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<\/p>\nThere aren\u2019t many guys who don\u2019t enjoy a day of laying around the house and doing nothing. At some point, though, you\u2019ve got to take a shower. We all have our own routines when doing this, but one of the few things that remains the same for all men is the need for a cleansing shampoo.<\/p>\n
Of course, you could opt for the dollar store brands, but when it comes to men\u2019s shampoo, you could be doing yourself a disservice without even knowing it. Every man\u2019s hair is different, though, so it\u2019s important to know as much about shampoo as possible before deciding on a long-term product.<\/p>\n
With so many questions about shampoo out there, it\u2019s hard to find all the information you need without tons of online research. Fortunately for you fellas, we\u2019ve decided to condense all the most important information for you. If you can\u2019t find what you\u2019re looking for here, you probably don\u2019t have any shampoo questions.<\/p>\n
Which begs the question, what are you doing here? For the rest of you, read on.<\/p>\n
We get it, you might not give a rat\u2019s ass about the history of shampoo. If that\u2019s the case, scroll ahead. If you just love filling up that noggin for trivia night, though, the road to modern shampoo is a pretty interesting one. It got its start back on the Indian subcontinent back during ancient times.<\/p>\n
No, we can\u2019t give you an exact date. Wikipedia dropped the ball on that one.<\/p>\n
Either way, these ancient people used herb extracts that cleansed their hair while making it shiny and more manageable. Europeans absolutely loved these cleansing products, so like they did with just about everything else, they stole the idea and brought it home.<\/p>\n
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In the early 1800s, Sake Dean Mahomed started marketing shampoo products in Britain. Without any modern regulatory bodies, of course, he promised that it could heal arthritis, stiff joints and even gout. Heck, maybe it could. It\u2019s not like we\u2019re using his formula anymore.<\/p>\n
Over time, even before settlers got everywhere in North America, most cultures were using some form of shampoo. The ingredients ranged from quinoa extract to rice husk. Up until recently, though, even American shampoos weren\u2019t much different than soap.<\/p>\n
Just in case it needs mentioning, don\u2019t use soap in your hair.<\/p>\n
You\u2019re probably thinking that a section on how guys should wash their hair is pointless. After all, you\u2019ve been doing it your whole life. Just do us a favor and don\u2019t skip this part, okay? Your routine is probably getting the job done, but you can do much more for your hair by getting the job done\u00a0right.<\/i><\/p>\nPicking a Men’s Shampoo<\/h3>\n
To start, you need to find the right shampoo. Even if you\u2019re spending extra money to avoid the cheap stuff, the bottle in your shower might not be quite right for you. If you\u2019ve got dry hair, for instance, you\u2019ll need a shampoo that moisturizes. Got a little too much oil up top? Grab a product that will strip it away.<\/p>\n
Even if your significant other loves the smell of what you\u2019re already using, you could be doing damage if it\u2019s not properly formulated for your hair. Rest assured that she\u2019ll be less impressed by that smell once your hair starts falling out from damage.<\/p>\n
Our last tip on picking the right shampoo is to avoid 2-in-1 shampoo-conditioners. Men’s\u00a0Shampoo is meant to strip away everything, and conditioners replace the oils that the shampoo got rid of. There\u2019s no way to combine the two and get an effective product.<\/p>\n
Get started by pouring the shampoo in your hand \u2013 duh \u2013 but use as little as is necessary to coat your full mane. This will save you money over the long run. When you\u2019re working up a lather, make sure you\u2019re massaging for scalp at the same time. This stimulates your follicles and increases the health of your hair.<\/p>\n
Keep this up for about 30 seconds and then fully rinse the product out of your hair. Don\u2019t get excited just yet, though, because your job isn\u2019t done. You\u2019ll need to condition your hair as well. In this case, you don\u2019t have to work all the way to your scalp. About a quarter inch from your skin will do just fine and prevent the conditioner from clogging up your pores.<\/p>\n
Leave the conditioner in for at least three minutes so that it gets the job done. Now hopefully, you didn\u2019t skip this part. We know lots of guys don\u2019t think it\u2019s necessary to condition their hair, but once you make it a habit, you\u2019ll quickly see the benefits.<\/p>\n
Conditioning your hair might seem like an unnecessary habit \u2013 especially if your hair is greasy by nature \u2013 but it has a host of benefits that countless guys will unfortunately never experience. To start, it moisturizes your hair to keep it healthy.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut guy who\u2019s writing the article, what if my hair gets greasy during the day?\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
Good question. Glad you asked it. The fact remains that you should still condition your hair after shampooing. As described in BSG\u2019s guide, \u201cWhy You Should be Conditioning Your Hair,\u201d the product actually protects your mane from towel damage. Keep in mind that, even if your hair gets greasy during the day, it\u2019s stripped of its natural oils right after shampooing.<\/p>\n
You\u2019ll also find that it prevents split ends and hair damage far from the roots. This is\u00a0especially\u00a0<\/i>important if you\u2019re growing your locks out long. In fact, conditioning frequently can even repair the damage that was previously done when you skipped this essential haircare step.<\/p>\n
