The Grooming Manual
Why Men’s Hair Needs to Be Slightly Oily
Grease. Oil. Grime. These are filthy words when applied to your hair. You don’t want to be accused of having greasy hair, do you?
But the truth is that your hair should be a little greasy - or oily - in order to stay healthy and look its best. Some guys work so hard to strip away any hint of oily and grease from their hair. In the end, they’re only causing more damage and weakening their hair strands.
Why all the confusion? Why does men’s hair need to be slightly oily? And how can you take the best care of your hair?
Your Hair’s Natural Oils
Your body produces oil naturally to moisturize and protect your skin and hair. This oil - called sebum - shows up everywhere you have skin. It makes its way to your skin via hair follicles.
This also happens on your scalp. When sebum is pushed through the hair follicle, it then moves down the hair strand. This natural oil gives your hair a shiny, healthy appearance. And it prevents your hair strands from weakening, splitting, and frizzing.
Hair Types and Your Hair Care Routine
Just like guys have different skin types, they all have different hair types too. If you have oily skin, chances are you also have oily hair. Your hair tends to get greasy all on its own.
But guys with dry hair have to deal with the opposite. Their skin and scalp don’t produce enough sebum to keep their hair hydrated and protected from the elements.
For the best results, you need to match your hair care routine for men to your individual needs. For example, guys with oily skin should use shampoo more often than men with dry hair. Shampoo removes excess oil, dirt, and other buildup in hair. But over-shampooing can leave your hair weak and brittle. That’s bad news if you already have dry hair to begin with. So if you have dry hair, you should only shampoo 2-3 times each week.
Regardless of your hair type, conditioning your hair is a must - if you want to look your best. Hair conditioner restores a natural shine and helps balance your hair’s hydration and oils.
Choosing the Right Products
The best hair care routine for men includes gentle, natural products. Too many shampoos are made with harsh chemical detergents like sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, and ammonium laureth sulfate. These surfactants produce lather and seem like traditional shampoo ingredients. But they actually strip away oil and leave your hair dry and weak.
Reach for natural hair care products for men instead. A gentle shampoo for men made with coconut based cleansers - like sodium lauryl sulfoacetate - is a much better choice. If you have thinning hair, wheat protein in your shampoo will help strengthen and thicken strands for a better look and feel.
The same goes for your hair conditioner for men. Ingredients like organic aloe, vitamin E, and teat tree oil work to cleanse, hydrate, and protect your hair without doing it any harm.
The same applies to your styling products. Skip the alcohol found in most hair gels. It will only dry out your hair, strip away moisture, and leave your strands weak and dull. Instead, choose a natural wax pomade for men. It’s alcohol-free and improves your hair while giving you a solid style.
Treat Your Hair Right
Keeping your hair properly moisturized means maintaining a healthy amount of natural oil. To keep your hair hydrated and looking great, only wash your hair as needed with the best natural shampoo for men. Follow up with the best natural hair conditioner for men. And don’t be fooled into using cheap, damaging hair care products that are packed with chemicals.