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January 4, 2018

Manscaping 101: Everything You Need To Know To Avoid A Total Disaster

August 13, 2017

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How To Take Care Of Your Hair

March 28, 2017, , , , , , , , , ,

It’s Time You Started Taking Care Of Your Hair Properly – Here’s How

October 12, 2017

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On any day, your hair gets washed, dried, styled, tousled by hand and wind, greased by natural oils and sweat, slept on, and so forth. Considering that your hair is already dead to begin with, it’s quite the challenge to keep it looking lively over time.

Here’s an extensive game plan to do exactly that. 

Washing

According to Garrett Pike, founder and head barber at No Club Barbershop in Brooklyn, the baseline shampoo cycle should be every 2-3 days, though that can change from one man to the next.

RELATED: Vote For Your Favorite Grooming Products & Brands

“You need at least a day to build up natural oils that are good for the scalp,” he says. “If you have very healthy, resilient hair, you could get away with washing just once a week.”

This is because shampoo can strip away the good, nourishing oils while it also washes away the grime and product buildup. You need these healthy oils to keep hair hydrated from day to day; these oils also relax the hair and make it easier to style. While you should still rinse your hair every night and morning, it’s the excessive shampooing that should be avoided. It will dry out your hair and cause more harm than good. (We bet any guy you know with “great” styled hair cites this as his secret.)

Pike makes one exception to this rule:

“Guys who use a lot of product should be washing almost everyday,” he says. “You want to avoid product buildup and clogged pores.” However, if you’re just using a dime-size amount each day, this should be easy to rinse out each night and re-style the next day.

May We Recommend…
Revivogen Bio-Cleansing Shampoo, $24.00 at Reivogen.com

RELATED: Best Shampoos for Men

Conditioning and Maintenance

If a shampoo is like a cleanser (used in moderation, remember), then a conditioner is like a moisturizer. They add nutrients back to the hair and scalp that enrich it for each day’s elements and wear—and to rebound from the drying nature of shampoo.

You should condition after shampooing—however, “never ever use a 2-in-1 shampoo-conditioner,” Pike adds. “It’s just a bad shampoo and a bad conditioner in one.”—and you can also condition between washes since it really only helps the hair. Many stylists also believe that “co-washing” (that is, using conditioner as your primary shampoo) will help flush away the majority of the grime that you’re targeting with a shampoo. Moreover, use conditioner regularly—every other day, at least—and you’ll only see improvements.

Pike prescribes different uses for different hair types, too:

“If your hair is fine, I would just invest in a good everyday shampoo and avoid conditioner unless you’re trying to get it long and avoid tangles,” he says. “If you have dry or thick hair, you should be using conditioner every time you wash. And, for overly dry hair, I recommend just using conditioner and never using shampoo.” 

May We Recommend…
Detroit Grooming Co. Premium Shea Butter Conditioner, $28.95 at DetroitGrooming.com

Blow Drying

Most guys won’t need to blow dry their hair.

Men with long hair may do it to help set their styling crèmes or oils, and men with medium styles will use a blow dryer to add volume. Similarly, guys with thin or thinning hair may be able to create the appearance of density with a blow dryer.

“To make the hair look fuller, blow dry it and finish with a matte styling product,” Pike says. “Ask your barber if its necessary for your style to blow dry, because most likely a good towel dry or air drying is fine.” Pike advises against blow-drying if you have no true idea what you’re trying to achieve with it, because the heat and pressure will only further dry out the hair. (This is why guys with longer hair use nourishing oils when they blow dry—to counteract the damaging effects.)

Brushing

There’s a difference between brushing a combing. While combs help set your style in place, brushes are best used at the end of the day, after showering. By running a brush through wet hair (longer styles work better, obviously), you can evenly distribute the oils produced in the scalp—those natural oils that hydrate and condition the hair (sebum).

This is why women with long hair brush theirs at the end of the day; in addition to detangling it, they’re fortifying the hair and preventing all that sebum from gathering at just the base of the hair and blocking the follicles.

Any guy with brushable hair should get a wet brush to untangle when you come out of the shower. A comb can sometimes rip or damage hair when it’s wet. Brushing activates the scalp and helps release the natural oil ” sebum”.

RELATED:
Which Hairbrush Is Best for You? 
Best Hair Combs for Men

Styling

For your hair’s own longevity, the best styling advice is this: Don’t use too much product, and rinse the hair daily while scrubbing the scalp, in order to remove each day’s product buildup. (This will also stimulate circulation in the scalp, which helps prevent hair loss. Pike suggests doing a self-administered scalp massage each time you shower, especially if you wear hats or are under a lot of stress.)

