With the holidays just around the corner, you may be trying to find great gift ideas for a special black man in your life. What do they want? What do they need? What can I buy that they don’t already have? Some people are naturally good at selecting thoughtful, memorable presents, but for the rest of us, the struggle is real. While black men may love receiving gifts, we tend to be difficult to shop for. Luckily, we came a surefire way to find the best gift idea for black men, every single time. 

Pay Attention to Him

Black men tend to be creatures of habit and once they find something they like, they usually stick with it. If he has a white shirt that he really likes, why not get the same shirt in black? If he has an iPhone, perhaps he’ll love Apple’s headphones, phone cases, or laptops — browse the website to find things that complement what he already has. If you’re lucky, the recipient may even mention things he wants, needs, or wishes he had. Some may argue that this is a very obvious approach, but the best gifts are the ones that people would have purchased on their own. By paying attention to what he has, you can beat him to the punch and give him exactly what he wants. 

Stick to the Basics

Black men like to keep it simple. There are a few staple items that no black man can ever have too many of. We’re talking about socks, underwear, white tank tops, sweatpants, and basketball shorts. As basic as these items are, we don’t buy these as often as we should, and they’re the most likely items to be worn out. The key to remember here is quality. Splurge a little more for these basic essentials and they’ll last much longer than the cheaper brands.

Stroke His Ego

Black men are men of many talents, or at least we like to think we are. Think of how the recipient would like to be perceived, even if he isn’t perceived that way in reality. Gifts are a great way to show someone what you think of them, so here’s your chance to really butter him up. If he thinks he’s handy, buy him a quality toolset. If he thinks he’s athletic, buy him new gear for his favorite sport. If he thinks creative, buy him a digital camera or music-producing software so he can explore his inner Dr. Dre, you get the point right?

Revamp His Regimen

Black men take pride in their appearance, but sometimes there’s room for improvement. Is he still using toothpaste on his pimples? Or using harsh chemicals on his skin and hair? Help him level up by exposing him to better options. If he has a very basic routine, introduce him to our all-natural Moisturizing Body Balm. We use high-quality ingredients that cleanse and moisturize at the same damn time. If he’s a little more invested in his routine, treat him to our all-natural Daily Face Care Bundle that includes the best face wash for black men, our wonderful face scrub and clarifying moisturizer. They’re products that most black men wouldn’t think to purchase, but can drastically improve the way they look and feel. Sometimes, the best way to start a new hygiene routine is to cover all the bases. For this purpose, we recommend our Grown Ass Man Box which has everything he needs to take his grooming game to the next level. Or if he's a member of #BeardGang then the Boss Beard Box would be a good look. It includes a moisturizing beard shampoo and everything else he needs to make his beard grow big beautiful and healthy.

Narrow It Down

By now, you probably have a bunch of gift ideas for him in mind. If you have too many great gift ideas, narrow it down to the top three. Think about which gifts he would value the most, which gifts he would use the most, and which gifts fit into your budget. It’s also important to consider the relationship you have with the recipient. Make sure your gift reflects how close (or distant) you are, and doesn’t make the relationship feel awkward. If you need some extra help, check out 9 Black Owned Business You Should Be Supporting This Holiday Season  OR  10 Gift Ideas He’ll Love: Black Men’s  Edition 

When choosing a gift for a black man, think about how you want the gift to make him feel. Instead of asking yourself, “What can I buy him?” and “What will they think of it?”, ask yourself, “What do I want to say?” and “What gift can I give to communicate this message?”. Gifts that show that you really pay attention, fulfill a basic need, flatter him, or help him live a better life are always the best place to start. Make sure your gift fits into one or more of those categories, and you can’t go wrong.