6) Take care of your greasy face.

If you’ve got acne, I sympathize with you. I know how hard it can be to control a problem that can hit hard and fast like an awful pimple. But consult with a dermatologist if over-the-counter remedies just aren’t helping. The most well-put-together outfit is meaningless if your date is distracted by the accessories Mother Nature decided to put on your face. If you don’t have acne but you sweat a lot, pick up the habit of carrying blotting papers in your wallet. These are insanely popular in most of Asia. They’re small and discreet, and they help absorb the oil and sweat that make you look like you haven’t washed your face today.

Make sure you treat your oily skin.

7) Beware the Asian chin pubes.

If you’re one of those rare Asian men who can grow a respectable beard, lucky you. Rock that, because beards are IN right now. But fess up to the fact that you can’t grow a decent beard if that’s the truth. Most Asian men can’t grow beards, and what little facial hair you produce is sparse, coarse, and scraggly like pubic hair. You know what you look like when you’re trying desperately to make those three scraggly chin pubes grow in? A little boy, a slob, or a trench coat flasher. You want to be none of these things. Being completely clean-shaven is a much better option (and will make you look far more mature) than desperately clinging on to patchy facial hair.

The chin pubes are nasty.

8) Be prepared to spend more than $12 on a haircut.

This is quite possibly the single biggest problem facing Asian men – hair. It’s coarse, it has a mind of its own, and it can be difficult to style. Too many Asian men attempt to tame their hair by getting a Kpop haircut; if it works for celebrities, why not you? Unfortunately these styles require a LOT of maintenance in the form of product and styling tools, and when you don’t style them, you end up looking like a Furby. Instead, go to a salon (not a Wal-Mart cut and run) and opt for something that takes five minutes or less to fix (like a fauxhawk) or is versatile enough to be left unattended and work-appropriate by day (like a pompadour). The advantage to these two long on top, short on the sides styles is that they help to elongate the extra-wide or round faces that many Asians are plagued by. A seasoned stylist will be expensive, but will be able to tell you what works for your facial shape and what products will control your hair. So definitely go find a haircut that works for you.

It’s very hard to make kpop hair work. Avoid this unless you have hours per day for your hair.

The fauxhawk is much easier to maintain and style.

9) Play with some color.

I’ve noticed a peculiar tendency among several Asian men to find something that works – just the one or two things – and stick to it like glue, like an overabundance of white button-ups or way too many identical indigo-blue blue jeans to make sense. But there’s a problem with that; it’s easy, but it’s seriously boring and you’re not going to impress anyone. If you’re on the pale-skinned side like my Korean and Chinese friends, try dressing in jewel tones, like a rich sapphire or stunning emerald dress shirt. If you’re on the darker-skinned side like much of Southeast Asia, you can pull off lighter colors without looking washed out and sick (just think how many black and Hispanic celebrities wear white suits). Buy dark jeans in addition to your standard plain ones. Here’s a tip: if your wardrobe is so bland that you can wash all of your laundry in the same load without having to separate it, you have too little color and you’re boring the ladies. Just don’t make the mistake of wearing a lime green suit with a pink button-up underneath. You’re not a pimp, you’re a gentleman.

“Adding a pop of color helps to make you stand out.”

10) Accessorize, but don’t overdo it.

So you’ve got a good suit, you’ve had it tailored, and you think you’re looking like a million bucks. Now what? You accessorize. Most Asian men fall into one of two categories: they either wear nothing but that Velcro-banded watch they’ve had since high school, or they pile on the gold chains and fedoras until Flavor Flav is jealous. The key to accessorizing is to not overdo it. A silk handkerchief or pocket square adds a little something extra to a suit that would otherwise be drab and boring. Cuff links can make you look more polished. The right watch can take you from overgrown teenager to sophisticated gentleman. Having no accessories makes you look like a novice in the eyes of women, but making yourself too flashy or attempting to peacock makes you look like a toddler in daddy’s clothes.

“Unless you’re Ben Baller, you don’t need that many chains.”