There isn’t a major difference in hair care regimen for gels, waxes, pomades, fibers, clays, crèmes, pastes, oils, sprays, and so on. Rinse daily, wash 1-2 times a week, condition 3-4 times a week, and use hair product sparingly. Start with a smaller amount than what you might suspect needing. Experiment each day with a little more product until you find the amount that’s right for you.

Lastly, avoid products with alcohol. They’ll dry out your hair.

RELATED: Here’s A Jump On Next Year’s Hairstyle Trends

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Best Products For Thinning Hair

March 27, 2017, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Stop Thinning Hair In Its Tracks With These Awesome Products

March 22, 2017

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The causes of hair loss seem infinite. Some believe it’s all in their genes. Others identify stress as the culprit. Then come the rare few that think poor hygiene is to blame. Well, research suggests all of these contribute heavily to less fur on your noggin. But if thinning hair is the one condition that’s become the bane of your existence, then it’s most likely attributed to some bad habits you’ve picked up throughout adulthood. When crash dieting, steaming showers, soaking in the sun, scratching your head, and tightening the man bun become too routine to your lifestyle, know you’ll be investing in some form of thinning hair solution sooner than later to save face, better yet save mane.

Alopecia might already be rearing its ugly head and you’re just completely oblivious to it. What? Did you seriously think those strands on your cardigan or trapped in the shower drain came from last night’s Tinder hookup? It’s you buddy. Research shows that an estimated 40% of men notice hair loss by the age 35. And whether you’re far from or past that age range, it only benefits you to spot these visual cues when worrying about thinning hair.

  • Flat hairline
  • Hair on your brush or pillow
  • Lighter weight felt when combing head
  • Scalp becomes more visible when hair is pulled back
  • Sunburn on the scalp
  • Widening of the central part

Sure. You can go the cosmetic route and opt for a revolution treatment like FUE to remedy the situation, though for men struggling with hair loss, it’s not always a viable choice. Not only does the surgery come with a hefty price tag, before you’re even considered a viable candidate you have to prove an established pattern of hair loss. Which means there’s an awkward ‘in between’ phase where thinning is apparent, but not chronic enough to warrant treatment. With many men refusing Propecia (finasteride) and Rogaine (minoxidil) on account of the side effects, the only realistic option left is a thickening product that creates a temporary bulking effect.

Don’t think for one second a doctor’s prescription is needed to obtain a hair thickening cure. You can find many off the counter at most local pharmacies or online. And lucky for us, today’s offerings are far more advanced than those infomercial rip-offs we’ve wasted money on over the past decade. Read the labels to determine these key factors when shopping for one.

  • All-natural ingredients: Aloe Vera, herbal compounds, essential oils, and vitamins can all contribute to full and healthy locks.
  • Clinical approvals: Co-signs are badges of honor for all beauty products, so be sure every viable pickup garners the praise to back up its authenticity.
  • Hair type: Not all hair-thickening products are formulated universally. See if the serum favors your hair DNA.
  • Paraben-free: Refrain from any products with these preservatives, along with GMOs, sulfates and other hazardous chemicals responsible for baldness.

So if you have early signs of thinning or hair that’s lost its strength, feast your peepers on the innovative (and affordable) solutions worth expensing.

Phyto Phytolium 4

Billed as a groundbreaking hair support system, Phytolium 4 stands out as a re-densifying scalp treatment engineered with four patents to combat ‘chronic’ thinning and extend your hair’s life cycle. It comes packed with glycoproteins for stimulating regrowth and procyanidins to nurture the hair bulb and stimulate growth. Studies have shown that 79% of volunteers found the complex to be effective after four months of use, where as several reviewers have noticed less shedding within a two-week span. Application is longwinded and requires commitment (massage a phial of the concentrate into the scalp three times a week after shampooing), but look at it as a trivial process that’s well worth the effort.
$65.00 at Amazon.com

Peter Thomas Roth Hair To Die For

Peter Thomas Roth lives by the philosophy, “Breakthrough formulas. Astonishing results.” Suffice to say, the personal skincare brand’s unique hair growth solution is a testament to this credo. The formula works in three stages, which is spearheaded by patented Tri-Phase Complex technology to initiate the hair growth cycle. Texture is non-oily and absorbs comfortably into the scalp. Its scent is said to be just as pleasing. The fact that it’s formulated without the use of parabens, sulfates, GMOs and triclosan earns it bonus points. Much of the alopecia constituency attests to the product working within the first 10 days of continuous use. Majority rules.
$20.33 at Amazon.com

