When it comes to hair, men usually have three main concerns: how it looks, going grey and losing it. We can use haircare products to improve the appearance of our hair, but because the hair that we see above our scalp is basically dead material in order to really impact your hair’s health and continuing growth you need to impact the hair healthy hair care follicles in the scalp where the hair is formed. Here are some tips on how men can naturally care for their hair and help retain both its colour and abundance.
Guys with short hair don’t really need much in the way of haircare products. At most they can use a mild shampoo every second day or so, but many with very short hair may actually be able to get away with just massaging their scalp under the shower every day and not need shampoo at all. Men with longer hair will need to use a mild shampoo on a regular basis and if you use hair styling products you will need to wash them out with shampoo.
The main aim of washing your hair is to make it look better but it also helps remove dirt and oil which may clog the pores in your scalp leading to poor hair condition and hair loss. The aNaturally Great Grooming For Men: Haircare
When it comes to hair, men usually have three main concerns: how it looks, going grey and losing it. We can use haircare products to improve the appearance of our hair, but because the hair that we see above our scalp is basically dead material in order to really impact your hair’s health and continuing growth you need to impact the hair follicles in the scalp where the hair is formed. Here are some tips on how men can naturally care for their hair and help retain both its colour and abundance.
Guys with short hair don’t really need much in the way of haircare products. At most they can use a mild shampoo every second day or so, but many with very short hair may actually be able to get away with just massaging their scalp under the shower every day and not need shampoo at all. Men with longer hair will need to use a mild shampoo on a regular basis and if you use hair styling products you will need to wash them out with shampoo.
The main aim of washing your hair is to make it look better but it also helps remove dirt and oil which may clog the pores in your scalp leading to poor hair condition and hair loss. The amount of washing needed depends on the amount of dirt and oil that is on your scalp. A man who works in a dusty factory will need to wash his hair with shampoo regularly whereas a man who works in an office may not need to use shampoo at all or only every few days.
Most men have oilier hair than women and shouldn’t need to use a conditioner unless their hair is very long and needs detangling. If your hair has been colour treated, especially bleached, or if you spend a lot of time in the sun, surf or pool then you may also need to use a conditioner after washing your hair to smooth and protect it. An easy way to give your hair smoothness and shine is to rinse it with cold water at the end of your shower. This is also great for boosting the circulation in your body and hence blood and nutrient flow to your scalp.
The main thing to remember is that although your hair is dead you do need to treat it and your scalp gently. It is recommended that you use haircare products that are free from sodium lauryl/laureth sulphate (SLS). SLS dissolves the natural protective oils in your scalp and has been linked to skin dryness, skin irritation, eye irritation, hair damage and liver toxicity. Please note, a product does not need to foam to clean. Go for products containing natural gels and oils and naturally derived surfactants (cleaning agents).
Another group of ingredients to avoid in haircare is silicones such as dimethicone and cyclomethicone (any ingredient ending in ‘cone’). These can coat your hair and cause residue build-up. Silicones are non-biodegradable and are a toxin that can disrupt your immune system if they get inside your body.
Lastly, avoid products that contain alcohol (generally ingredients that end in ‘ol’). Ingredients such as ethanol, SD alcohol, SD alcohol 40, Alcohol denat, Propanol, Propyl alcohol and Isopropyl alcohol can dry out your hair, especially if you have curly hair. Propylene glycol is a humectant (attracts water to the hair), but it is petroleum derived and has been linked to dry skin, skin rashes and immune system and brain toxicity.
The core of your hair is made up of protein fibres so you need to give your body the building blocks to make these. Eat quality protein 2 or 3 times a day and remember that this is not just meat. While meat is a good protein source too much of it can begin to have a negative impact on your body. Eat the best quality, least processed meat you can (choose quality over quantity) and ideally eat red meat only 3 or 4 times a week. Sources of protein include nuts, eggs, beans, lentils, seeds, chicken, fish, seafood, turkey, spirulina, quinoa, venison and beef. Most protein sources also contain iron which boosts blood-flow to your scalp promoting hair growth.
A lack of zinc can cause your scalp to be dry and flaky. Lack of zinc also causes the hair follicles to become weak causing strands of hair to break or fall out. Sources of zinc include red meat, pumpkin seeds, oysters, egg yolks, wheatgerm, oats, sesame seeds, lentils, brown rice, figs, chickpeas, alfalfa sprouts, parsley, ginger and watercress. Foods from animal sources (red meat, oysters etc) contain by far the highest and most bioavailable sources of zinc.
