Men Hairstyles: Haircare Tips

Sunday, December 30, 2007

As hair loss issues become one of the most concerns of men, regardless of their ages. It is important for us to stress on hair care further (There was a earlier post on hair care tips, to find out earlier post, click here: man health: how to take care of your hair). Most of us are overwhelming by many ads for shampoos and styling products you see on television that claim to promote "healthy hair!" Let's get real, people!

There is no such thing as "healthy hair." Hair is basically made up of protein and keratin. The hair itself has no blood supply and no nervous system. Hair is not alive, so it cannot be "healthy" Because hair is not a living structure, it cannot repair itself and must be maintained properly to preserve strength, elasticity, and shine. Some shampoos and conditioners claim to "repair the damage" to your hair. They simply cannot. Once hair is damaged, the only way to "repair" it is to cut off the damaged length. The following are a few tips to keep your hair looking great... looking "healthy!"

Dry Your Hair

Towel Drying is one of the leading causes of damage to men's hair. Guys love to take a towel and rub that hair like crazy. The problem here is that when hair is wet, it is also very easily damaged. When "rubbing" the hair with a towel, some of the hairs become tangled in the threads of the towel and are stretched to the breaking point, causing damage to the cuticle and split ends. To minimize damage from towel drying, shake out the excess water and then stroke your hair with the towel in the direction it grows. This may take a bit longer but it's worth it.

Blow Drying is also a leading cause of hair damage. It can dry out the hair and scalp. We strongly recommend not to use blow dryer, but if you must blow, then you might want to follow these tips.

  1. To prevent damage from blow drying, apply a thermal styling spray to the hair. This will make it easier to comb and protect against heat damage.
  2. Make sure to hold the dryer 6-10 inches away from the hair and move it briskly from side to side. This will keep the hair from becoming damaged by heat.
  3. Avoid drying the hair completely. Leaving the hair slightly damp will prevent drying out the hair.

Easy On That Comb, Pal, when hair is wet, prevent damage by using a wide-tooth comb or brush. This will limit damage caused by the comb or brush pulling on the hair.

Wash in very hot water can dry out the hair and scalp. Take it easy on the heat.

Watch the Pool Water.Pool water contains chemicals that can dry, damage, and discolor hair. To minimize damage from chlorine and other chemicals, always wet the hair with tap water before entering the pool and wash with tap water after swim. This will help prevent your hair from absorbing water from the pool and wash away the chlorine or other chemicals after swim.

Avoid Chemical Abuse. Repeatedly coloring or perming hair can wreak havoc. Chemicals used to process hair can be very harsh to your hair and scalp.

Don't over wash. Feel free to shampoo daily, but extensive shampoo in a day could cause damage to your hair. Professional shampoos are designed to deposit softening agents, moisturizers and protect agents into the hair shaft. But, when you shampoo, concentrate on cleansing the scalp. The hair will be sufficiently cleansed by rinsing the shampoo out of the hair.


Balance diet. Eating well, drinking plenty of water, taking vitamins, getting plenty of sleep, and living a stress free lifestyle will promote faster growth of the hair. The hair is often a reflection of the entire body. A body that is healthy and well maintained will likely have hair that is strong, shiny, and "healthy looking."

Control Frizz. Frizzy hair is caused by a low amount of moisture and protein. To control frizz, use a good moisturizing conditioner. You can also apply a "smoothing" serum such to add shine and manageability.

So remember, all these tips are not one time event, but are continuous effort.

Tags: , , , , , , ,