Look, I get it. You probably didn’t spring out of bed thYou can learn more about it here. morning all giddy to bone up on a new hair care routine for men.
But while it’s not necessarily the most intriguing topic, it is One of the most crucial things you can do to maintain your billowy hair is to use a good shampoo. Detail matters, whether you’re choosing the perfect haircut for your head or curating a collection of products. Hair oils, conditioners, shampoos, pomades… if it touches your hair, some thought should be put into it.
Let me do all the thinking. Herewith: The best hair care routine for men that you’ll ever see. Today. That you’ll ever see today.
The Key Takeaways
To find out the best haircare routine for men, i began by reading dozens of customer reviews, expert opinion, and product comparisons. I also consulted my own experiences. The tips, steps and products selected were designed to appeal to men of all hair types and styles.
Favorite Hair Care Products to Build a Routine
The 6-Step Routine for Men’s Haircare
You’re here for a reason, and that reason is to baby step your way into the ultimate hair care routine for men. Here are six essential steps to get you started.
What’s the right shampoo? Thought you’d never ask. The shampoo that is best for your hair and scalp type will be the right one. Whether you have oily, dry, or regular hair, there’s a product out there with your specific needs in mind. Regardless of where you fall on the spectrum, you’re almost always better off avoiding products that use harsh chemicals and ingredients. To get the best results, choose shampoos with natural ingredients.
What to Do: Contrary to popular (or once-popular) belief, washing your hair every day isn’t necessarily the way to go. Even if you have oily hair, every other day will suffice. Guys with dry or normal hair — or those with thick and wavy hair — can get away with washing it every three days or so.
What to use: If you’re looking for a natural, wallet-friendly, gentle, rejuvenating shampoo to lean on (and who isn’t), you’ll find it in Oars + Alps’ Invigorating Shampoo. Witch hazel soothes even the most dry scalps, while tea tree oil and other natural ingredients such as menthol give your scalp a cooling sensation.
What you should consider: If you’re still walking into the nearest drug store and picking up the first cheap bottle of shampoo you see… for shame. Whether you have long hair, short hair, or no hair, there’s a product (correction: several products) made just for you. Shampoos formulated to benefit oily hair won’t be ideal for those with dry scalps and vice-versa. It’s important to find the right shampoo for you. You’ll thank me later if you have beautiful hair.
If you care about the strength, health and growth of your hair, this is a must. No hair care routine is complete for men without conditioner, regardless of how highly you regard it.
What to Do: As a former conditioner-avoider, I understand. It can feel like an extra credit to use a good conditioner. Quite the contrary, though, it’s a vital step to maintaining the overall health of your hair. All it takes is a coin-size dollop two or three times a week and you’re good to go.
What to use: When it comes to hair care for men, it bears repeating that you shouldn’t skip the conditioner step. Here with the assist is a bit of grooming-routine pampering in the form of Triumph & Disaster’s Conditioner. The 100% natural formula is easy on your hair and features a cucumber and mint scent that’s as invigorating as it is inviting.
What you should consider: If you have short or close-cropped hair, you’ll only need to apply a dollop of conditioner two to three times a week. If you’re a longer-haired guy, consider increasing the frequency depending on the length and oil composition of your mane. And if you have a hard time remembering to use conditioner in the shower, don’t sleep on the many outstanding leave-in conditioners out there.
A monthly barbershop visit is a must for the best men’s hair care routine. Getting regular haircuts helps promote healthier hair, sure. It feels great to have your hair properly groomed. Both the physical and mental benefits of grooming are hard to deny.
No matter if you have straight hair, curly hair or thin hair, a barber will recommend a hair product for your needs. You can use hair powder as an example. Have you heard of it? Pro tip: Do not be offended if your barber sprinkles some Slick Gorilla Styling Powder onto your head. Volume, texture, and compliments won’t be far behind.
Shampoo: check. Conditioner: check. Regular barbershop visits: check.
Checking off each box is essential. But if the products and services you’re using aren’t right for your specific hair type and face shape, it’s all for naught. For example, if your hair is thin and tends to be limp, you might want to use a high-quality hair clay or paste. My mane more or less fits that description and has found solace in American Crew’s high-hold Fiber.
The right hairstyle depends a lot on your own judgment. Only you can decide which lengths and styles will work best on your dome.
It can be a bit confusing for the novice. Honing in on the right products for your hair care routine is going to take some time and some trial and error, but you’ve got this.
What to Do: Hopefully by now you’ve got a sense of what you like in a hair product, from its texture and scent to its recommended use and ingredients. All that’s left to do now is choose from the seemingly endless products out there. Easy, right? Not really. You can start by using the basics such as an excellent shampoo and conditioner.
What to use: We’ve already covered my recommended shampoo, conditioner, and pomade. Other products you might want to consider are hair gels (you’ll find plenty of options for normal or thin hair), hair oils, and hair waxes.
What you should consider: Remember that hair products come in different textures – from semi-oily all the way to firm. If you like a light finishing product, Baxter of California’s Thickening Style Gel will serve you well. All-natural ingredients, like other products are more gentle for all hair and skin types.
There’s no right or wrong way to style your hair. It’s all about what makes you feel good and what makes you comfortable. But also, you know… try not to look like an asshole.
What to Do: Short of coming over there and tousling your hair myself (which… nah), you’re more or less on your own for this one. Take what you’ve learned here and play around with different products that you think will work. Rinse. Repeat. Enjoy.
What to use: If you have thin, limp hair like yours truly, you’ll need a sturdy pomade or other styling product with some legs. Hair powder can be a good option, but is not one of my favorites. In the past, I’ve used American Crew’s high-hold Fiber. But if you’re looking for something a bit lighter and gentler, Tea Tree’s vegan Shaping Cream is a strong choice.
What you should consider: Start by experimenting with high-quality, yet affordable products. If something’s irritating your skin or just not working, scrap it and try something else. Once you’ve identified a type of product that works—be it a water-based pomade or dandruff shampoo—then You can now start to seriously consider upgrading your products.
How to Maintain a Good Haircare Routine
Tip 1: Don’t Overwash Your Hair
I used to never take this advice and washed my hair every time I stepped in the shower — which was and still is every day. I’ve long since realized the error of my ways and now wash closer to four or five times a week, which is still more than is often recommended.
Baby steps. If you want to avoid brittleness and gradual hair loss, then washing your hair just two or three times a week is enough.
Tip 2: Avoid Harsh Chemicals
Choose products with natural ingredients when in doubt. Not only are they typically better for the environment, they’re also better for your hair. Over time, harsh chemicals can damage your hair and scalp by drying them out. The chemicals in the products can also cause skin irritation and general discomfort.
Tip 3: Experiment
Though I hope this list has helped you get started, it’s a general one. Ultimately, it’s up to you to take or leave certain guidance as you pay more attention to the length of your hair, whether it’s naturally dry or oily, and any number of other considerations.
Take what you’ve learned about hair care routines for men and put it to action by testing out various products and honing in from there. You will find your go-to haircare routine through trial and error.
Why you should trust us
As a fashion writer and grooming expert at FashionBeans I test, compare and research products that make men a gentleman. If it can be worn, carried, or used in a way that elevates your look and feel, I’m into it. For this men’s hair care routine, I combed through dozens of product reviews, customer testimonials, expert opinions and my personal experience. In the end, I want to make sure that every man looks great and takes care of his hair.
Final Verdict
It’s going to take a little trial and error, no matter how much research you did before getting started. The length of your hair and its chemical composition are among the factors that determine which products to use, what textures to use, and how often you should apply them. Do some research, experiment with products and start with the basics.