A rugged look is a balance between rough, edgy and masculine. If you prefer looking sleek and sharp, this look might not be for you.

5 Signs the Rugged Look Is Not for You

Before you get yourself a pair of boots and grow out your beard, check out the five signs the rugged look may not be your style.

By: All Things Beauty

March 1, 2023

Read Time: 3 Minutes

1. You’re a Neat Freak
2. Your Job Requires You to Dress Up
3. You Take Self-Care Seriously
4. Teal is Your Favorite Color
5. You Love to Shop

You’ve seen him before. That guy in leather boots, selvedge denim, and a Henley shirt who could pass as budget Ryan Gosling from Drive. He walks in with his cool nonchalance and badass vibe, not caring whether he made you look. Convinced this bad boy is you? Here are five signs that this rugged look may not be the best one for you.

Flat lay of different articles of men’s clothing.

A relaxed and rustic look might cramp your neat, on-point style.

Your mom never had to nag you about cleaning your room, and your artsy girlfriend thinks she scored when she found a guy who would pick up after her mess. For you, everything must be in its place, and there is a place for everything. All your belongings are color-coded, labeled, or neatly filed according to your own Dewey Decimal system.

Asian businessman looking away with hands folded in the office

If your dress code at work is formal, a rugged look won’t be appropriate, and might be impractical even after hours.

Someone in the creative industry might be able to get away with doing casual Fridays every day. But some jobs might require you to suit up daily. If your workplace culture is more traditional and business formal, then a laidback rugged look might not be practical, given your office dress code.

Dove Men+Care Refreshing Clean Shampoo

Asian man happily getting a haircut from a hairstylist at the barber.

Self-care is low on a rugged guy’s list. If it’s high priority on yours, a messy lived-in look might just gross you out.

On the other hand, achieving the rugged look requires as little care as possible. Of course, there’s a fine line between looking rugged and plain dirty – try not to cross it. If you see your barber frequently, a bedhead of messy, greasy hair probably won’t do it for you.

Maintaining a rugged hairstyle doesn’t mean abandoning hair hygiene. Use CLEAR Cool Sport Menthol Anti-Dandruff Shampoo for Men, which is infused with menthol to remove all traces of grime, grease, and dandruff on your hair and scalp. It also delivers a cooling sensation that keeps you feeling fresh.

CLEAR Cool Sport Menthol Anti-Dandruff Shampoo for Men packshot

Clear Men Cool Sport Menthol Shampoo

Dove Men+Care Anti-Dandruff Shampoo

Men’s polo shirts hanging against a white background.

If color and prints are your thing, the neutral and earthy palette of rugged clothing might not be.

Or crimson, for that matter. The fact that you even speak Pantone is reason enough: the rugged look isn’t for you. Rugged color palettes are limited to neutral or earthy tones such as olive green, burgundy, burnt orange, grey, blue, black, and white. If your closet is full of bright colors or prints, you'll have to overhaul it, which we’re guessing isn’t something you’re too hot about.

Young Asian man at a sneaker shop looking at a sneaker.

Consider yourself a trendsetter? A rugged look might not rank high on style guides with its practical function-over-fashion wearability.

When we think of a rugged guy, we imagine a man’s man – calloused hands from working hard all week, messy hair, and an overgrown beard. He never has time to shave or put any thought into what he wears, let alone shop for it. Rugged guys wear durable, utilitarian clothing that looks lived in because it is. Always first in line for a fresh drop? You’re hype beast, not rugged.