Good Hair Care Regime for Men

In this article, we’ll outline a good hair care regime for men.

However, in the interests of objectivity, we should point out two things up-front:

• individual regimes will depend, to some extent, upon your own hair’s condition and status. There is no substitute for an expert’s inspection and then advice;
• not everyone necessarily holds the same views. Unfortunately, there is a lot of advice out there which may be right but which also isn’t necessarily supported by solid scientific experimental evidence. So, it may also be wrong. Once again, make sure you consult an expert.

Some basics

In general terms:

• keep your hair clean. True, that might mean different things to different people but regularly shampooing (perhaps every 1-3 days) helps. Some people, more commonly women, sometimes leave it longer. There’s not necessarily anything wrong with that but if your scalp starts looking ‘shiny’ then it indicates clogging and a shampoo is necessary;
• avoid harsh shampoos. Hair loss can arise if overly aggressive and chemically-laden shampoos are your normal choice. Tend to incline towards those that are relatively simple and described as “gentle”. Do read the contents though – some shampoos described as “gentle” may contain still some fairly harsh substances;
• treat your scalp with respect when shampooing. Some people, typically men, tend to go at their scalp when shampooing like they’re sanding down a piece of wood! Instead of furious rubbing, use a gentle circular motion with your fingertips. It’ll help avoid damage and hair fall;
• if you have dry hair/scalp, always use a moisturising conditioner after shampooing. Dry hair and related conditions are well-known causes of many forms of hair loss. However, don’t confuse conditioner with a hair loss treatment – they’re two very different things;
• keep the water hitting your head to a sensible and gently warm, rather than hot, temperature. Very hot water can make your hair brittle and lead to damage and hair thinning. Again, somewhat more commonly found with men than women, if there is steam rising above your shower then that’s a pretty good indication that the water is probably too hot;
• be cautious with ‘big-impact’ radical hair transformations, where chemicals are used. Some dying products can be very harsh on hair and scalp – so take advice before undergoing such treatments;
• if misused, hairdryers, straighteners, heated tongs and curling wands can all be very damaging to hair. Basically, nature didn’t design our hair to take such regular treatment. However, most experts agree that moderate and expert use of such tools probably won’t be a major problem. So, don’t just set about your hair with that gadget – research it thoroughly first and get advice;
• some hair loss conditions can be related to vitamin deficiencies in the scalp and hair. There are some vitamin-feed products and shampoos that can help. Remember though, don’t self-diagnose. Vitamins will be useless if a shortage of such isn’t actually the cause of your thinning hair;
• eat well. It sounds strange under ‘hair care’ but people who do not eat a healthily balanced diet are known to be more prone to hair loss and related problems. Your body needs a good balance between the major groups such as proteins and carbs etc. Cutting one out or consuming a too-heavy proportion of one group versus the others, can lead to a range of health problems including those affecting your hair.

Final tip

There are medical conditions, some relatively mild but others which may be more serious, which can have the effect of thinning your hair or creating bald patches etc. Sometimes these effects are direct and sometimes they are secondary symptoms.

If your hair problems are arising due to a medical condition, then you may find that varying your hair care regimes will have little or no effect. The only solution will be diagnosis and treatment

So, don’t just keep trying a different shampoo every month and simply hoping you’ll get lucky. Instead, get to a recognised specialist who can investigate the real causes and tell you exactly what’s needed to help.