For men, staying fresh and having a fun night out is as easy as 1, 2, 3; gym, tan and laundry, also known as ‘GTL.’ At least this is what the male stars of MTV’s successful reality show, Jersey Shore, think. The guys insist the three elements are daily essentials for their proper male grooming. For students, the world of male grooming doesn’t end at GTL. There are other workout, skin care and style options available to every man on campus. But is going beyond GTL necessary?

Gym

For male students, hitting the gym is a convenient task. The University offers them access to its Campus Recreation programs, which include the Activities and Recreation Center (ARC) and the Campus Recreation Center East (CRCE). At the ARC and CRCE, students can explore all their workout options from fitness and cardio floors to personal training and combat rooms. All they need is an I-card.

Beyond the Gym: Working out at home

With cold temperatures, rain and the occasional snow storm, some students may find using home fitness videos and home workout equipment more convenient.

Frank Martinez, junior in Business, said he tries to work out or practice boxing techniques every morning at the ARC, but when he can’t make it to the gym, doing quick workout routines at home comes in handy, he said.

“At home, that’s where I do the push-ups and sit-ups and all that, because I’m just sometimes too lazy in the morning to come all the way over here,” Martinez said. “I just do it in the convenience of my own home.”

Beyond the Gym: Dietary Supplements

Healthy, nutritious eating habits can help develop a trim body. Sometimes the body’s vitamin and nutritious needs are not always met, but supplements can fill this void. Danny Perez, senior in LAS, said he takes mostly protein supplements.

“That’s it, protein; Creatine sometimes, but that’s about it,” Perez said.

Protein supplements can help in muscle growth and repair. It is still important that students read labels and know the risks involved in using them.

Tan

For men with lighter complexions, having a tan can be important, according to Jersey Shore cast members. “If you don’t tan, you’re pale,” said Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino in one episode of the series.

Tanning salons can be found on and around campus. There are health risks involved though, said Alison Kietzman, an aesthetician for Hada, a cosmetic medicine center located in the ARC and downtown Champaign.

In the late spring and summer, there is also the option to get sun the old-fashioned way — going outside. “[But], If you’re going to be outside, it’s very important to protect your skin from the sun using a sunscreen.”

Beyond Tanning: Professional Skin care

A skin care regiment is something more for women, said Perez and Maritinez.

“It’s not really something that guys do,” said Perez. “It’s more for girls.”

This is not the case, Kietzman said.

“I think that’s a misconception because our services aren’t just geared toward women,” Kietzman said. “Men benefit just as much from the exfoliation treatments and sometimes even more, because they are having to shave facial hair, which women don’t have to do.”

Many men do not realize the benefits of skin treatments like exfoliation, which can yield a closer shave or reduce acne, Kietzman said.

Hada offers customized, 30 minute facials, microdermabrasions, chemical peels and waxing services. Both men and women come to Hada for the treatments, Kietzman said, with more men preferring the face treatments over waxing.

Beyond Tanning: Skin care at home

When Martinez is buying lotion for his skin, he doesn’t read the ingredients and just gets the cheapest brand, he said.

“I’m one of those manly guys; I really don’t get manicures or nothing like that,” Martinez said. “I’m a guy, I don’t really care about looking beautiful and all that.”

Not taking care of the skin at home is the biggest mistake men make in regards to skin care, Kietzman said.

“Sometimes men aren’t as good about their skin care routine at home — doing a regiment at home, wearing sun-screen, moisturizing — things like that.”

There are several things men should be doing at home to take care of their skin, Kietzman said. Before shaving, they should warm their skin to open the pores. This prevents in-grown hairs, she said. Men should also cleanse the skin twice a day to prevent acne. Finally, they should exfoliate, hydrate the skin and use sun-screen. Hada offers products to help with these tasks, including sunless tanning products.

Laundry

Doing laundry every day, as the Jersey Shore cast suggests, could get expensive and time consuming. Byron Denhart, owner of Professional Valet laundry service, said he has customers who use his drop-off laundry service at least weekly or twice a week.

“I’m not going through three and four changes of clothes every single day where I need to do my laundry every day, but, absolutely, yes, you have to do it on a pretty regular basis so that you’re wearing clean clothes and so that you’re looking well-put-together,” Denhart said.

Beyond Laundry: Dry Cleaning

Denhart’s service also offers dry cleaning, and according to him, men should dry clean their suits and professional shirts.

How often a man should dry clean his suits and shirts depends on his lifestyle.

“If you wear a laundered and press shirt every day, you’re probably going to need to do some dry cleaning every week,” Denhart said. “As a college student you’re not wearing a suit to class every day, but you may wear a nice shirt going out, hanging out with friends — or you got interview suits to try to get that job.”

Beyond Laundry: Fashion trends

Some men prefer to look nice when they go out. A man could pick up a few tips on style with just a brief stop at 57 North, the student A La Carte location at the new Ikenberry Commons facility. There, men’s style magazines like GQ and Details are found on racks near the register or sometimes neatly spread in the coolers next to frozen dinners and sushi.

Martinez said if he had the money he’d pay more attention to fashion.

“If I had the cash I would definitely look into Banana Republic, Express, all those,” Martinez said. “That kind of stuff, I really like, but, hey, the cash is not there so (I) just invest in maybe professional attire that can work in the future.”

While some college students may not be able to splurge on designer wear, looking good and keeping at least a professional image are very important, Denhart said. This can be as easy as ironing and pressing clothes and going beyond their GTL requirements.

“If that’s the three things you should do every day — gym, tan, do your laundry — that tells me that they want to take care of themselves,” Denhart said, referring to the Jersey Shore’s cast members who promote the concept. “You want to be well kept, you want to be well-put-together and when you’re wearing dirty clothes, you’re none of those things.”