Could be something physical (skincare, stretching), emotional (therapy, journaling), or social (asking for help, complimenting your friends).
Not talking about basic hygiene or “just be nice” — I’m curious about things that genuinely made your life better once you got past the stigma.
Comments
Moisturing for sure. Mobility/stretching/yoga/pilates. These two things pay huge dividends over time, if only to maintain things you used to take for granted. All the guys who mocked me for these things are not doing so well into their 40s and 50s.
I never understood why putting on moisturizer was such a big deal. You’re out in the sun and the wind all day doing damage to yourself. Give your skin a chance to rebuild every night (or after a shower/sun).
Fancy soaps that reduce dark spots
I avoided admitting to the guys around me that, when they talk about sports, I often have no idea whatsoever what they’re talking about, because I don’t follow sports.
Them: How about those Spurs!
Me: Yes. Amazing. [I know they’re a team; I have no idea what sport or anything about them.]
Now I have no problem telling the guys that I don’t know what the hell they’re talking about. I don’t care what they think of me.
Shaving my ass and using butt wipes. Total game changer!
Facial cleanser, masks, and moisturizer. I used lotion pretty well for my body but never facial items until my mid 20s. Skin always looks good
Skincare, hair care, opening up about feelings. All come to mind.
I’ll even throw in a wild card: Yoga and pillates. I joined my wife for one of her classes and damn near pulled a hip. Yoga is hard as hell.
Sitting down to pee whenever I can. Better flow , better emptying, less splashing
Hot yoga. That shit is brutal and is just as hard, if not harder, then a hard lifting session at the gym.
I’m stronger, I’m less susceptible to injury, and my cardio has improved noticeably (I also run)
Lol, my profile is literally the answer😂
I’ve always showered and bathed but the huge game changer was using an exfoliator towel after my trip in Asia. I was addicted in the first place from the exfoliating massage for my skin and felt my whole body glow during the day light. I also kept physically feeling myself because of how smooth I felt.
I highly recommend doing this during your showers.
Crying, facing my emotions instead of avoiding them, helped me understand and improve myself batter.
Skincare, man. It was a game changer for my self-image; and a great way to start relaxing after a long day.
Pedicures. Feels great for my feet.
Pedicures, recently started getting the nails painted too! Wife doesn’t mind. I mean, i’m already paying for the service. Why not include it all? And it is a turn on having my feet and legs scrubbed.
Also, not ashamed to say I don’t do or watch and sport religiously. Now my son takes after me. There was a little shame in telling people he too is not interested in sports but I’ve gotten over that too.
Pedicures. Having my feet done has been an eye-opener
Expensive underwear.
I stopped masturbating at my local Wendy’s which was a game changer for my reputation.
Moisturizer. One winter, I was fixing pressure washers under warranty to Canadian Tire (eh?) and my hands started to feel like alligator hands. I was so uncomfortable. I thought all moisturizer was “for chicks.” This was 2003. It was a different time. Putting on moisturizer for the first time after a life of dry skin was pretty great.
Also, I sit down to piss when I’m at work because it’s the only time I get to sit down.
Anal
Massages and therapy, recommend them. The therapy is less expensive though but more difficult to book
A bidet
hair care.
Inner thigh machine for leg day
I think the most masculine thing you can do, is to do what you want, and what you like. Falling victim to think you have to be a certain way to be considered masculine is crazy.
I like my fancy shampoo and conditioner (Aveda rosemary mint), I like how it smells and it wakes me up in the shower. I also use moisturizer a couple times a week because my skin just feels better.
Also, I can process a deer, or rabbit. I love cooking homemade meals,, BBQ, and I can bake. Filet a fish, fix appliances, and DIY most home renovations, and car maintenance Also I can do laundry, dishes, and general housework.
People need to let go of the idea that certain things are masculine or feminine, just be yourselves.
Dancing.
Using a fanny pack.
Always associated it with old white man coded.
Saw them become accepted & still resisted. Finally caved because I hate having things in my pockets.
Beauty facemasks
Sit in a hot bath, have a glass of white wine and relax.
I used to walk 6.5 miles round trip to work M-F and run about 20-30 miles a week. My feet always felt “tired”, like I’d been standing all day. I started soaking them in hot water with a eucalyptus epsom salt foot soak, then coating them with Bag Balm and put socks on over night. The routine provided immediate relief and the ointment softened the skin and made my feet feel amazing.
