So, before your next heat wave rolls in, here are some ideas, tips, and tricks to keep cooler during those summer months.

Clothing

Wearing the right kind of clothing is important, so here are some things to take into consideration as you dress for the heat.

1. Wear temperature-regulating shirts and underwear

The latest fabric innovations can help keep you cooler and reduce moisture. One such innovation is known as RealCool Cotton™, and it’s used by a number of designers and clothing manufactures, including high-end brands, like Calvin Klein.

2.  Wear cotton or linen clothes

If you can’t get your hands clothing made from temperature-regulating fabrics, then regular cotton or linen will work well too, as both breath very easy. However, stay away from thick fabric cuts–go for thin and light.

3. Wear loose-fitting clothes

A muscle shirt might make you hot on a couple different levels at first, but once you become soaked in sweat, you’ll just a be a hot mess. Always go for loose-fitting clothes as they will let your skin breath better.

4. Wear light colors

Light-colored clothing will reflect the light better. The more light you reflect means the less heat your clothing will absorb and the cooler you will be. Stay away from black at all costs, it absorbs light at all frequencies!

5. Wear shorts

You’ll stay cooler by wearing less. Shorts are made of about half as much fabric as a pair of paints. Some guys won’t wear shorts because of insecurities about their legs. Shorts for men tend to be much longer than women’s, so get over it, they don’t even come close to daisy dukes.

6. Wear sandals and open-toe shoes

Sandals and other open-toe shoes will let your feet breath easy when it’s warm.

7. Wear a visors instead of a hat or cap

Unless you are bald, I would recommend you wear a visor over a hat or cap. A visor will allow your head to breather, whereas a hat or cap is going to trap heat. If you do prefer a hat or cap, make sure it’s ventilated.

Hair

How you wear your hair can make all the difference in how you feel when it’s hot outside.

8. Sport a short hair style

Short hair styles are going to be easier and cooler to wear in the hot weather, especially if you have dark hair. Dark hair, just like dark clothing, absorbs heat from the light, so keep it to a minimum.

9. Keep your facial hair short

If you are going to wear a beard, then wear it in the winter when it’s warm. It’s just too hot for the summer, and quite honestly, any man wearing thick facial hair in the heat looks gross. It’s not a kissable face.

10. Think about trimming that body hair

Thick, dark-colored body that’s exposed on your arms, legs, and chest can make you warmer if you are out in the sun a lot. You may want to consider trimming the hair down or even, dare I say, maybe even some waxing. However, body hair does also create some ventilation between your skin and your clothing, so you’ll need to way your options.

11. Use lighter hair styling products

Lighter, water-based styling products or even a light oil (like jojoba oil) are much more comfortable to wear in your hair in the warmer months. Gels, waxes, pomades and the like will make your hair heavy. Crispy hair is not a hot look in the heat.

12. Pull out your shades and sunglasses

Dry, hot eyes tend to sting as you sweat, so make sure you have a good pair of sunglasses. Use sunglasses that will provide you UV protection as well.

13. Wear thin sports socks

If you are going to wear shoes, and the type shoes that normally would require socks, try a pair of short, thin sport socks to keep your feet and lower legs cool.

Gear & Accessories

There are all sorts of products on the market to help cool your body.

14. Get a portable, hand-held fans

I always thought people who use portable fans look dorky, but you know, the people who use them stay cooler, so there’s no reason to rule it out as an option.

15. Use a water mister or spray bottle

Spraying your face with a light water mist over the day can be refreshing. You can buy a portable water mister or just  just fill-up a small spray bottle for some instant cooling.

16. Get dashboard sun shade

Stepping into a hot car can work up a quick sweat. Purchase a dashboard sun shade to keep your car cool while your away from your vehicle.

17. Wear a portable water system

There are portable water packs (Camelbak Slingshot) you can buy to strap across your shoulder that make water-carrying hassle-free.

18. Wear sweatbands

While not entirely fashionable, sweatbands can help keep you cooler, plus prevent sweat from dripping into your eyes. Sweatbands are a  relatively simply product, however they too, have come a long way over the years utilizing some of the latest fabric and product innovations.

19. Hold an umbrella

When there is no shade, create your own. Now, your friends might call you Michael Jackson, but you’ll be cooler (no pun) when you stand out of direct light. You’re more likely to get away with sporting an umbrella at the beach than in the city.

Skin Care Products

There are a couple things you do for your skin too when your out in the heat.

