Yes, men. You, too, need hair care tips that will make you both look and feel good.
Going out of your routine can feel like stepping out of your comfort zone. Everything is new and scary, and you don’t know what will work and what won’t. This hair care guide is nothing like that as it’s super easy to follow and incorporate into your existing routine.
We won’t be talking about specific products that will make your hair healthy in a day — too many wrong products, you will learn, can be bad for you. The path to healthy hair doesn’t need to be long, but you need to stay on it for the best results.
These are easy tips anyone can follow, as no tools or products are required — only a little willingness to change. That might seem like a drag at first, but we assure you that it is worth it.
Dry Your Hair The Right Way
We all know what most men do when they step out of the shower. They just grab a towel and start aggressively rubbing their hair with it. That’s not really a good idea.
Depending on the length of your hair, the process of drying may go differently. If you have short hair, maybe you don’t need to use a blow dryer at all. A towel can be just enough. But using the towel the right way is essential too.
Now, you might wonder what do we mean by that? How can someone not know how to use a towel? If you’re using it too aggressively, then you’re the type that’s doing it wrong.
Here are two important rules of drying your hair properly and ensuring you’re not damaging it in the process:
- Pat, don’t rub — When you step out of the shower, it’s almost like a natural reaction to rub your hair with a towel to collect the moisture faster. While this does the trick, it also damages your hair, causing split ends and frizziness. Wet hair is weaker and more vulnerable to damage. Pat your hair down instead. We know it may seem like it’ll take longer, but trust us — that it will help your hair immensely.
- Use a blow dryer wisely — Before you grab a blow dryer, ask yourself if it’s worth it. The heat from the blow dryer further damages your hair, so you should only opt for using it when you’re in a hurry. The best blow drying technique is using the lowest heat possible and never drying your hair completely. Leaving it a little damp ensures you’re not overdoing it.
At the end of the day, the best way to dry your hair is by letting it air-dry and styling it however you want afterward.
Effects of Hair Dryer and Hot Shower to Your Hair
If you, however, cannot skip the blow-drying part because your hair is long and/or thick, knowing what it does to your hair matters. Knowing how much damage it can cause might convince you to step away from it.
Some people might be surprised to learn that there are products that protect your hair from heat. However, using too many products isn’t good either. But let’s go back to what happens before the whole blow-drying ordeal — the shower.
There aren’t many people out there who enjoy cold or lukewarm showers. Most of us love the feel of scorching hot water against our bodies, and who can blame us? There’s nothing like feeling like the badass Daenerys from Game of Thrones. No hotness can harm us! However, it definitely harms our gorgeous locks.
Cutting down on heat is an essential part of any men’s hair tips list. Why? Hot showers feel good, but they strip your hair and scalp of their natural oils. That causes dryness, and now you have to ring up Houston because you definitely have a problem.
The same heat precautions apply to blow-drying. So again — cut down on heat as much as you can.
Go Easy On Wearing Hats
If hats are an irreplaceable part of your everyday outfits and you want to have healthy hair, we have bad news for you. But not too bad because there’s a fix.
Hats and caps can complement our outfits for sure, and we don’t think much of them. They just sit on our heads, right? Not really. Wearing hats too often can do some serious hair damage, especially if you like your hats air-tight.
The best way to recognize if your hat is too tight is if it leaves a mark after you take it off. But why does that matter? Tight hats cause hair damage, which can, in turn, promote hair loss because they pull too hard on the hair roots. Not only that, but they can cause breakage and bald patches, too.
If you simply cannot give hats up, loose-fitting ones should be your go-to. That way, you can ensure your hair isn’t as damaged, and you’re looking as awesome as you’d like.
Don’t let this part of the article scare you, though. Irreversible damage from wearing hats happens only in extreme cases where people wear them every single day. Wearing a hat here and there can’t really hurt.
Don’t Overdo Hair Products
So after you wash your hair and dry it, what comes next? Styling it, of course.
So, you look up some of the best hairstyles for men, and then what? They tell you to use all of these products but do you really, really, need them? Of course not.
Not everyone can achieve the hairstyle they want naturally, so we’re not saying using any products is bad. However, too much of them can wreak havoc on your hair. Actually, you are already using shampoo and conditioner, which are also hair products. So be mindful of how much of those you put on your hair as well.
Let’s say you’re using hairspray or gel to lock your desired hairstyle in place. What happens if you use too much? Too much of any product can cause hair breakage, which, in turn, stops hair growth, and that’s bad news if you’re trying to grow your hair out.
What are the main signs of using too much? Aside from breakage, dryness and stiffness are some of the lead signs. Dry scalp and white residue are also bad signs.
So what can you use? Look for products that have a good balance of moisturizing agents and proteins. Too much of either is bad too, as it can leave cracks in your hair as well.
We should be careful when picking the products we want to use. Always consider your hair and scalp type too. That’s how you ensure you’re getting only the best for your hair.
Washing Your Hair Too Much Dries Out Your Hair
Not only how many times you’re washing your hair is in question here, but also how much you shampoo it.
The amount of times you wash your hair within a week depends only on the type of hair you have. That’s why you and your tresses need to get to know each other better first. Straight, thin, hair gets coated with hair oils faster while curly hair can be a little drier.
Shampoos are made to clean the scalp and remove the excess oil that built up in your hair. Maybe you have the urge to wash your hair immediately after you notice it getting grease, but don’t do it. Oils our scalp produces are good for, and they keep the follicles shiny. You should only wash when your hair feels dirty to the touch.
There’s a myth that shampooing twice before conditioning is the way to go. There’s absolutely no need for that. It may seem like you’re only cleaning your hair thoroughly, but you’re doing more damage than you think.
Washing your hair too much can dry it out. It leaves the scalp dehydrated too, and we already know what problems that can cause. Dandruff and breakage are only some of them. Your hair looking dry and not being able to hold the desired hairstyle can occur too if it’s damaged.
Make sure you only wash when it’s necessary for your hair type. To learn more about different hair types and how to care for them, you can read this article from Health Line.
Summary
We’re hoping that this hair care guide gave you some insight into what it takes to have healthy hair. You can see it’s not all that difficult — it just takes some changes in your well-established routine.
To simplify — all you need to do is avoid heat and not use too many hair products. Find something that will moisturize your hair and give it the nourishment it needs. By keeping your hair healthy, you will also make it easier to maintain.
After you find what works for you and implement it into your routine, things will be a breeze. You’ll look back at your bad hair-care habits and wonder why you even did all those things to begin with.
