We guys may not like to admit it, but sometimes we need a little beauty advice, too. I went through my twenties being proud that the only toiletries I needed were a bar of soap and a toothbrush. Yes, this means I even shaved and shampooed with my bar of soap. Sometimes being ignorant is blissful, but it doesn’t make you look (or smell) good.
It wasn’t until I started to find a couple of grey hairs peppering my black Hair that I started to think that I might need to put a little more attention into the way that I looked. For years I had thoughtlessly gone to supercuts for the quick, cheap trim, but, in my quest to remove the gray, a friend recommended a slightly more upscale men’s hair salon where he knew a stylist who specialized in color. I was reluctant to go, but found it to be an eye-opening experience for me.
Paul, my stylist, was incredibly knowledgeable and very honest and straight-forward. In fact, he didn’t hesitate to tell me how unkempt I looked and how he could tell with just one look that I’d been abusing my hair for years. I didn’t even realize that my hair was dull and lifeless or that it could be transformed into being shiny, soft and even sexy. Paul colored my hair to cover up the bits of gray and coerced me into purchasing shampoo and conditioner for everyday use and a deep cleanser for once a month. He also handed me a sample of a reconstructive conditioner and said with a wink, “Try it, you might like it.”
When I got home with all of my product, I was in a state of shock. What had just happened to me? Who was I anyway? I’m not the type of guy who uses “product.” What am I going to do with all this stuff?
I let the stuff sit unopened in my bathroom for about two weeks, having stubbornly gone back to using my bar of soap for everything. But my stubbornness was bound to fail, for Paul had treated my hair so well that I could actually see and feel the slow decline of my hair again as I went back to my old habits of abuse. I became aware of how dry and stringy the soap made my hair. Even though my hair was short, it became harder to comb through it and also started to lose the luster that it had when I had walked out of the salon that day.
Finally I caved and busted open the bottles of shampoo and conditioner. It was the first time I had personally treated my hair right and I noticed the difference that very day. I was officially hooked on product. A month and a half later, I scheduled my next appointment with Paul. When I walked in the door of the hair salon he took a sideways glance at me and said, “Wasn’t so bad, was it?” He spent the rest of the appointment giving me great pointers on how to maintain and keep my hair in great shape. In fact, in the past two years since I have been going to him, he has espoused a wealth of knowledge about hair health and he has agreed to let me share some of it here.
Some of the basic tenets of men’s hair care:
– When shampooing, be sure to thoroughly spread the product on all parts of your head, scrubbing into your scalp with the balls of your fingers (rather than scratching with your fingernails). Rinse well, focusing on the scalp and remembering to wash the product out of the underside of your hair, near the neck, too.
– Once a month, it’s a good idea to use a deep cleansing product, such as a clarifying conditioner to strip away some of the build up that can come from product residue or using wax-based hair products. When deep cleansing, it’s extra important to condition afterwards to restore moisture to your hair.
– When conditioning (which is, in fact really important), first choose a conditioner that’s right for your hair. You may choose a light, every-day conditioner or even a leave-in conditioner. If you color your hair, you should use a product formulated for color-treated hair. Whatever conditioner you use, make sure to concentrate on the ends more than the scalp, as these parts tend to be much drier. To control frizz, finish by rinsing in cool water.
– Every so often, your hair could use a deep reconstructive conditioner (like the one Paul gave me as a sample). There are a lot of products on the market, but the important thing is to find something that will restore protein and moisture to your hair, especially if you are prone to coloring or bleaching. Make sure you look for a product that claims to be an “Intensive Treatment” or a “Reconstructor.” In a pinch, or for a more natural approach, you can use mashed up avocado to achieve the same results.
– For general men’s hair health and to reduce hair loss there are a couple of diet tips that I have found indispensable. Making sure to get these vitamins and minerals either through Food Sources or in supplement form can greatly improve men’s hair health and reduce hair loss:
o Beta-carotene- food sources: carrots
o Calcium- food sources: Leafy, green vegetables
o Essential Fatty Acids (EFA)- food sources: fish, flax seeds, borage oil, eggs
o Folic Acid- food sources: orange juice
o Iron- food sources: beets, dried fruits, leafy greens, meats, raisins, eggs
o Lecithin
o Silica – Food sources: raw oats, potato skins, cucumber skins, bean sprouts
o Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid)- food sources: liver and wheat germ
o Vitamin B8 (Biotin)- food sources: eggs, liver, soy
o Zinc- food sources: leafy greens , meat, eggs, fish
I have been following these simple practices for men’s hair care and health for the past couple of years and I’ve not only found that my hair is fuller, shinier and sexier, I also feel healthier and more confident overall. Whether you are the bar-of-soap-for-everything kind of guy like I was who needs a total rehaul in the self-care department, or if you’re just needing a little nudge in the right direction, I hope these tips help you as much as they helped me.
