I share a bathroom closet with my husband. It’s a very crowded area that’s full of various hair products we use (or said I would and have yet to actually do so). Honestly, I’m convinced it could rival some beauty influencer’s collection. Many people would assume most of the products are mine, but in reality, he owns more shampoos, conditioners, hair gel and hairspray than me. (Not to mention he actually uses the products too.)
Society seems to think self-care is optional for men, an unnecessary task they could choose to do or not without getting impacted. Yet, here’s my husband, happily watching videos of hair care and using products to make it more voluminous and soft. He doesn’t care about labels or stereotypes; he just wants his hair to look good. The bathroom closet doesn’t care about gender. All it cares about is our daily routines, what our product preferences are and some sort of organization.
Watching him own his self-care has changed my perspective. Beauty is not about labels or rules. It’s about feeling good in your own skin and using whatever products make you happy. If that’s a hair clay product for a man, so be it. If it’s three different shampoos for me, fine too.
There’s a deeper lesson in sharing a shelf. It reminds me that taking care of yourself isn’t a competition. It’s simply taking the time to prioritize yourself and your own well-being. Self-care is not a competition. Our closet doesn’t judge who spends more time washing their face or styling their hair, who buys more expensive products, or who looks more presentable. It’s a safe space for us.
Seeing my husband confidently take care of himself makes me feel more confident about my own routines. It’s a reminder that beauty is personal, and it doesn’t belong to one gender.
