7 Hair Care Tips for Men

You may have mastered choosing the right facial hair for your face shape and even embraced one of this year’s trendiest men's hairstyles, but have you done your homework when it comes to hair care? While you may not have long, luscious locks (if you do, more power to you!), the proper hair care routine can still make all the difference in maintaining a head full of healthy hair. Interested? Brush up on your knowledge with these seven hair care tips for men.

HAIR CARE TIP #1: TWO IS BETTER THAN ONE

Chances are, you’ve seen products boasting their 2-in-1 (or 3-in-1) abilities. While it may seem like a great idea to have a shampoo, conditioner, and body wash all in one handy dandy product, remember what you were told when you were younger. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Instead of asking one product to work overtime, do yourself and your hair a favor by investing in a complete hair care system made up of separate products—we’re talking shampoo, conditioner, and hair treatment. Pick one that’s meant for your hair type and reap the benefits. Trust us, you’ll thank us later!

HAIR CARE TIP #2: HANDLE WITH CARE

When it’s time to dry your mane, you may be tempted to grab your towel, rub away, and be done with it. However, rough rubbing can actually cause breakage. Instead, gently pat your hair dry to avoid any unwanted damage.

HAIR CARE TIP #3: LESS IS MORE

A little goes a long way! Keep your hair styling products to a minimum. Too much product can build up on your hair over time, causing your strands to be weighed down and appear flat. If you do feel as though your hair needs to be cleansed of excess product, add a pre-shampoo, like the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Extraordinary Clay Pre-Shampoo Mask, to your hair care routine. This purifying hair mask absorbs oil and impurities—including excess styling products—at the scalp, leaving you with fresh, clean hair. Before shampooing, apply the mask on dry roots section by section, making sure to fully cover the entire head. Leave it on for five minutes to absorb excess oil and impurities. Rinse while gently massaging the scalp to ensure all product is washed away.

HAIR CARE TIP #4: TURN DOWN THE HEAT

In case you haven’t heard, excessive heat can damage your strands. And while you may not be whipping out a curling iron or flat iron, there’s a solid chance you reach for your blow-dryer—or borrow someone else’s—every now and then. Try to keep using heat tools to a minimum—and when you do use one, make sure to apply a heat protectant beforehand and don’t turn the heat all the way up.

HAIR CARE TIP #5: HATS OFF FOR BETTER HAIR

The same way rubbing a towel against your hair can cause breakage, wearing tight, fitted hats too often can take a toll on your strands as well. Try to go sans hat as frequently as you can, and when you do wear one, opt for a loosely fitted style rather than one that’s molded to your head.

HAIR CARE TIP #6: MAINTAIN YOUR CUT

Trims are important! While you may not have super-long strands, it’s important to get regular trims. This will help get rid of any unwanted split ends and allow your hair to look and feel its best. 

HAIR CARE TIP #7: DON’T FORGET YOUR BEARD

Your beard requires proper TLC, too! Just as you need to wash your hair, it’s important to keep your beard clean (especially if you use any styling product on it). Instead of using shampoo and conditioner, reach for a face wash and beard moisturizer (we recommend the L’Oréal Paris Men Expert 3-Day Beard Moisturizer).

Want to pick up other men’s grooming tips and tricks? Head on over to our articles, The Ultimate Guide to Hair Color for Men and The Ultimate Men's Skin Care Guide, and start taking notes.