Golden Rules

1. No long hair

   Unless you’re movie or rock star, long hair is probably not gonna happen for you. Be on the safe side, get it trimmed - regularly. If you are balding, it is even more important to cut it short - nothing is worse than some guy with a comb over trying to hide his bald spot.

2. No facial hair, especially nose and ear hair

   That’s right - no beard, and definitely no ’stache. Keep those sideburns in check too. Yes, some men look good with facial hair, but why take the risk?

   But there’s more to this rule - NOSE HAIR is a massive turnoff. It simply must be kept under control or you’re disqualified right there. Take care of that ear hair too, if it’s a problem. Finally, make sure you aren’t sporting a unibrow, that’s a big no-no.

3. Make sure nails are trimmed and clean. No ear wax

   Who knew - women really pay attention to a guy’s finger nails. They want to see them clean, and trimmed to a reasonable length (no crack-sniffing pinky nail please.) For ears, wax buildup can be a serious issue. Use a tissue after every shower, or (lightly) use a cotton swab to keep your ears clear.

4. No cologne

   This is not a direct suggestion - very few women responded that you should not wear cologne per se (though most said use a light one.) What we did find is one woman would say “oh, Hugo Boss is great, I recommend that” whereas two others would say “whatever you do, don’t get Hugo Boss, I can’t stand it, ” or “Hugo Boss reminds me of my ex-boyfriend, no good.” Thus we recommend going with no scent for now, to be safe. Your soap and shampoo, plus freshly washed clothing, will make for an attractive scent on its own.

5. Bathe regularly (I can’t believe we have to say this)

   This should go without saying, however visit any college engineering or computer science lab and clearly this common sense rule is not being followed. C’mon, it only takes 10 minutes, and the people around will be eternally grateful.