Written by Paddy Maddison in Grooming on the 6th January 2017

The cold weather is now officially upon us and unfortunately your standard grooming routine just isn’t going to cut it any more. Winter grooming is a lot more complicated. The cold will wreak all kinds of havoc with your skin, and the lack of sun can deprive you of essential vitamins. But don’t worry – just follow our lead and keep yourself expertly preened until the sun comes out again.

DON’T: Forget to change your fragrance 

Every guy should have at least a couple of good fragrances, one for the summer months and one for the winter months. Summer is all about fruity, citrusy scents, while dark, woody aromas work much better in the colder months. If you don’t already have a winter smell then now’s the time to invest. Look out for long-lasting eau de parfums as opposed eau de toilettes, as the cold air can lessen the impact of your fragrance quickly.

DO: Keep your place humidified 

The winter really is cruel. You spend all day in the cold, which dries your skin out, and then you come home and crank up the central heating, which dries your skin out. When it comes to keeping your skin hydrated in the house you have two options: Placing a few bowls of water around the house can help to keep a bit of moisture in the air, or, if you have the cash to splash then invest in a humidifier.

DON’T: Forget your vitamins 

Now that you can’t sun yourself every day you’re going to be missing out on a lot of vitamin D. Vitamin D is formed by sunlight hitting your skin, so with the lack of it in the winter you’re going to want to invest in some vitamin D supplements and make sure to take them daily.

DO: Look after your hair 

Keratin is a protein responsible for keeping your barnet looking glossy and healthy, but in the winter both heating and cold weather can make the natural Keratin in your hair diminish. You can get around this by using Keratin boosting hair products to keep your hair looking thick, full and luxurious.

DON’T: Neglect facial hair 

The winter can dry your hair out so it should come as no great surprise that it can do the same for your facial hair. To avoid your beard taking on the appearance of its neighbour downstairs, make sure to keep it nourished with beard oil or a good moisturiser. Not only will this keep it hydrated but it will also keep it looking glossy and smooth.

DO: Moisturise 

You probably already know that those sub-zero temperatures can seriously dry out your skin. You really need to keep it moisturised, unless you want to come out the back end of February with the skin of a rhino. A heavy moisturiser will work best, and keep an eye out for the ones that are specially formulated for dry skin.

We discuss the rules and faus pas or male beauty in this guide to Winter Grooming Do’s and Don’ts.