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Once again, though, you\u2019ll need to find the product that\u2019s right for your specific hair. Many conditioners have extra ingredients that cater to specific hair types. In fact, Barber Surgeons Guild\u2019s HCO1 conditioner stimulates hair growth for guys who are getting a little sparse up top.<\/p>\n
The important thing for oily-haired guys to remember is that they don\u2019t need to leave the product in as long as others. Whether they\u2019re using a conditioner to increase hair health or just so it\u2019s more manageable, they don\u2019t need to fully take advantage of the moisturizing properties.<\/p>\n
In many cases, the availability of two separate products for men and women is a marketing ploy. Did you know that there are brands that make gender-specific products for ear buds, tea and even tissues? While we might have different uses for tissue, seriously, what\u2019s the point?<\/p>\n
When it comes to men\u2019s versus women\u2019s shampoo, though, there are a few differences to point out. Great products that are gendered can certainly get the job done for either sex, but the big variances are related to the differing needs of men and their fairer counterparts.<\/p>\n
To start, let\u2019s look at the fragrance. Do you really want to walk around all day smelling like coconut honeysuckles passionfruit? If that\u2019s what floats your boat, then knock yourself out. You can still purchase shampoo that has an appealing aroma, but most guys don\u2019t want to walk around all day smelling like a girl.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s also worth noting that men typically get dirtier than women, and even if they don\u2019t, their hair usually produces more oil. Add in the fact that most of us use some form of product that needs to be washed out, and it becomes obvious that guys need something that will cleanse without drying out their hair due to frequent washes.<\/p>\n
Finally, shampoos catered to men typically don\u2019t have as many moisturizing agents. A heavy moisturizer might be necessary for ladies with long hair, but for guys who only have an inch or two up top, it\u2019s a bit of overkill. Of course, extra moisturizer never hurt anyone. Once again, this is especially true if you\u2019re growing out your mane.<\/p>\n
Gender equality is great and all, but there are reasons to keep your shampoo in your corner of the shower. It\u2019ll give your hair everything you need to look great when you\u2019re out and about. If you need a few more tips on turning heads out on the town, check out our tips in the Barber Surgeons Guild Dispatch.<\/p>\n
With a cursory search of proper beard care, you\u2019ll quickly learn that shampooing your chin buddy is the perfect way to grow a manly beard. Once you\u2019ve found a product that works for your hair up top, you should be good to use it in your beard as well, right?<\/p>\n
Do not do this.<\/i><\/p>\n
Brian and Johnathan at The Gay Beards make a point of telling their followers that just any old shampoo won\u2019t do their beard justice. This might sound like a simple talking point, but the pair is absolutely right. Regular shampoos are made specifically for hair health, but they can prove damaging to your beard.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s just consider the point of shampooing your hair. You obviously want to get it clean, but the main focus is to remove that oily stuff known as sebum. This keeps grit out of your locks and ensures you don\u2019t look like a greasy mess. When it comes down to it, though, your mane up top and your beard are two different beasts.<\/p>\n
The sebum that regular shampoos work to remove? Your beard needs it to remain healthy. In fact, removing it with a shampoo formulated for your scalp will dry out your beard and make it more susceptible to breakage and split ends. You\u2019ll also get an untamed look that even oils and balms will have difficulty overcoming.<\/p>\n
Shampoos that are created just for beards, though, don\u2019t have the harsh chemicals needed for traditional haircare. In fact, most have natural oils that will keep everything soft and manageable. If you\u2019ve been using regular shampoo to wash your beard, now is the time to stop.<\/p>\n
The damage done isn\u2019t irreversible, but the longer you continue with this haircare faux pas, the more difficult it\u2019s going to take your look up a notch.<\/p>\n
When choosing a shampoo, you want to focus on optimal hair health. You\u2019re not going to find a product on the market that doesn\u2019t promise this, but we obviously know that not all shampoos are created equally. In fact, some of them have ingredients that are downright dangerous for guys.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, most of us don\u2019t have time to stand in the aisle and learn what every ingredient in each shampoo does. There are a few specific additives, though, that you should avoid at all costs. Here are a few of the most important ones to dodge.<\/p>\n
Many manufacturers have already stopped putting sulfates in their shampoos. This is because the additive strips out the good stuff in your hair right along with the bad. It\u2019s like buying a lifejacket with 20-pound weights on it. It sort of defeats the purpose.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s are really technical chemical names for SLS and SLES, but there\u2019s really no need to bore you with those. The important thing to remember is that both ingredients will dry out your hair and skin. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency has even recommended that they no longer be used.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, not all manufacturers have stopped including them. Why? They help build up a lather. That\u2019s right, you\u2019re ruining your hair just so there are a few more bubbles in your bath.<\/p>\n
