How vain is too vain?

There’s a very fine line between being vain and taking care over your appearance, and we’ll start by saying this: no gentleman is vain. Vanity is not a word that anyone should care to be associated with, least of all a fine gentleman such as yourself. Of course, everyone should take care of their appearance, but how vain is too vain? And how do you know if you’ve reached that point?

DO YOU KNOW THE DISTINCTION?

Caring about the appearance you give off to the outside world is without a doubt something that every gentleman needs to consider on a daily basis. You need to remember, though, that there is a definite line between being vain and simply taking care of yourself. And although some gentlemen find it harder than others to make that distinction, remember that you are a gentleman of poise with great manners and, therefore, vanity should never be associated with you.

HOW IS YOUR PENCHANT FOR PRODUCTS?

The plethora and range of men’s grooming products can be highly confusing, even to the most well-groomed gentleman. However, just because there are a lot of products on the market does not mean that you have to purchase every single one. Sure, test a few out – but once you know what works for you, stick to a brand you know and do not over-complicate things. If you have more products than will fit on your bathroom shelf or more products than your girlfriend, you’re officially vain.

HOW LONG DO YOU TAKE?

If you’re taking longer than your girlfriend/wife/mother/sister/female housemate in the bathroom, it’s time to take things down a notch. You should be the one waiting for her to finish getting ready, not the other way around. Go back to basics: whoever said that things had to be more complicated than a razor, a good splash of aftershave and a decent rub of moisturiser? Remember, though, you’re a gentleman and just because you need to tone it down does not give you an excuse to suddenly become unkempt.

DO YOU CATCH YOUR OWN REFLECTION?

Trust us when we say that there is nothing less attractive than a man who is constantly on the look out for his own reflection. Unless, of course, he is looking out for his own reflection and then smiling and winking at it: that is unforgivable. A gentleman needs to be focused on the world around him and the people he is with, his focus should never solely be on himself. If you’re this guy, you need to stop: you’ve officially become vain.

If your grooming products need a rethink, head here.