7 Steps to Achieving a Post-Covid Glow Up

7 Steps to Achieving a Post-Covid Glow Up

Time for a lifestyle vibe check
post pandemic style

By Caroline Reilly | Last Updated: Mar 1 2024 | 6 min read

Far be it for me to suggest that, as we go into year three of a global pandemic, you should be trying to do anything beyond getting up every morning and putting one foot in front of the other.

But. 

As the world slowly starts to turn again, I just think it would be a missed opportunity to not reflect on what these years have shown us about our capacity for change. 

That’s right, it’s time for a self-improvement pep talk. 

After all, when else will you get to emerge from a years-long period of isolation like a majestic and stylish butterfly from a covid-encased cocoon? 

…Okay, hopefully never again in our lifetimes. But that’s not the point! The point is, it’s easier than you think to come out of Covid better than you went in.

You might be wondering where to start – do you spice up your wardrobe? Get a Viagra prescription? Take up meditation? Go full reinvention like when The Weeknd cut his hair and started dressing like Eddie Murphy-circa-Delirious?

Well, fear not – here at Style Girlfriend, I love making my clients feel like the new and improved version of themselves both inside and out. 

So, let’s break down how you can nail the post-covid glow up.

Below, 7 tips on improving your post-pandemic style:

1. Get ahold of hair loss or hair thinning

All that time on Zoom the past two years has brought you up close and personal with your hairline. And if you don’t like what you see? Well, now is the exact right time to do something about it.

One of the most effective medications available is finasteride, an FDA-approved treatment you take as a pill once a day. 

You don’t need a doctor’s visit to get your hands on a prescription; instead, complete a (free) telehealth consultation to get started with an affordable and effective hair loss treatment asap.

(Want to check out what to expect from an online consult? We’ve got you.)

2. Up your bedroom game 

It’s safe to say this glow up is a win-win. 

I know this because my time in quarantine involved plenty of Facetime- and phone sex, and along the way I actually learned a thing or two about my likes and dislikes!

How did that happen? Because I took time during isolation to take stock of my pleasure profile, so to speak, and I’m honestly better for it.

Whether you’re partnered or dating, this kind of reflection can be so helpful. 

Maybe you’ll learn about something new that turns you on, and maybe you’ll pick up some moves to enjoy with a future partner. 

Where to start?

Consider subscribing to an ethical porn website like Bellesa, and experiment watching different things. Incorporate toys in the bedroom.

And if you’re having a hard time with arousal or orgasming, don’t be afraid to talk to a doctor or psychiatrist. Sexual health and mental health are closely linked! 

Which brings us to our next item on the covid glow up checklist… 

3. Work on your inner beauty

After the collective trauma of living through a global pandemic, it’s not a stretch to say we could all use a glow up in the mental health department. 

If you go for a yearly physical and a dental cleaning and other sorts of checkups, but aren’t regularly checking in with your mental health, you’re not really taking care of yourself. 

From talking to an unbiased professional about whatever’s going on in your life to starting medication that helps to ease anxiety or depression you may be experiencing, getting proactive in this area will improve all other areas of your life.

4. Reboot your wardrobe

There’s a good chance you’re coming out of covid with different wardrobe needs than you went in. 

Maybe you’ve lost or gained weight. Maybe you joined the Great Resignation and your work wardrobe needs have changed.

Or maybe the clothes in your closet simply don’t reflect who you are today.

Thankfully, Team SG’s got you covered. Head to our shop page to check out our current fashion favorites for guys, or sign up for a video styling session with a stylist (like me!).

5. Find a tailor 

While we’re talking about your wardrobe…

If you’ve worked with me, you know I always – always – ask if you have a local tailor. 

It’s not enough that you buy stylish clothing, or even that you pair the right items together–they actually have to fit. 

I don’t mean, “This size is the closest it gets” fits. I mean, “When I walk into a room, I immediately command attention because of how confident I look in my great-fitting clothes’ fits. 

And you might be thinking, Well I don’t wear a suit to work – what do I need a tailor for? But remember – tailoring is not just for suits! 

Tailor you chore coat! Hem your jeans! Take in your polo shirts! Yes, really!

Making sure the pieces you wear the most look and feel good on you is a good place to invest a portion of your wardrobe budget.

At a loss for how to find a good tailor? The official Team SG advice is ask the best dressed guy you know. Chances are he’s got one. 

If you don’t know any well-dressed men (which, gasp!), check with the salespeople at high-end menswear shops and department stores where you live. They’re likely to have a few names for you.

6. Take care of the skin you’re in

I know there are men out there who just wash their face with bar soap and have perfect skin but I promise you: you need to actually moisturize. You need daily sunscreen. You even need to exfoliate every once in a while! 

If you haven’t already, now is a great time to adopt a skincare routine that’s right for you.

And I know skincare can be overwhelming – trust me, I’ve been on a 4-step regimen since I was 14, and I still get overwhelmed in Sephora. 

One great place to start is a dermatology appointment. Your skin is an organ, so starting with an assessment of how healthy that organ is and what its needs are can be a great jumping off point. 

Connecting with a professional will also save you troubleshooting and confusion when it comes time to finding the right routine for you.