Читать книгу The Rules of the Game - Neil Strauss - Страница 22

DAY 5 BRIEFING

GROOMING CHECKLIST

Choose at least one of the items on this list and make the suggested change. Not all of these tips will apply to everyone. Some are overly remedial; others are extremely meticulous. A few of the tips you’ll be able to implement in just a few minutes at no cost; others may take time or money. Avoid the tasks you’re most comfortable with. It’s the changes you’re uncomfortable with that will lead to the most improvement.

Change your hairstyle. Look through music and men’s fashion magazines, find the haircut you’d most like to have, and make an appointment at the best beauty salon in town. Bring the photo with you. Make sure you ask your hairstylist to recommend any hair product necessary to maintain your new look.

Ditch the glasses. Get contacts or laser surgery. If your glasses complement your style, consider getting cool designer frames.

Get tan. The quickest and easiest way to do this is to get a spray-tan at a tanning salon. Make sure they use a relatively realistic-looking brand, like Mystic Tan.

Get a manicure and pedicure. Go to any nail salon. It isn’t necessary to get a colored polish; just ask to get your nails buffed or request a clear top coat. Not only does this convey good grooming, but it will help you understand that the reason a woman pays attention to the small details on you is that she pays attention to those details on herself.

Remove excess hair. Get tweezers or a nose-hair trimmer, and remove any hair in your nostrils, between your eyebrows, in your ears, and on the back of your neck. If you’re particularly hirsute elsewhere, trim it, shave it, or pluck it.

Examine yourself closely in a mirror. If possible, buy a magnifying mirror. Remove any visible ear wax with a Q-tip; tweeze any stray hairs; clip and clean your fingernails and toenails; and look for oily skin, dry skin, bags under your eyes, or other problem areas that require the use of specialized facial products.

Manage your eyebrows. Go to a spa or salon and get your eyebrows tweezed (or waxed), and, optionally, dyed a slightly darker or lighter shade.

Whiten your teeth. Buy an over-the-counter tooth whitening system, such as Crest Whitestrips, and begin using it tonight. If you haven’t seen a dentist in over a year, make an appointment.

Freshen your breath. Start flossing daily. Consider getting a tongue scraper if halitosis is a problem. Buy gum or mints, and carry them with you at all times.

Get free dermatology advice. Go to a department store cosmetics counter and ask the beautician what facial products she recommends for your skin type. Feel free to ask for samples or buy cheaper equivalents at a drugstore. If you consider your complexion to be a major liability, make an appointment to see a dermatologist.

Accessorize. Buy a necklace, rings, a bracelet, a wrist cuff, or any other tasteful accoutrement. Try not to get anything that looks too cheap and mass produced—even if it is. When in doubt, err on the side of wearing something simple for now.

Join a gym. Make an appointment with a trainer to get a fitness evaluation and exercise regimen that includes both cardiovascular training to reduce fat and resistance training to increase muscle mass. Make working out a borderline obsession.

Eat healthier. Control your caloric intake and review your diet to limit saturated fats, refined sugars, excess salt, and food high in preservatives and carbohydrates. Eat fresh fruits, vegetables, and lean protein. If you’re more than forty percent over the weight you should be, consult a doctor about weight loss options.

Make sure your clothes fit. Go through your closet and try on everything. If jackets drop off your shoulders, jeans droop off your butt, short sleeves stop at your elbows, or shirt necks hang down to your chest, either get the item tailored or donate it to a thrift store. Same goes for anything else that doesn’t flatter you. Commit to replacing these items with well-fitting clothes that best suit your build.

If you have any grooming or appearance issue not listed above—be it underarm sweat, foot odor, an unsightly blemish, or your ex-girlfriend’s name tattooed on your neck—this is the day to start taking care of it. Research solutions online; talk to fellow Challengers in the Stylelife forum; and, if necessary, pick up recommended products or make that doctor’s appointment.

Don’t let yourself off the hook when it comes to looks. You no longer have an excuse.