One of the biggest hair related concerns for men is the loss of it. Factors that contribute to hair loss include iron deficiency, B vitamin deficiency, stress, illness, family background and age. After the age of thirty the hair regrowth for both men and women starts to slow down. Hereditary baldness is more common in men than women because it is related to levels of testosterone. It is caused not by more hair falling out, but by less hair growing to replace it.
While you can’t change your genes, there are things that you can do to promote vitality in your body and slow your biological clock. Managing stress effectively is a learned skill and goes a long way to improving your general health as well as maintaining hair regrowth. Feeding your body a high nutrient diet helps to prevent illness and provide your body with the building blocks it needs to keep producing new healthy tissue and cells for hair.
mount of washing needed depends on the amount of dirt and oil that is on your scalp. A man who works in a dusty factory will need to wash his hair with shampoo regularly whereas a man who works in an office may not need to use shampoo at all or only every few days.
Most men have oilier hair than women and shouldn’t need to use a conditioner unless their hair is very long and needs detangling. If your hair has been colour treated, especially bleached, or if you spend a lot of time in the sun, surf or pool then you may also need to use a conditioner after washing your hair to smooth and protect it. An easy way to give your hair smoothness and shine is to rinse it with cold water at the end of your shower. This is also great for boosting the circulation in your body and hence blood and nutrient flow to your scalp.
The main thing to remember is that although your hair is dead you do need to treat it and your scalp gently. It is recommended that you use haircare products that are free from sodium lauryl/laureth sulphate (SLS). SLS dissolves the natural protective oils in your scalp and has been linked to skin dryness, skin irritation, eye irritation, hair damage and liver toxicity. Please note, a product does not need to foam to clean. Go for products containing natural gels and oils and naturally derived surfactants (cleaning agents).
Another group of ingredients to avoid in haircare is silicones such as dimethicone and cyclomethicone (any ingredient ending in ‘cone’). These can coat your hair and cause residue build-up. Silicones are non-biodegradable and are a toxin that can disrupt your immune system if they get inside your body.
Lastly, avoid products that contain alcohol (generally ingredients that end in ‘ol’). Ingredients such as ethanol, SD alcohol, SD alcohol 40, Alcohol denat, Propanol, Propyl alcohol and Isopropyl alcohol can dry out your hair, especially if you have curly hair. Propylene glycol is a humectant (attracts water to the hair), but it is petroleum derived and has been linked to dry skin, skin rashes and immune system and brain toxicity.
The core of your hair is made up of protein fibres so you need to give your body the building blocks to make these. Eat quality protein 2 or 3 times a day and remember that this is not just meat. While meat is a good protein source too much of it can begin to have a negative impact on your body. Eat the best quality, least processed meat you can (choose quality over quantity) and ideally eat red meat only 3 or 4 times a week. Sources of protein include nuts, eggs, beans, lentils, seeds, chicken, fish, seafood, turkey, spirulina, quinoa, venison and beef. Most protein sources also contain iron which boosts blood-flow to your scalp promoting hair growth.
A lack of zinc can cause your scalp to be dry and flaky. Lack of zinc also causes the hair follicles to become weak causing strands of hair to break or fall out. Sources of zinc include red meat, pumpkin seeds, oysters, egg yolks, wheatgerm, oats, sesame seeds, lentils, brown rice, figs, chickpeas, alfalfa sprouts, parsley, ginger and watercress. Foods from animal sources (red meat, oysters etc) contain by far the highest and most bioavailable sources of zinc.
One of the biggest hair related concerns for men is the loss of it. Factors that contribute to hair loss include iron deficiency, B vitamin deficiency, stress, illness, family background and age. After the age of thirty the hair regrowth for both men and women starts to slow down. Hereditary baldness is more common in men than women because it is related to levels of testosterone. It is caused not by more hair falling out, but by less hair growing to replace it.
While you can’t change your genes, there are things that you can do to promote vitality in your body and slow your biological clock. Managing stress effectively is a learned skill and goes a long way to improving your general health as well as maintaining hair regrowth. Feeding your body a high nutrient diet helps to prevent illness and provide your body with the building blocks it needs to keep producing new healthy tissue and cells for hair.