Now I live on a sailboat and I’m barefoot nearly all the time. My feet are a mess. I need to start my old routine back up again.
Watched an interview of Kevin gates yesterday where he expressed learning Yoga in prison. At first he took the stance of Nah, I’m not goin bend over then he was recommended it enough times to give it a shot bc someone told him it helps heal the body and eliminate joint pains. … fellas, healing isn’t gay.
Social dancing, like salsa or tango. It gives the feeling that you’re a man more than many things I’ve done before
Pedicures. I started getting ingrown toenails and pedicures fix this. Also I love the Spa treatment that comes with a good pedicure.
Skincare routine. Wash face with salicylic acid in the morning, apply sunblock. Wash face with salicylic acid in the evening, apply either a moisturizer and/or a resurfacing serum and on occasion an overnight mask. I also moisturize the rest of my body with almond oil. I have a much younger girlfriend who says she wants me to look young for as long as I can. 😂
I’ve always figured I’m more of a feminine guy then most but I have realized more so reading this just how much. I do almost everything that has been said already except the yoga lol. Conditioner, skincare, being emotionally vulnerable and mature, crying, exfoliating soaps, sitting down and using the toilet unless I’m in the woods, and more. Appreciating, giving, and accepting hugs has been a big one. I’ve never felt unmanly doing any of it. Most of my friends are girls and so I’ve always kinda asked them for advice and such.
Therapy. Acknowledging my emotions and working through them instead of burying everything.
I started shaving my armpits a few years ago and I’ll never go back. I wish I’d been doing it my whole life. I stopped having to worry about pit stains in everyday activities
2 things:
1.) Skin care routine.
2.) Sitting down to piss(at home)
I look much better than I do 5 years ago and our bathroom is much much cleaner. My wife is happy.
Absolutely nothing. I can’t imagine anything less masculine than not doing whatever the fuck you want to do. It’s like the biggest cornerstone of being a man, you make your own decisions and you define masculinity.
Long, hot baths with epsom salt. The Dr. Teal’s eucalyptus smells awesome, not girly at all. I put on a podcast and just zone out in there.
Using a bidet.
Skin care routine! I wash my face every day. Exfoliate and moisturize every other day. I have a lot of laugh lines, but I look really good lol.
Literally nothing.
I decided that defining what I couldn’t or couldn’t do by whether it was masculine or not was less masculine than doing whatever it was I wanted to which is therefore more masculine.
It’s wild to me that people do that.
taking care of my skin…i have a while routine now…specific lotions/soaps/moisturizers for different body parts
Bidet. 100% changed my life. They get you completely clean and are also able to help when…..the pipes are blocked.
I went to a ballet featuring Swan Lake and actually enjoyed it. Been doing a lot more theater over the years…
Not sure I intentionally avoided it, but pedicures. It’s not so much about toe nails as the whole foot treatment. Almost every time the woman jokingly asks what color, I tell them they can pick any color and paint them if they want, I don’t really care, they could practice a design on my big toe if they want, I wear closed toe shoes 99% of the time.
i’m sure a lot of people will say this but therapy was incredibly helpful for me. i’ve had three separate “engagements” with therapists over the years for a variety of issues and i always found it extremely rewarding. gotta find the right therapist for you, though!
and maybe a more… uh… practical one: regular intake of metamucil makes every morning a smooth delight :p
Letting myself sing around other people. It’s actually easier to do on stage than in a room with a couple friends around (less personal). But I’m squashing that anxiety.
I don’t think I have ever thought to myself “I’m not going to try that because it would make me look like less of a man.” I honestly feel sorry for men who think like that and judge others. What a sad way to live.
Cleaning my own dirt.
Getting pedicures. I am on my feet 10 hours a night so just having my feet taken care has helped tremendously
Laser hair removal on my ass crack. Who the fuck wants to poop through a bunch of hair? Best $700 I ever spent.
Pegging
Well its a little thing but shaving armpits. I used to use a lot of deodorant to fight my sweating armpits and the deodorant clogged to my t-shirts armpits to a disgusting mush. I washed my shirts after one use but it wasnt enough.
