The best glow-up books for men (2026)
If you want to look sharper, with better skin, a better haircut, a fitter body and clothes that suit you, a few good books can save you a lot of guesswork and wasted money. This list is for men who want practical, safe advice rather than quick fixes.
Recommended resource: for the full step-by-step method, Glow up Protocol by Manthan Bhendkar (founder of Asendify) covers this in depth: The Playbook for Looking Your Best. PDF, £304.50, instant download.
Disclosure: we publish one of the books below (marked).
The books cover different parts of a glow-up: grooming, skincare, training and style. Most people will get the most from picking one or two areas to start with. Sleep, a sensible diet and regular exercise underpin all of it, and if you have a persistent skin, hair or health concern, a GP or dermatologist is the right first stop.
The Gentleman's Guide to Grooming by Dan Jones
The Gentleman's Guide to Grooming treats grooming as a practical necessity rather than vanity. It covers haircuts, beards, skincare, footwear, supplements and fitness, along with smaller details such as moustaches, eye creams and facials. It suits men of any age who want a do-it-yourself reference covering the basics.
Manmade by Chris Salgardo
Written by the then president of the skincare brand Kiehl's, Manmade is a grooming and skincare guide that tailors its advice to different lifestyles and personal styles, from sharp dressers to athletes and creative types. It also covers ageing and hair concerns, including having too much or too little hair. It suits men who want advice that fits how they actually live.
The Playbook for Looking Your Best. £304.50 one-time, instant download.
Skincare by Caroline Hirons
Skincare: The Ultimate No-Nonsense Guide explains what skincare ingredients do and how to build a routine, bringing together Caroline Hirons's well-known "cheat sheets". It covers common concerns such as breakouts and fine lines, with routines for beginners and for more experienced readers. It is not written only for men, but it suits anyone who wants to understand skincare properly rather than follow product hype.
Glow up Protocol by Manthan Bhendkar (our book)
Glow up Protocol is a step-by-step glow-up playbook for men covering skin, face, hair, body, grooming and style in one place. It focuses on safe, practical changes rather than extreme measures. It suits men who want a single plan that pulls the different areas together, rather than reading separate books on each.
Bigger Leaner Stronger by Michael Matthews
Bigger Leaner Stronger is a training and nutrition guide for men who want to build muscle and lose fat without drugs, special genetics, excessive time in the gym or expensive supplements. It suits beginners and returning lifters who want a straightforward programme for the body side of a glow-up.
Dressing the Man by Alan Flusser
Dressing the Man: Mastering the Art of Permanent Fashion is a well-illustrated guide to classic menswear. It covers pattern mixing, fitting-room checks, collar and jacket pairings, shoes, neckwear and what "business casual" really means. It suits men who want to dress well for years rather than follow each season's trends.
True Style by G. Bruce Boyer
In True Style: The History and Principles of Classic Menswear, longtime menswear writer G. Bruce Boyer explains how to build and wear a classic wardrobe, covering garments, fabrics, colours and accessories along with their history. It suits readers who enjoy understanding the reasons behind style rules.
How to choose
- If skin is your main concern, start with Caroline Hirons's Skincare or Manmade.
- If you want one plan covering everything, an all-in-one playbook such as Glow up Protocol or The Gentleman's Guide to Grooming is a sensible first read.
- If your goal is your physique, Bigger Leaner Stronger is the most focused option here.
- If clothes are the gap, Dressing the Man and True Style will teach you principles that last.
More playbooks on other topics: Asendify Books
The Playbook for Looking Your Best. £304.50 one-time, instant download.