The Queer Eye reboot on Netflix is everything.
If you haven’t joined the fandom yet, Queer Eye is a show where The Fab Five (five amazingly groomed and well dressed gay men) are tasked with the job of mentally, spiritually, and physically transforming ordinary men and women. Jonathan Van Ness is just one of the five, incredible men who helps change these people’s lives.
Jonathan Van Ness is in charge of grooming the men and women, which may seem like the most trivial task. But, Jonathan teaches the people on the show (and the audience) the importance of looking good and feeling good because of his unwavering positivity.
One thing’s for sure: Jonathan is always looking flawless because of his positivity and lightness. Sometimes, all it takes to unlock your full hottie potential is some grooming techniques. Here are five grooming tips we learned because of Jonathan Van Ness on Queer Eye.
1. Spending a set time grooming can completely change your day
Here’s something we can all agree on: “me” time is for everyone. If Jonathan has taught us anything from Queer Eye, it’s that the extra 5 or 10 minutes you spend everyday getting ready is oh-so important. This is the time you spend alone, trimming your beard, styling your hair, and doing whatever you need to do to make yourself feel good.
If you don’t already, you should set a regular grooming routine for yourself. You can start by spending a couple of minutes by yourself in front of the mirror. While you’re grooming, hype yourself up with positivity. It’s another way to boost confidence because if you’re feeling fresh to death, you’re going to have a good day.
2. Calm down redness with green-tinted concealer
In the very first episode of Queer Eye, Jonathan transforms Tom whose lupus flares up redness on his face. In order to calm the redness, Jonathan suggests a green-tinted concealer that is extremely easy to use. The green color neutralizes redness on the face and color corrects the area. And, he comes bearing the golden rule for green-tinted concealer: “If you can see it, you did too much.”
3. No more sulfates
The first thing the guys do when they enter their subject’s house or apartment is take everything apart in order to see what they’re really doing wrong, including their hair care products. We all do it: buy the cheap shampoo and conditioner from the store.
What you probably didn’t know is that most of these cheap hair care products are filled with sulfates. Jonathan hates sulfates. Don’t even get him started. “It’s just very aggressive for your hair,” he says. If you have thin hair, stripping sulfates from your hair care routine might do you good. Sulfates can also dry and irritate sensitive scalps, so do your research.
4. Mask the right way
When the Fab Five help transform a cop and former Marine, Cory, Jonathan sets him up with a DIY sugar scrub to add to his simple grooming routine. DIY exfoliating masks are often times more effective, have less ingredients, and much much cheaper than store-bought masks. “Gorgeous exfoliants are expensive,” Jonathan says. Sugar, honey, and coconut oil are your best friends.
Now for the truly mind-blowing realization: don’t do a clay mask if you’re going out later. Since clay masks are detoxifying, they bring all the gunk out of your skin. Therefore, keep the clay mask for a day off when you have nothing planned.
5. “Grooming is not exclusively about like, femininity or masculinity.” -Jonathan Van Ness
Most importantly, face masks, lip scrubs, makeup for men; all of this stuff is not just exclusively for women. Men have skin too! Taking care of yourself has nothing to do with gender or sexuality. Furthermore, grooming and pampering is an automatic confidence booster. When you are avidly working on your appearance, it can really change your self-image and self-love.
Again, Jonathan Van Ness teaches us we should really all be taking care of ourselves. And because your relationship with grooming is always going to change and evolve, don’t forget to make that relationship a fun one. Be playful with it and test different things out.
