When I learned how to maintain my long hair was the day, I knew the charm of having a rugged, long hair. I was struggling with my mane to the point where I was contemplating shaving it entirely. But before I could pull this disastrous move, I tried to give my long hair one last chance by practicing simple daily maintenance routine*.
Are you struggling with the same problem? Well, let’s face it, maintaining an appealing long hairstyle for men can be taxing. The challenge is even more pronounced in men who are used to taking care of short hair. But we all know the rewards are sweet. Hair health starts by taking care of the hair roots way before growing out your hair.
Before you start growing your hair, ensure that you have achievable hair goals. You should also ensure that intentional maintenance fits seamlessly into your lifestyle. You will have to spend more time grooming yourself as well as to keep a proper routine. To do this well, you will need all the right equipment and the right knowledge on how to take care of your hair.
Caring for Your Hair
It takes deliberate actions to maintain neat long hair. Right from washing your fur, to drying it and covering it, the actions you take to keep healthy hair dictates the overall appeal of your long mane. Here are some of the tips that you should know to maintain your long hair:
Give Yourself a Hot Oil Massage
A hot oil massage is a popular option for treating hair. You can buy a ready-made product or go to the salon. Your choice of hot oil product should complete your hair type. In case you have a skin condition like eczema or psoriasis, you should consult your dermatologist for advice on which hot oil hair treatment for man to use.
How to DIY a Hot Oil Treatment
You need to select the hot oil product for your hair before you begin the treatment. Products such as almond, olive, coconut, avocado, argan, and jojoba oils are some of the most common oils used for this treatment. Once you have your oil, follow the steps listed below to complete your hot oil treatment procedure.
- Wash your hair. Clean hair makes it easy for the oils to penetrate deeply into the hair cuticles.
- After cleaning your hair, microwave between three and six spoons of your oil for ten seconds.
- Damp your scalp and hair before you apply the oil. In addition, you need to apply a small amount of oil on your wrist to ensure that it is not very hot.
- Put a towel on your shoulder to protect your shirt from getting soiled. Alternatively, you can apply the hot oil as you go to the shower.
- Gently comb your hair to rid your hair of all the knots.
- Apply the hot oil carefully and evenly all over your hair. Massage it gently to increase its penetration into the scalp.
- Put on a shower cap and hold up for 20 minutes as your hair cures.
- Rinse your hair completely after 20 minutes to get rid of all the oils on your hair. Continue with your usual hair conditioning routine.
Don’t Overdo It With Products
It is okay to use products when styling your hair. Be it wax, gel, putties, or pomade, only use it to the right levels. Do not overdo it. Only use products to achieve the desired outcome. Here are some of the products and how to use them:
- Putties – Putties hold longer and are not as shiny and stiff as gels
- Gel – It gives your hair a shiny allure and holds for longer. It also makes your hair appear wet.
- Wax –Wax holds your hair together, and it is hard to get rid of it due to its oil base.
- Paste – Paste suits anyone with a medium or long hair. Unlike gel, paste has moderate shine and hold.
- Pomade – High-quality pomade is suitable for anyone who wishes to pull a retro look. It has a fairly low hold but a high shine.
- Muds and clay – These products have low shine. They vary from low to high hold.
Avoid Hot Tools and Chemicals
Do not use too much heat when treating your hairstyle. Use low heat on your blow-dry as you dry your hair. Do not expose your hair to hot water as you shower, more so, if the temperature outside is lower than the freezing point. Avoiding heat when treating your hair is the general rule. Air-dry your hair. If you must use a blow dry, set it at low heat, and leave your hair damp.
Use the Right Shampoo & Conditioner
You should ensure that you use shampoo and conditioner that suits your hair type and scalp condition. Consult your dermatologist if you are not sure about the exact products to use. The products should not only encourage hair growth but also strengthen the hair. If you are looking at how to make your hair soft for guys especially, you should use a dedicated softening shampoo.
Do Not Wear Hats Often
Instead of wearing hats, you should consider going for haircuts (trims) every eight weeks. This might sound like a self-defeating move, but it is one of the best moves that you will pull to ensure you have an aesthetically pleasing hairstyle.