So when I finally started shaving my armpits this problem was solved. I dont need to use extra amount of deo and I dont sweat as much. So yes its a relatively small thing but now my shirts wont get ruined as fast.
Unless I’m being sarcastic and overemphasizing something I’ve never really cared about masculine or feminine. There’s never been a stigma. I’ve got a dick, therefore I’m a guy. Doesn’t matter if I can coordinate fashion, do hair and makeup, interior design, grow flowers, cook, whatever other “feminine” stuff there is. The fact that my dangly bits are further south than those of the opposite gender is the only defining factor. Anyone who thinks otherwise can shove off.
Therapy. Believe me I still have a lot to work on but I’m several magnitudes happier and healthier now that I have an expert to work through my emotions with
Gardening
I’m a chick. But I’m enjoying reading through these! Do what makes you happy!! More than anything I just want men to do what they want without being criticized for doing something that is too “feminine”.
Patty Cake
Pedicures
Yoga. To much “ass-in-the-air’m” poses
Yoga and Pilates. Its doing good things for my aging body and Ive found I’m far less prone to injury
Pruning roses and other garden plants. Great meditation and something you can take pride in
Having soft fluffy blankets and pillows. Shit is do much more comfortable. Also my room is decorated with cherry blossoms, yeah it is pink but they look nice and go well with my fantasy nature theme in my room.
Super easy answer: wearing swim briefs to the beach or pool. Now, I can’t bear wearing anything long and baggy in the water. Also, motivates me to keep the physical body trim and fit!
Stop caring about what morons think is MaScUlInE. So what if I like fruity drinks? I’m paying for those myself. Just do what you want, those who matter won’t care, those who care don’t matter.
Being OK with not knowing how to do something.
Therapy. It saved my life
I use concealer makeup to cover blemishes on my face. It’s easy and makes me look 100% better.
Talking about my feelings. Telling people when I need their support. My friends have been there for me and the connections are deeper
Getting massages and manicures
Yeah fucking skincare routine man. Charcoal face wash, clinic maximum hydrator, fucking after sun soothing lotion, everything. It’s great.
Being more… feminine? Hear me out. Being in touch with your feelings and being more emotive. Embracing sensuality, not just in the sexual sense, but being more passionate about things that matter to you. Even learning to pose in photos with a touch of femininity has made a huge difference.
Be cheerful and bubbly when I’m happy. I.E. Showing it outwardly. I’m tired of being ‘stoic’.
Skin Care, Oral Hygiene, Fashion, Dance Classes. Cooking. Indoor Plants. Interior Design.
I didn’t know how awesome it was to sit and pee
Shaping my eyebrows
Pedicures
Crocs…..for some reason I thought they were just a little feminine. Now I’ll die with these bad boys on.
Guinea pigs.
Always thought they were “girls’ pets” and wouldn’t have ever in my life gotten some on my own. But my wife adopted some and I fell in love. They’re absolutely adorable pets and I would die for them.
Face moisturizer with hyluronic acid and using a bidet.
Skin care.
2x a day and a scrub once a week.
Baths.
Baths are based…
Crocs. I’m a Crocs guy now.
Journaling quite literally brought so much clarity to my emotions in literally less than a month
Regardless of age, guys need to be held. It never goes away, if he’s gonna cry hold him till he’s done. It’s a bonding he will never forget. I have 14 guys i mentor, i’m 68, they all need it.
Wearing a fanny pack when I was a nurse at a nursing home.
And becoming a nurse as well.
Sitting down to pee (less cleaning), having a skincare regime (better skin), sleeping with stuffed animals (I drift off faster hugging something).
Butt plugs!
Dancing
Washing my face and moisturizing/lotion
relevant: those who can afford to should go get a professional massage
Therapy
Spa Treatments. Brother, a 2.5 hour full body scrub and aroma therapy massage with moisturizing tiger balm package plus a mani pedi does something to you, man.
You feel born again, I’m not even exaggerating.
A better question nowadays would be, ‘What is something that men avoid doing because it is too masculine?’
I’ve met too many guys, typically cynical types, who avoid physical training and exercise because they read the constant barrage of questions like this and things of a similar sentiment, and get it into their heads that they should neglect their physical health and wellbeing because being too conscious of it would make them seem like a dude bro, knucklehead, or other masculine stereotype.