Men are spending more on grooming than they have done historically, however this can be a lottery. Tesco, Boots and Superdrug may have rows and rows of brightly coloured inexpensive male grooming products on their shelves but try asking anyone in store to give you advice on razor burn or a dry flaky scalp. A good stylist could/should almost be prescriptive.
Avoid the glued look
A firm hold style is harder to maintain but try a more flexi-hold messy look that will sustain being blown around a bit! Recent research conducted in the US, which surveyed men around the world, affirmed two things: they want dry hands after applying product and for their hair not to be left feeling sticky or stiff. So experiment and look for a product that disperses well through the hair, which leaves hands dry to the touch, without making the hair stiff or sticky.
Don't weigh the hair down
Products such as traditional pomades will weigh the hair down and flatten to your head, exposing more scalp, as well as losing that strong masculine shape. Invest time in finding a professional product range, this is as important as researching a good qualified stylist. Non-professional products on the lower end of the scale can have a one size fits all approach. But also beware of overpriced miracle cures which often lead to disappointment.
Invest in Shampoo & Conditioner
Shampoo and conditioner is often the most overlooked process of a man's grooming routine but can have the biggest impact. Hair washing is essential to stronger and healthier hair growth. In a nutshell, it's all about the scalp. The sebaceous glands beneath the scalp secrete oil onto the surface, denying the hair shaft a clean healthy environment to grow and flourish. The hair shaft becomes weaker, eventually snapping off, in technical terms this is known as shedding. The way to avoid this is by using a quality shampoo and conditioner, professional is the key word, such as men-ü daily refresh shampoo and daily moisturising conditioner, the products are developed and designed specifically to combat the issues that directly affect men. If you feel your hair is beginning to thin and you want to do everything possible to promote healthy hair and scalp to prevent 'shedding' in the future, avoid cheap generic mass produce product. This will have no desirable effect on your hair and scalp and could even make matters worse. Years ago we were told not to wash our hair too often as we believed the oil was good for our hair. Now, we have learnt that unless we cleanse the scalp, at least once a day and preferably twice then the oil can cause far more problems than good.
Apply product when hair is damp
The challenge with more durable, longer hair is it is difficult to defy gravity! I suggest a routine where after leaving the shower with freshly washed and conditioned hair, towel dry, leaving the hair only slightly damp. Style roughly with your fingers and hands and allow to dry naturally whilst you eat breakfast and are still in the comfort and warmth of the house.
Just before you leave the house, that's the time to style your now dried hair. Apply your product to the palms of your hand and rub vigorously to create an even distribution of product. Apply the product to the entire area of your head, concentrating on the roots, the mid lengths and the ends will take care of themselves. This process should replicate washing your hair, you should be concentrating on the scalp and roots. Once the product has dispersed evenly and everything is standing up, use your hands or a wide toothed brush to shape.