Parabens and phthalates are two different substances, so why are we listing them under one heading? Because they both have the same potential side effect.<\/p>\n
A decrease in male fertility.<\/i><\/p>\n
Yes, you read that right. Every time you shampoo your hair with a product that contains these additives, you\u2019re killing your little guys. Even if you don\u2019t want to have kids, do you really want to reduce the amount of love juice you\u2019re packing?<\/p>\n
What good is it to have awesome hair if everyone has to wear dust masks when out and about? Because that\u2019s exactly what\u2019s going to happen if we ruin the environment through our practices. Heck, the practice is already widespread in some Asian countries with high pollution.<\/p>\n
This is why you should avoid a few additives that are potentially damaging to the environment. Sulfates, for instance, have been shown to contaminate natural waterways. Mineral oils, which sound great and natural, actually resource intensive and contribute to global warming.<\/p>\n
While your hair might still be visible with a respirator, it\u2019s really a problem we can work to avoid.<\/p>\n
There are countless products out there that are simply meant to wash your hair and send you out clean and refreshed. There are others, however, that go the extra mile. These products include additional active ingredients that cater to a host of needs that some guys have but others don\u2019t.<\/p>\n
While some of these may sound ridiculous to many fellas, the fact remains that there\u2019s a market for them. We\u2019re obviously not going to touch on the 2-in-1 or 3-in-1 products since we\u2019ve already discussed how damaging they can be, but the following shampoos do serve a purpose.<\/p>\n
If you thought the gluten-free lifestyle only applied to food, you were way off. There are gluten-free varieties of everything from beer to haircuts (to be fair, the gluten-free haircut advertisement was probably a joke).<\/p>\n
The fact remains that there are many people who suffer from celiac disease. This condition makes gluten hazardous to their health. On top of that, there are plenty of people who avoid gluten for no reason whatsoever.<\/p>\n
Hey, if it makes them happy, then all the power in the world to them.<\/p>\n
Most men start to lose their hair at some point. While they might not go completely bald, the majority will see some thinning as they get older. Fortunately, there are plenty of shampoos out there that can help combat this natural process.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re starting to thin out up top, make sure you research the haircare products you purchase. Some may actually be detrimental to your health. If you want to avoid all those nasty additives we mentioned previously \u2013 including the ones that reduce fertility \u2013 check out BSG\u2019s HCO1 shampoo and similarly healthy line of products.<\/p>\n
Gluten isn\u2019t the only substance in existence that men are allergic to. Unfortunately, many of these ingredients are contained in common shampoos. This is why all-natural products have become so popular. They might not get the job done as well, but they do help people avoid their specific allergens.<\/p>\n
If you haven\u2019t been told specifically by your doctor to avoid a certain ingredient, you likely don\u2019t have anything to worry about. \u201cAll-natural\u201d might sound nice on the surface, but unless your allergens include a common shampoo ingredient, you\u2019ll just end up needlessly spending more money.<\/p>\n
If you make a point to stay up-to-date with what\u2019s happening around the world, you may have heard of the \u201cno poo\u201d movement. Unfortunately, it\u2019s not referring to some magical method of never having to go Number 2 again. It\u2019s a trend of people who have given up shampooing or at least greatly reduced their use of the product.<\/p>\n
The theory behind this movement is that our hair produces more sebum \u2013 that oily stuff \u2013 to make up for our shampoo removing it all. The thinking goes that stopping shampoo use altogether will train our hair to produce less sebum and therefore have less oily hair.<\/p>\n
In essence, some believe that it removes the need for shampooing altogether. In fact, you\u2019ll often hear a very simplified argument that might seem a bit difficult to debate:<\/p>\n
What did people do before shampoo?<\/i><\/p>\n
Of course, this harkens back to the good old argument against vaccines and prescription drugs, \u201cWhat did people do before vaccines and drugs?\u201d<\/p>\n
They died, Karen. A lot of people died.<\/p>\n
The same holds true in this case. Prior to shampoo, people often just walked around smelling like trash and with gunk in their hair. Don\u2019t get us wrong; there are a few lessons to learn from the \u201cNo Poo\u201d movement. Many guys, for instance, are shampooing way more than they should be.<\/p>\n
Of course, not all guys are the same. Men\u2019s lifestyle blogger Robin James even makes the point that all guys have different hair when describing why we shouldn\u2019t shampoo every day. If your hair is greasy or gets dirty, you\u2019ll obviously have to wash more frequently than others.<\/p>\n
This also holds true if you use certain products \u2013 such as oil-based pomades \u2013 on a daily basis. You definitely need something strong to get these out of your mane. And while some guys may not have to shampoo as frequently as others, the idea of ceasing the habit altogether is downright insane.<\/p>\n