20. Apply sunscreen

Often overlooked, sun screen can actually keep you cooler by blocking the rays of the sun. If you are out in the sun a lot, you need a heavy sunscreen, like SPF 50 or SPF 100. If your face gets minimum exposure to the sun, then go for SPF 15 or SPF 30.

21. Apply after-sun cooling cream or gel

If you are battling an existing sunburn, then you are probably already aware that once the skin begins to burn after exposure it also gets warmer as the body rushes blood to the skin to heal the burn. Wearing an after-sun cooling cream or gel feels great on a burn and will definitely cool your skin.

Lifestyle

22. Consume water continuously

Hydration is essential during the warmer months to keep your body function properly. When you don’t consume enough water, your body temperature will rise dramatically as your heart is beating faster to keep your body functioning.

23. Check your prescriptions

Some prescriptions can raise your body temperature, heart beat, or blood pressure. If you don’t absolutely need these medications, you may want to talk to your doctor about a medicinal hiatus during the warmer months.

24. Watch your weight

If your fat or overweight, your body is having to work much, much harder to maintain normal functions. Drop a few pounds and not only will you feel cooler, but you’ll feel better.

25. Eat light and frequently

Eating a big, heavy meal full of protein will certainly crank up the metabolism furnace. Try light and frequent meals as an alternative, along with fruits and vegetables high in water content.

26. Change the hours or location you exercise

If you exercise outdoors during the day, then you may want to considering exercising in the early morning or late evening. Or, even better, at a gym where its air-conditioned.

27. Leave the stuff you don’t need at home

There’s nothing more annoying and frustrating than carrying a bunch of stuff around when you’re outside and it’s hot. The exertion and hassle alone will frustrate you, raise your blood pressure, and make you hotter.

Instant Cool-Off

When you are at the brink of heat exhaustion, consider these options…

28. Drink frozen bottle water

Freeze bottles of water to carry with you during the day. They stay cold for a good while as the ice melts slowly.

29. Splash some water on you

If you need immediate relief pour water over your head or in your cap to cool your head. The water will absorb all the heat right away.

30. Cool your pulse points

Rubbing a piece of ice or cold cloth over your pulse points like your temples and wrists can provide an immediate cooling sensation to the body.

31. Take several cool showers or baths

There’s no rule that says you have to bathe just once or twice a day. In the warmer months, take several cool showers or baths during the day to lower your body temparture.

32. Use instant cold packs

An instant cold pack can come in handy during those heat waves as it doesn’t require any refrigeration or freezing. The ammonium nitrate and water inside the pack will become cool as they mix together from squeezing the pack.

33. Jump in a pool or lake

If you have access to a pool or lake, a quick jump in the water can be very refreshing.

34. Follow the shade

I’m always amazed by the number of people who walk or stand directly in the light of the sun when outside when shade is nearby. Stand in and follow the shade as you walk, and you will sweat much, much less.

Photo by: andronicusmax

Be sure to check the Hair Loss Guide for Men where I review many of these supplements.

I’ll continue to update this list as I learn of new treatments.

If I’m missing anything from this list, just let me know.

When I see dress shirts with curled collars I cringe; it just looks sloppy and unpolished.

I find most guys today do not use collar stays when they wear dress shirts, yet it’s the one shirt accessory that really keeps a shirt looking neat and fresh.

So what is a collar stay? A collar stay is a small piece of metal or plastic that’s slid underneath the collar to keep the collar from curling.

So, if you don’t own a set, I recommend you invest a little money in this nifty shirt accessory. They are relatively inexpensive and start at about $5 USD.

Check out the variety of collar stays using Google Product Search.

More men have become comfortable wearing jewelry to add a little sparkle to their looks, and we probably have pop culture to attribute to this trend.

However, there are some people who believe diamonds on a man are vulgar-looking or just too feminine. As a result, black diamonds seem to be increasing in popularity among jewelry designers.

Do you have diamond jewelry? When do you wear it? What does it look like? Are the diamonds real or fake?

A couple months ago, I purchased a tube of Arm & Hammer Advance Whitening toothpaste with baking soda and peroxide, and my teeth have never been whiter. In fact, I think your teeth will be several shades whiter with just one tube.

People have been saying for years that baking soda and peroxide will dramatically whiten your teeth, but I think mainstream culture has been perhaps to quick to dismiss this remedy. The problem is that with so many breakthroughs in technology and medicine, we keep looking for the latest and greatest cure, when in fact, it’s we need not look further, it’s right in front of us– baking soda and peroxide will do the trick.

