Maybe bad hygiene is a bigger turn off for women than men, but I can’t imagine too many men standing in line to talk to a woman in sweat pants who hasn’t bathed in days (unless she’s a celebrity). Women may be more vocal about the issue of hygiene, but both men and women appreciate those who bath and groom regularly.
When I left for college, I had no idea how blessed I’d be in the roommate department. I was roommates with a friend from my hometown area – and though we had our normal share of roommate squabbles, I am pleased to announce to the world that she bathed… daily! This may not seem like a big deal to some of you, but I was amazed at how many females in our dorm complained about their roommates not taking hygiene seriously. It’s hard enough living in an apartment with someone who doesn’t shower, wash clothes, or brush teeth, but when you are forced to live, eat, sleep, and breathe in the same room with someone, how that person smells becomes important.
Gentlemen, I’ll start with you only because I have a little more experience with the female opinion. In general, ladies have a very good sense of smell. So good, in fact, that if we are around an unpleasant aroma it will completely zap our train of thought. All we can do is seek shelter from the overwhelming, penetrating fragrance!
Men are more likely than women to have physically demanding jobs that come complete with layers of sweat. Women do like men who sweat; it shows a manly strength that is attractive – so, I’m not suggesting that men stop sweating. What I am suggesting is that if you want to keep your lady happy, always take a few minutes to shower in between sweaty work or play and time spent with your woman. Most locker rooms I’ve seen come complete with showers! ~smile~ (And if you’d rather not shower in public, then a quick one at home would work nicely.)
If a woman is already in love, no stench is going to make her lose that lovin’ feelin’ (though she may make herself scarce while her man cleans up), but if you are approaching a woman for a date, or just to talk, make sure to be clean and well groomed.
This does not mean you need to get dressed up anytime you want to talk with a lady. If you are a jeans and t-shirt kind of guy, then be yourself and wear jeans and a t-shirt! Just make sure they are clean, that you are wearing deodorant, and if you want to go the extra mile, try wearing a little cologne or aftershave. Women are generally suckers for good-smelling men. Believe me: five to ten minutes of preparation can make the difference in a woman taking you seriously or not.
Now ladies, we’re not off the hook. Just because the nursery rhyme tells us that girls are made of sugar and spice and everything nice doesn’t mean we don’t have to put effort into our own cleanliness. We can stink with the best of them if we set our minds to it. Men are primarily visual, so take a little extra time in the grooming department. I’m not suggesting that you break the bank getting a manicure and/or pedicure every week, but get out of bed a little earlier and put that extra five minutes into your daily grooming routine. It’s not fair to complain that men are shallow and only interested in appearance if you don’t take any time to appear interested in taking care of yourself. We don’t take men seriously who are unkempt and sloppy, so why is it okay to label them as shallow for not taking us seriously in our sweats and unwashed hair?
Sometimes hygiene problems don’t rear their ugly heads until after marriage. It is can be easy for a man to feel as though he has conquered the task of obtaining a wife after marriage. So, the same man who washed his car, got a haircut, spent a fortune on clothes and cologne, and bought flowers before every date now lies around the house in dirty clothes, and producing borderline illegal smells (yes, I’m aware that sometimes smells cannot be helped ~smile~).
On the flip side, it is easy for a woman who spent so much money and energy keeping fit, squeezing in the trendy clothes, and trying all the new care products and makeup, to breathe a sigh of relief. “I’ve been caught. He loves me. Now I can be comfortable!” I am a lover of comfort, so I’m not suggesting that you never be comfortable. But, it is important not to completely let yourself go. Just as your boyfriend likes to see you made up, your future husband will like it too. It may not happen as often as before marriage, but it should still be worked into the priority list. And a side note to the men – women are still suckers for cologne after marriage too! ~wink~
This turn off is so unnecessary. Though it can be hard to change ingrained habits such as bragging and bad manners, it only takes a little extra effort in the hygiene department to make a world of difference. So, take that time to clean up and smell good!
Some attribute falling in love to a certain song, dimly lit restaurant, or stroll on the beach at sunset. Instead, it could be that your soap is the item to thank!
How does bad hygiene turn you off to someone of the opposite sex?