Nioxin Thickening Spray

By now you’ve got the gist of how thickening products work: a key ingredient binds to hair shafts, creating a temporarily fuller head of hair. Here we have a ‘3D’ treatment that has been described as a temporary thickener adding body by way of specialized polymers to make hair feel and look plumper. It’s incredibly easy to use as all that’s required from the user is to spray through damp hair, comb through, and blow dry for immediate results. The formula then gets absorbed and creates a short-term thickening that holds up pretty strong, plus it controls frizz and exudes a pleasant scent. Straight and wavy hair types need apply.
$9.19 at Amazon.com

Jack Black True Volume Thickening Shampoo

The hero product of Jack Black’s reinvented hair care collection, this botanical shampoo has garnered acclaim for its use of potent ingredients and a “proprietary thickening complex” that helps hair look and feel fuller. The formula relies on Expansion technology to release Creatine and wheat protein into your hair shaft, which in result strengthens each strand for considerably firmer shag. A subtle scent hits your nostrils upon application that provides a sigh of relief when massaged into the scalp. Considering its strengths, one can easily mistake the shampoo for any caliber hair regrowth serum, but don’t. Recognize it as an amazing hair wash—one filled with gentle surfactants and natural plants oils to fortify thinning hair.
$28.00 at Amazon.com

Revivogen Scalp Therapy

Formulated by board certified dermatologist, Revivogen sets itself apart from other hair loss products by addressing its root cause the hormonal by product called DHT. Revivogen Scalp Therapy is formulated with the most potent natural ingredients, scientifically proven to reduce DHT production with noticeable results within 90-days. All you have to do is part the hair in the thinning areas and spray once a day. It’s as simple as that.
$99.00 at Revivogen.com

V76 Hydrating Conditioner

Chamomile, sage leaf extract, and vitamin E are all-natural additives tabulated for revitalizing dry and thinning hair. V76’s rich cream conditioner brings out the magical properties of all three ingredients to nourish and stimulate the scalp for shine and strength. On top of delivering intense hydration for overworked hair, it administers defense against splitting ends caused by sun exposure and harmful free radicals. A quarter-sized dollop is enough to leave your mane feeling silky and smooth. And the intoxicating aroma of blue cedar and coconut milk should leave your partner feeling aroused, no matter the hair situation. We definitely recommend pairing it with the brand’s Editor Pick Hydrating Shampoo for well-balanced results.
$19.00 at Amazon.com

American Crew Boost Powder

One would never consider hairstyling powder to tame thinning hair. American Crew proves the skeptics wrong with its weightless talc treatment. Key ingredients like silica silylate and citric acid work together to regulate pH levels, restoring and thickening hair, all while leaving a matte finish. Interestingly enough it lifts and holds threads better than most gels or pomades to maintain the ‘dry look.’ Sprinkle it lightly on hair and ruffle your mop with your fingers to establish an active thickening foundation. Yes. The container is small. Yes. That equates to a small amount of use. However, the small price tag and long-lasting effects compensate for such what seems to be the product’s only shortcoming.
$9.78 at Amazon.com

Aveda Thickening Tonic

One of the market’s best quick fixes comes in spray form and is guaranteed to boost volume instantly. Made from 97% natural ingredients, Aveda’s specialty tonic is perfect for fine textured hair, adding bulk and body without weighing down hair. This spray engages your mane by creating an extra layer of particulates (aka microscopic liquid matter) that deposit into hair strands, therefore creating a thicker appearance in the process. A series of adhesive agents are found in the formula such as hydrolyzed soy protein and wheat starch to name a few that work in unison with these particulates to protect hair from environmental damage. Use this temporary solution before styling.
$23.37 at Amazon.com

Eufora Hero For Men Revitalizing Treatment

This adequate blend of advanced technology and botanical extracts operate to increase scalp circulation and invigorate hair follicles. Waking up in the mornings to exposed baldness will kill your mojo, as Eufora’s conditioner serves as an confidence booster by deploying nutrients to the papilla to build firm strands over time, while using menthol and camphor to leave a refreshing sensation on your dome. Some have found its use of essential oil fragrance to be the most neglected attribute, especially since it releases a super-clean odor that pairs nicely with mint-scented colognes or deodorants. It also performs superbly well against dryness and itchiness thanks to its soothing complex.
$18.99 at Amazon.com

Nanogen Hair Thickening Fibres

Available in ten natural shades that adapt to your exact hair color, these clever fibers cling to individual hairs, making them appear thicker. The cosmetic camouflage is made from keratin, a fibrous protein forming the main structural constituent of hair, plus light deflecting dyes to achieve all-natural looks. Nanogen employs its patent pending electrostatic coating to each individual fiber that makes it resistant to strong wind and wet conditions (rain, swimming, etc.). Few have claimed the product requires a bit of time to master a proper application routine, though once past the learning curve it’s proven to be a sure-shot for those seeking singular hair density.
$54.99 at Amazon.com

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