Proper Hair Maintenance For Men

Man getting haircut - Credit: iStockPhoto.com

You may have the perfect
hairstyle, but that coif won’t go very far if you don’t take care of your hair. Proper hair maintenance for men goes beyond slapping on some shampoo and running a comb through your tresses; it involves using the right products, getting regular haircuts, and taking care of your scalp.

If you don’t know where to start on your hair-care journey, however, don’t fear -- Fernando, from the Montreal-based salon Le Pascha, offers the clueless all-important tips on proper hair maintenance for men.

Is it OK to shampoo every day?

As long as you’re using the proper product in your hair, you can shampoo and condition every day, 1,000 times a day, without any side effects -- but, again, only if you’re using the right product. Just use common sense. If your hair is dry, don’t use a shampoo that removes oil -- you’re just drying out your scalp. Use normal shampoo and conditioner, and it’s fine to wash frequently. There’s that myth that your hair will fall out, but it’s not true. If it’s going to fall out, it’s in your blood.

What's the one hair product every man should own?

I emphasize this a lot and many men are starting to get more conscious of this product: conditioner. Conditioners are necessities because a healthy scalp means healthy hair -- and not enough men know that.

Is there a specific brand that every man should own?

Joe Grooming is a certified organic line that is designed to treat your scalp and style your hair at the same time. So, because many men are lazy, it eliminates the need for separate steps. For example, you need a shampoo, a product to take care of your dry hair, etc. So, they have products that eliminate the need for separate products, but they’re finishing products, which means, one product is the answer for everything.

Are gels and oils bad for the scalp?

Gels get hard, congest the scalp and the scalp doesn’t breathe. You can point out the guys on the street who look like they’ve got a crusty head. Joe actually has a gel that doesn’t get hard and looks natural, so I recommend that type of gel.

Also, when it comes to styling products, pliable ones are better to use because they are
cheaper in the long term. For example, Joe Grooming has a product that is called the Grooming Compound -- you can put it on in the morning, and it doesn’t need to be reapplied when you go out in the evening. Just put your hands in your hair and move them around a bit. Pliable products aren’t too stiff and you can move your hair around. Sometimes you’ll spend a little more on a product, but you wont have to put half the bottle on your head each time.

Is it OK to buy pharmacy brands?

I really believe in the salon brands because they’re specialized for different hair types. Pharmacy shampoos tell you to repeat -- that’s just marketing. If you wash your hair every day, you don’t need to repeat. This is how they sell the product. I don’t believe in 2 in 1s… you can’t remove oil and then replace it with a conditioner at the same time. It’s just a weird concept. You can’t do both properly.

How often should a man get his hair cut?

Haircuts should generally occur every 4 to 6 weeks if you want to look your best; after this period, hair generally starts to lose its support and maintain its shape. But 4 to 6 weeks is the peak, and after that your hair is just not cooperating with you anymore.

What are some curly hair maintenance tips?

Curly hair is just as easy to maintain as straight hair. The proper haircut is necessary and a product like the Joe Grooming cream is used as a weightless conditioner. So for those who don’t have the right haircut, this cream doesn’t hold the hair down and it helps control the frizz.

Fernando is the artistic director at Le Pascha Men’s Grooming Center in Montreal, Quebec.
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