Wash Your Hair Less, Condition It More
The general the male hair advice in the community is to wash hair twice in one day. Do not wash your hair twice. Instead, condition your hair more. When you wash your hair twice, you risk drying your hair.
Use a clarifying shampoo
Clarifying shampoos will help you cleanse your hair by eliminating all the stubborn hair product build-up. It also clears all the hair impurities caused by environmental conditions. The clarifying shampoo will make it easy for you to style your long hair and help you protect the color of your hair.
Learn How to Style Long Hair
When your hair has attained the right length, it is time to style it according to your likes. A good hairstyle will complement the shape of your face and highlight your best facial features. Here are some of the things that you should take care of when styling your hair:
Dry Your Hair the Right Way
Set your blower at lower heat when drying your hair. Ensure that you leave your hair damp. Alternatively, you should opt for air-drying your hair. This ensures that the essential oils in your hair and scalp are retained.
Know When and How to Brush Your Hair
How you brush your hair depends on the texture, thickness, and length of the hair. Each hair-type has a different brushing approach. In addition to this, the types of brush you use differs depending on the type of your hair. Do not unnecessarily brush your hair and avoid brushing curvy and curly hair completely when it dries up. Use a paddle brush to brush curvy or curly hair. This should be followed by a round brush as you blow-dry your hair. In case you have straight hair, you need to brush it while it is either wet or dry. If you experience lack of hair growth you may want to know how to train your hair to go back and brushing little of your what you may have can allow you to to train your hair by massaging the scalp
Get Strategic Haircuts as It Grows
Strategic haircuts allow your hair to grow according to your aesthetic expectations. These cuts should be periodic to ensure that your hair shapes up according to your goals. You should also avoid combing over.
Use the Right Tools for the Job
Grooming tools are very important when maintaining long hair. These tools not only ensure that your hair grows according to plan but also makes it easy for you to style your hair accordingly. Here are some of the important tools for the job:
Dry Shampoo
Dry shampoos clean dirty hair without causing a loss in natural oils from your hair. These shampoos come in spray or powder form. You can apply these dry shampoos in the morning and style your hair before leaving for work.
Hair Spray
Hair sprays contain industrial polymers that allow the spray to hold your hair together. Hairsprays can make your hair look voluminous. They also make it possible for you to keep your hairstyle throughout the day.
Salt spray
Salt sprays have a different effect on your hair from all the other styling products in the market. Sea salt enhances your hair’s natural tendencies by increasing the texture of your hair. However, sea salt products differ. Some have been diluted too much and will cause your hair to stick. Find the right products for your hair type.
Blow Dryer
Blow dryers help men to achieve different styling demands. Choose a dryer that will help you achieve your specified styling goals because not all dryers offer the same solution.
Hairbrush
There is no one-brush-fits-all option in the market today. Different hair types demand a different brush to achieve styling needs. Whether you have thin hair or locks, you need a brush that will serve your specific styling needs well. Before brushing your hair, ensure that you have used the right hair oil to achieve the perfect style.
Using Supplements
Healthy hair is sometimes looked at as a sign of good health. Therefore, eating the right nutrients is important to maintain healthy hair.
You may need to increase your consumption of Vitamin A rich food. Drink a lot of water and eat biotin (Vitamin-B) rich foods and supplements. You should also use biotin rich hair products such as shampoos and soap. Foods rich in Vitamin C and E protect your hair and scalp against oxidative stress. Vitamin C produces collagen, which improves the structure of your hair. In addition to these, you can use homemade remedies like apple cider vinegar rinse, egg white, and aloe mask, and onion rinse to clean your hair.
In Summary
Learning how to hair for men is an on-going process that should be improved on a daily basis. This article outlines some of the best methods you can use to maintain your hair. Be consistent and deliberate about it, and you will realize great results. Hopefully, you have gained greater insight into men’s hair care
*You may have noticed from my photos the lack of long hair. I no longer possess that feature.
