The Guy's Grooming Guide for Your 40s

Want to keep your hair and skin in great shape at every age? Of course you do! Check out this grooming guide for your 40s, and our other guides for your twenties, thirties, and forties...

The good news first. Guys today have cast off most Mad Men-style vices that can age a person prematurely. Except for bourbon. Always say yes to bourbon. If you’ve been exercising, eating right, and yes, looking after your skin, your forties should be pretty smooth sailing for your face and body. To keep it that way, follow the pointers below.

Below, the guys’ guide to grooming for your 40s to stay looking your best:

1. Whiten Up

You could swear off wine, coffee and cigarettes and still have yellow teeth by now. Thankfully, this is one of the easiest cosmetic problems to fix. You’ve even got your choice of two paths: at-home remedies, or professional care.

If you’re going the at-home route, be sure to also invest in whitening toothpaste, mouthwash, and floss (how else are you going to whiten the nooks and crannies?). That will help with upkeep, but your biggest allies are whitening strips — just don’t fall asleep with them on, and don’t use them more than once a year.

The professional route is faster, pricier (around $400-600, depending where you live), and gives better results. The peroxide gel most dentists use is similar, but more powerful than the stuff you’ll find on drugstore strips, and while it may take more than one session to get the desired look, you get what you pay for.

If you do see a professional, make sure you talk about what kind of white you’re looking for — no one wants to end up with glow-in-the-dark fluorescent choppers. Leave that to Ross on Friends.

2. Hold On To Your Hair

It’s time to take stock of what’s still up top. If you’re one of those blessed dudes with a full head of hair in his forties, go ahead and skip this section. Just know you dodged a bullet.

If your hair’s thinning at the crown or receding at the hairline, there are some steps you can take now. 

Rogaine, which uses minoxidil to increase blood circulation around the follicle, is the most popular option on the market, though brands like Hims and Keeps are nipping at their heels. Rub it into your hair twice daily and cross your fingers, as 40% of guys see regrowth after six months. Another option, Bosley, uses a DHT blocker to keep testosterone (the hormone responsible from hair loss) from hitting your hairline — it’s available as a shampoo, mousse, or supplement. 

The most effective treatment is a Propecia prescription, but that comes with some drawbacks. It’s rarely covered by insurance, so will run you about $100 a month, and 1.5% of guys have complained about ED as a side effect. It’s a small percentage, but a full head of hair only gets you so far if the plumbing’s not working downstairs, so check with your doctor before you start popping pills.