Ewww! 5 Hygienic Dating Deal-Breakers

There is no denying first impressions go a long way in the world of dating, as attraction is a key component in our partner selection.

Not only is your date’s first impression of you important, but the way you appear and portray yourself are significant aspects of connecting emotionally and physically with a man.

Men are very visual, and the majority of men report they will not consider dating you long term if they have concerns about your hygiene.

Wouldn’t you agree that you expect a man to show up to a date looking like he tried and cared about making a good impression?

Many women talk about wanting a well-groomed, clean, handsome man who takes care of himself and his body, and I believe attracting this type of guy starts within.

If you are looking to attract a man who cares for himself and his body, you should care about yourself and your body.

That might include exercise, nutritious eating, practicing healthy lifestyle habits, as well as putting effort into your appearance and personal hygiene.

The key is to turn him on, not turn him off.

Yes, there are innate qualities and characteristics you cannot change about yourself, but there is a lot you can do to radiate beauty and catch (and keep) a man’s eye.

You might have chronic health problems that increase your likelihood for bad breath, hair growth, etc. (no judgment!) However, you can take control and reasonable action to diminish poor hygiene.

You also will notice you naturally feel better when you look your best, leading to increased inner confidence around men.

Once in a relationship, it is easy to put less effort into your own hygiene or become lazy about how you look.

However, it’s essential to keep up with these habits to ensure your partner knows he is important to you, maintain an active and healthy sex life and keep lasting love and attraction.

Here is a glimpse of five hygiene habits men rate as the worst (not in any particular order) and what you can do about them:

It is no surprise a man might be hesitant to kiss you if your breath is bad. Wouldn’t you be less willing to kiss a man with the same problem?

Practice good oral hygiene by brushing your teeth at least twice a day, flossing daily and using mouthwash.

If you have chronic bad breath or halitosis, seek medical attention to ensure you do not have an underlying infection or gum disease and to discuss treatment options.

It also never hurts to carry gum or mints on a date.

Aside from men reporting they love seeing you sweaty post-workout (and you might smell in this state), smelling unpleasant is a major turn-off for men.

On the flip side, they love the feminine scent of a woman who is clean and takes care of herself.

Smelling good is the result of regular bathing and wearing deodorant and also might include scented moisturizers, body products or perfume.

You are human and therefore you have hair on different areas of your body.

This is to be expected, but it is important to men that you groom your eyebrows, upper lip hair, pubic region and underarm hair, which might include waxing, shaving, bleaching, trimming, etc.

The hair on your head is just as important, so put effort into getting a nice haircut with a flattering hairstyle that you feel sexy with and taking good care of your hair. Avoid looking disheveled, showing up with frizzy or greasy hair or using hairspray excessively.

This includes the clothes you wear and the clothes around your home.

If your relationship progresses and he sees dirty clothes thrown all over your floor, no sign of you caring about doing laundry, pet hair all over your possessions or a strong odor coming from your closet, he might find himself second guessing his feelings for you.

Show him you take good care of yourself, your household and your things/clothes by doing laundry/dry cleaning regularly, investing in a hamper and getting rid of stained, old clothing.

Also be sure to do your dishes, clean your bathroom regularly and keep your home organized and smelling fresh.

Dirty, untrimmed and uncared for nails on your hands and feet can be other indicators that you do not value cleanliness and hygiene.

This does not mean you have to have perfectly manicured nails at all times, but rather this implies to maintaining trimmed nails and taking action against grubby nail beds.

If you are on a budget, paint your own nails or at least file and trim them.

Also be open to treating yourself to manicures and pedicures as a form of self-care.

If you feel defensive or wonder why you should have to keep up with your hygiene to get and keep a man, go back to the idea that all of these strategies will help you feel better about yourself and land you the type of relationship you crave.

We all have bad hair days, bad breath sometimes and our own insecurities about our appearance, and the goal is never perfection.

It’s about living a healthy, happy, high quality of life and cultivating loving relationships with others by starting with your own self-care and good hygiene habits.