Your crowning glory isn’t going to take care of itself, so it is imperative that you start taking better care of it this year. In line with our view that males should be more attuned with skincare, hair care should definitely be part of the skincare routine. Here are some super easy tips to start maintaining your hair. It’s best to do it now than later, trust us.
1. Avoid over-washing your hair. Yes, it’s possible to over-wash both skin and hair. Too much washing can cause problems, especially when the scalp dries out and runs out of the natural oils that help keep your hair healthy. What you should aim for is just three or four washes per week, and make sure that you use the right type of shampoo for your hair type.
Don’t use ultra fragrant shampoos for women, keep it simple, and use shampoo that has natural ingredients as much as possible.
If you have been prescribed by your dermatologist a shampoo to treat any hair or scalp problems, follow the dermatologist’s instructions but don’t overdo the washing, either. If the instructions state that you should wash once a day, stick to that routine and use only the right amount of medicated shampoo or hair wash.
2. If you are already in your thirties or forties, you have probably already noticed that your hair is becoming more and more brittle every day. Hopefully the brittleness is caused by your genes, and not because you are using a hair care product that is too harsh for your mane. After washing your hair, avoid rubbing it hard to dry it.
Instead, pat it dry and gently, and allow the towel to do its job. Eventually the extra moisture will dry out, so there’s really no reason to rub the hair vigorously. Vigorous rubbing will only break the gentle hair strands and over time, this will thin out your mane.
3. Try egg yolk. Believe it or not, conditioning your hair with egg yolks actually works. The reason for this is quite simple: egg yolks are simple in structure (from a molecular point of view) and the natural proteins and compounds in the eggs are absorbed readily by the hair and your scalp. The result? Better looking hair and healthier scalp. It might sound weird now, but do try it, as it’s one of the cheapest ways to get better-looking and shinier hair.
4. Over time, the products that you put on your hair will cause a build-up of residues, which can affect the appearance of your hair. What usually happens is that the hair begins to look dull and lifeless.
What you need to remedy this situation is a clarifying shampoo. Clarifying shampoos deal with the residues and attempt to restore what is underneath that layer of chemical residues. Think of the stuff that you put on your car to remove the grime and the water marks.
5. Do not overdo shampooing. You only need to apply the shampoo once, lather, and then rinse the product off completely.
Some shampoo advertisements want people to leave the product on the hair for a few minutes, rinse, and then reapply the shampoo. Chances are, your hair will start thinning after a few months because it is being exposed to too much shampoo. Yes, you will probably get soft hair, but that hair is going to be thinner than it should be.
6. Which is better, cold water or warm water? We recommend warm water (not scalding or too hot) because cold water actually reduces the circulation around the scalp, which may reduce the delivery of much-needed nutrients. The hair is a living thing and relies on proteins, vitamins, minerals, and water as much as your nails and skin.
So when you shower, opt for a warm shower when washing your hair, and be sure to gently rub the scalp with your fingertips to ease out the dirt and excess oil. The goal is to remove the dirt without removing all of the oils because oil is needed by the hair to stay healthy (and healthy-looking, too!).
7. If you like wearing hats, avoid wearing these too tightly around your head. This isn’t an old wive’s tale: there’s actually a condition called traction alopecia that is caused by mechanical stress on the hair follicles.
Basically when there’s too much stress and pulling, you can go bald from it. Not everyone gets it and it may take years before you start seeing the effects, but be aware that it can happen to anyone, regardless of their age and the health of their hair.
8. If you like using styling products like matt clay, use shampoo to remove the product from your hair at the end of the day.
Women remove their makeup when they get home, so you shouldn’t leave any hair care products on your head before heading to bed. Trust us, you wouldn’t want that wax to accumulate dirt from your pillow all night. Then there’s dust in the air, your sweat, excess oils… You get the picture, right?
9. Learn to manage your stress. Surprised? There’s plenty of science behind this recommendation. The more stressed you are, the more stressed your skin and hair.
And many males exhibit symptoms of falling hair and thinning hairlines when year after year, they fail to manage their stress well. Exercise, eat better, and get some therapy if you need to. A healthy head of hair will depend largely on how well you take care of your sled through the decades.
10. Brushing your hair is actually a good idea because the brushing will help make your hair look shinier, and the bristles will help distribute oil from the scalp toward the ends of your hair strands.
Brushing regularly also untangles hair and makes you look more dapper. Buy a brush, or a wooden comb (especially if you have a thick beard) and don’t forget to brush daily.