Here’s a few other things you should know about baking soda:

• Clinically proven to whiten teeth
• Dissolves deep down to fight plaque
• Less abrasive than silica–commonly found in other toothpastes
• Neutralizes the acids causing bad breath

You can find this toothpaste at your local grocery store for about $4 USD. To learn more, visit truetasteofclean.com.

Most short sleeve shirts have a lot of extra room in the sleeves. Depending on how the shirt has been made, those sleeves can be so large that they actually dwarf the size of your arms, making them look smaller. The trick is to remove the excess material so your arms look bigger.

But you don’t know how to sew?!?! No worries, this technique requires no sewing. A little super glue is all you need…

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. While wearing the shirt, pinch the sleeves together with your fingers to determine how much excess material is in the sleeves and note the excess length
2. Take the shirt off
3. Find the seam on the underside of the sleeve where the shirt has been sewn together
4. Apply a small amount of super glue to the seam
5. Fold the excess material over the seam to create a fitted look

The glue will dry instantly and the folded material will not be noticeable as its under the arm.

I’ll admit I had some prior reservations as I figured these would perhaps be too snug or uncomfortable to wear, but that is not the case at all after I tried them out.

These are very comfortable and cool to wear, and they help support your posture and gait. The underwear is ventilated and features moisture-wicking material to help keep you dry. The feature I like best about the long trunks is the body-contouring support it provides to the upper leg and thigh.

Long trunks or boxers are not the style of underwear I normally wear because nothing annoys me more than cotton underwear that rises and curls up your leg over the course of the day.

However, you don’t have that problem with this underwear because the material is a blend  of 74% polyester, 18% nylon, and 8% spandex. They are fitted, yet very smooth to wear, and your pants glide nicely against them without any curling.

If you currently use the Equmen undershirt products, then you’ll definitely  want to give the underwear a try.

This line retails from $52 to $59 USD and can be purchased at Equmen.

So, I remember seeing commercials in the 80′s advertising Gold Bond to help relieve “male itch.” I also remember being very turned off to those advertisements and viewed products like Gold Bond as something older gentlemen use.

Well, I was wrong. These powder products are great for absorbing moisture and odor. Your testicles can get quite clammy over the course of the day given that you’ve normally got two layers of clothing trapping heat: your underwear and your pants.

Benefits

• Gives your balls a dry, smooth feeling and absorbs moisture
• Leaves your nether region freshly scented
• Helps relieve any chaffing and skin irritation
• Arouses greater sexual interest with your significant other

Types of Products Available

There are three major brands of talc and talc-free powder products available today.

1. Balla Powder – One of my personal favorites; Balla powder is available in scented, unscented, and a special, tingle formula that leaves you with a minty feeling.
2. Gold Bond Ultimate Powder Formula – I’ve used this talc-free powder before and will say it’s the silkiest and smoothest I’ve ever used and smells great.
3. Gold Bond Medicated Powder – I’ve not used this line of powder, but know that it is popular among many men to combat odor and moisture, and contains special ingredients to help relieve itching.

How to Apply

1. Take a bath or shower first
2. Dry-off the area you will apply powder
3. Take a small amount of the powder and rub into the skin

However, I’ve had to completely stop using these deodorants after experiencing symptoms of what is known as contact dermatitis–an inflammation of the skin caused by an irritating substance. It itches and burns!

So, I recently started using a brand called Tom’s of Maine–they make an all-natural deodorant that is far more gentle on the skin.

Their deodorant uses hops extract to inhibit growth of odor-causing bacteria.

After a couple weeks of use I have to say I really love this product. I’m currently using the Unscented Original Care line. Now, unscented deodorant may seem like an oxy moron, but believe it or not, it works! Plus, the contact dermatitis is completely gone…

This deodorant retails for about $5 to $6 USD and can be found in most grocery stores and online.

Here is a list of all the major designers offering a line of men’s jewelry:

• Armenta sold at Neiman Marcus
• Burberry
• David Yurman
• Cartier
• D&G
• Gucci
• John Hardy
• King Baby Studio
• Konstantino
• Ravi Ratan
• Roberto Coin sold at Neiman Marcus
• Robin Rotenier
• Scott Kay
• Stefano Ricci sold at Neiman Marcus
• Stephen Webster
• Tiffany & Co.
• Triton

If I’m missing anyone major for this list, just post a comment and I’ll get it added.