From chest-baring tops to preening in front of the mirror, we look at the habits that women hate.
Simon Cowell: media mogul, millionaire and, if reports are to be believed, an extremely vain individual. In an extract from an upcoming biography, it was revealed that the X Factor supremo partakes in an extraordinary beauty regime that involves routine botox injections, colonic irrigation, intravenous vitamin treatments and a suitcase full of lotions and potions.
Of course there's nothing wrong with trying to look good, but is there such a thing as doing too much? Well yes, according to the fairer sex.
So what are the styling and grooming habits that most aggravate our female counterparts? We chatted to some expert types to unveil the 10 things you do or wear that she hates the most. And here is the end result: a handy guide to help you stop repelling the women you want to meet, and aggravating those that you already have.
1) Don't touch the hair!
While the old-fashioned short back and sides might be a thing of the past, women don't want their men to go to the complete opposite end of the scale.
A good head of hair can do wonders for you, but spending too long over your locks can also be a major annoyance. "Women hate men that fuss with their hair or spend too long styling it," says relationship expert Marisa Peer, "because it's so girly it's the opposite of a macho man and if you can't mess up his hair you just think he's a wimp."
2) High-waisted trousers
"As Simon Cowell has discovered the hard way, you're going to remain an eternal bachelor if you insist on wearing high-waisted trousers," says Barjis Chohan from fashion site barjis.
"They are a lady-repellent." Poor Simon — he may have the money but it looks as if men need to avoid following in his well-healed footsteps if they don't want to put off the opposite sex.
3) Slogan shirts
"These are one of my pet hates," Anna Moore, personal stylist at Westfield tells us.
"Those awful designs you associate with tourists abroad, with catchphrases such as 'The Man, The Legend' or 'I'm with Stupid'. Most women shudder at the sight of men in these and fail to see the funny side." Sadly it seems men don't agree, as the increasing prevalence of comically printed shirts proves. But consider this fair warning, chaps, and ditch them before it's too late.
4) Mirror, mirror on the wall...
"If your guy spends more time looking in the mirror than he does at me it's a big turn off," says relationship expert Peer.
This is bad news for the increasing number of men rushing headlong into metrosexuality. "A woman is free to be a girly girl and you the manly bloke. If you swap roles, the attraction goes and the relationship can become doomed."
So it's out with the moisturising and manicures and in with some rough-and-ready manliness. Grrrr!
5) Socks and sandals
It's the age-old fashion faux pas, something your dad would do on a trip to the seaside. But it seems that we blokes just never learn. Would you wear a scarf and shorts? No, so why socks and sandals?
Here's Chohan's rule of thumb: "If you want to enjoy the warm, yellow stuff in the sky, then ditch the socks and wear the sandals. And if it's too cold for that, then make sure you wear shoes or trainers with your socks. But sandals and socks must always be kept apart and there is no negotiation to this rule."
6) Don't wear girly clothes
While Russell Brand can pull off leggings the chances are that you most certainly can't. In fact according to Peer, girly clothes are like a fashion bargepole to the fairer sex.
"Wearing girly clothes, leggings, Ugg boots, pashminas and others just makes your guy look ridiculous," she tells me. "Most women want other women to fancy their man. They're wired to need a man who looks as if he'll protect them and fight for them, but if he's wearing leggings, dangly scarfs, Ugg boots and lip-gloss that image is broken."
7) Low-slung jeans
The builder's bum has officially left the construction site and invaded our streets, as a generation of men seem to have forgotten what a belt is for. "What is the fascination with men dressing like teenage boys?" Moore asks.
"Boxers on display is so 1990s and a definite no-no. A smart pair of tailored trousers or chinos which fit snugly over the behind is much more appealing to the eye."
8) Lose the heavage
The last few years have seen the trend in men's necklines plumb never-before-seen depths giving birth to the term 'heavage' — that little tuft of chest hair peaking into view.
Some blokes seem to love it, no doubt because a host of male celebs have set the trend. But what about women?
"The heavage needs to be given the heave-ho," Chohan says. "Moobs, plucked pigeon chests or even pecs should remain contained by your shirt, not cheekily vying for attention above the parapet of your impossibly low-cut tees and vests."
9) Novelty underwear
We've all been the unwelcome recipient of that dreaded novelty gift: The Simpsons socks, the utterly hilarious tie with naked women on or the cringe-inducing cartoon boxers.
But just because your auntie brought them for you for Christmas doesn't mean you have to wear them. As Moore tells me, "please follow my advice and leave them in the drawer forever!"
10) Using sunbeds
They may be all the rage among the perma-tanned blokes on TV, but from chemical bakes to sunbeds how well do fake tans go down in the real world? "There is nothing more off-putting than a perma-tanned man, who has no shame in embracing the Wotsit look," says Chohan, breaking the hearts of tanned wannabes the world over.
"Apart from the obvious health problems, no woman likes the thought of a man who is so vain that he'd grill himself for his appearance."
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