you can stick to. Have the right products that are appropriate for your skin type,” adds Dr. Windie. “Visit your dermatologist for regular facials and treatments,” says Dr. Yanee. Just think of how you take care of your car. You regularly have it washed, waxed, tuned up. The same goes for you.

Pogi Pahabol: Are you outdoors a lot? Then a heavy-duty sunblock is essential. Even those who drive to work every day need sunblock. You may be rocking that caramel-brown skin now, but that will later translate to wrinkly, leathery skin. Are your palms and pits perpetually producing too much sweat? A Botox shot to these areas might be the solution. Pizza-faced? Have a dermatologist treat it ASAP to prevent scarring.

Hair

Ah, men and their hair. There are a lot of areas that can be discussed, but to keep it at the most basic, facial hair should be managed daily, body hair regularly. For your crowning glory, get a haircut that flatters your face, age, and lifestyle. That faux-hawk that looks awesome on that chiseled and perpetually topless male model might not look so good on round-faced, corporate go-getter you. Long wispy bangs? Better left to angst-ridden adolescents. Take a look at yourself in the mirror and make an honest assessment of your hair texture, face shape, willingness to groom and use products, and lifestyle. Most guys who work in a corporate environment just need a clean cut that makes them look polished and professional. Those in more artsy fields can get away with much more adventurous cuts. At the most basic, keep your mane dandruff-free and smelling good.

In terms of facial hair, you should have two eyebrows, not one long higad-like feature on your face. Tweeze stray hair in between your brows or ask your girlfriend, sister — or better yet, go to an eyebrow-grooming center. That perpetual frown on your face brought on by your monobrow might be one of the culprits to your chick-free life. Nosehair? Trim it. If they wave hello to your hot date whenever you exhale, we bet you will never see her again. Now for that goatee, beard, pornstache and the like: groom them regularly and keep food off of them. Make sure you have enough facial hair going on to make the artful shape you’re aiming for at the chin. If all you have are lonely strands of hair, with bald spots, then just please shave them all off. You’re not fooling anyone with that abstract tuft on your face. Shave in the direction of hair growth. Wax if you like. “Men can sometimes get ingrown hair on their faces that they mistake as pimples. Careful shaving will help avoid these,” adds Dr. Yanee.

Now on to body hair. Underarm hair — okay to be left alone unless they peek out of short-sleeved tops, then you might have to trim them a bit. Chest and leg hair — you can wax it if you want a cooler and smoother feel. If you choose to shave, make sure to do so in the direction of hair growth to avoid painful ingrown hair. Waxing will result to a smoother finish and longer intervals of being hair free. Back hair and butt hair are never sexy. Wax those as shaving will make the hair grow back thicker (you shave the hair strands midway, at their thickest parts), resulting in skin chaffing. Waxing will make the hair grow back soft. Now, as for your nether regions — that’s purely a personal choice. You’ll find though that careful trimming will create an optical illusion of not just a cleaner area, but also of a longer shaft. Yes, grooming pays off. But be gentle. Be careful. You can always go to professionals to be safe and for better results.

Pogi Pahabol: Losing hair? Prematurely graying? Again, visit a dermatologist for an accurate assessment and proven solutions. In the meantime, you can color your hair to help conceal gray hair. It’s not true that you get more gray hair after you’ve colored it. Once you start getting gray hair, then you’ll get more no matter what you do. For thinning hair, ask your barber for a shorter cut to help add bulk to thinning hair. 

Bonus points

Fragrance plays a big part in seduction. Choose a cologne or eau de toilette that blends well with your natural odor and sweat. Before buying anything, spritz the tester on your wrist and walk around the mall for a bit. If the resulting scent smells good, go for it. Remember not to over-spray, though. You should smell good enough to make us want to lean in and snuggle, and not be so overpoweringly fragranced that we can still smell you in the elevator even after you’ve stepped out five floors ago.

For your nails, keep them trimmed and clean. Absolutely no polish, and no orange merthiolate. You can actually get poisoned from that orange stuff. Look it up on the net. Dark polish only looks good on specific boys. You can either look artsy and intriguing with it or look like you’re trying too hard to be cool and different. Clean and trimmed nails look good on everybody.

Does it all sound like too much work? Shouldn’t you be loved just as you are? Unless you’re like Brad Pitt or Johnny Depp who look hot even if they haven’t showered for days, then you need to put in some work just like the rest of us. I know, your dad survived on antibacterial soap alone as his shampoo, face wash, and body soap, but those were different, simpler times. Men are expected to take better care of themselves now and there is no shame in having your own kit for your toiletries and skin care. An average-looking guy who takes the time to take care of himself can easily beat a hot guy but with smelly hair and dirty nails. Get facials, visit a salon, dab on eye cream. A fair warning though from the men who’ve been there and been that: Mahirap maging pogi. Are you ready for it?