The old joke about men surviving on a single bar of soap—for face, body and hair—officially belongs to another era. Today’s Indian man, especially in the metros, is investing time, money and real intention into grooming. And it shows. Skin is cleaner and glowing, hair and beards are understated yet immaculate, and fragrances are becoming multi-layered signatures rather than loud declarations.
Sure, vanity plays a role, but it’s also about refinement: small rituals that mirror how men dress, train, travel, and even choose their whisky. Grooming has become an extension of personal style, often guided by the global runways and the quiet-luxury mood dominating fashion today.
Skin Prep: The Rise Of Intentional Skincare In The Modern Man’s Routine
Across Milan, Paris and New York, one thing is clear: good skin is the new power move. Make-up artists aren’t painting faces anymore—they’re engineering skin that looks naturally radiant under every kind of lighting.
Fashion model Dushyant Singh Raghuvanshi swears by a minimal-but-consistent routine. A gentle pH-balanced cleanser, a retinol serum, a solid moisturiser, under-eye cream and of course, sunscreen are his non-negotiables before big shoots or runway shows.
Chemical exfoliation has also gone mainstream. AHAs and BHAs—like lactic acid, glycolic acid and salicylic acid—help smoothen texture and clear dead skin, making way for healthier, brighter complexions.
Moisture Matters: The Role Of Deep Hydration In Healthy, Resilient Skin
Hydration continues to be the backbone of every luxe routine. When asked about his pre-event rituals, content creator Ankush Bahuguna says, “A lot of hydration. Especially under-eye hydration. I will apply a thick layer of moisturiser and under-eye cream the night before any important event so I wake up with supple soft skin.”
His holy-grail? The iconic Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream, a long-standing luxury favourite.
The rising focus on skin prep reflects a larger shift. It’s not about masking anymore, but about nurturing. And yes, Indian men are finally talking about sunscreen. With our year-round UV exposure, a zero-cast SPF is a must-have.
Signature Scent: Building A Fragrance Identity That Feels Like You
No grooming guide is complete without fragrance, but the rules have changed. The era of loud power colognes has given way to something more nuanced, personal and layered.
Men today gravitate toward white musks, salt notes, dry woods, tobacco leaf, bergamot, iris and skin-like ambers. Scent layering—combining a clean base with a richer top—is helping craft truly individual olfactory signatures.
The modern Indian man isn’t wearing a perfume for the label anymore; he’s wearing it to tell his story.
Hair and beard care
South Asian hair needs its own kind of care. Runway cues this season lean towards looks that feel effortless yet intentional. Texture is the mantra: soft waves, matte volume, subtle movement. Hair creams, clays, pomades and sea salt sprays are replacing stiff gels, giving shape without crunch, especially important in the Indian humid climate.
Celebrity stylist Aalim Hakim recommends, “Try everything. Styling products are like food for the hair and you will never know what best suits you until you try. So I always encourage buying trial sizes.”
Beards are also entering their low-maintenance-luxe phase. Hyper-sculpted styles are giving way to clean yet natural shapes that enhance the jawline without looking overly groomed. “Washing your beard everyday is important. Beard oils, serums and balms make a huge difference. Invest in a good trimmer,” adds Hakim.
