My Seven Best Kept Secrets to Keeping Men's Hair Looking Great

If you want to know the truth hair is one of the first things a woman notices about a man. If your hair looks great, then you look great. Think of how confident you feel when walk out of the barber shop with a fresh cut. You can have that feeling every day with just a little bit of time and effort. Most of these tips tell you what not to do, so it is really easy to make a huge difference in the way your hair looks with no effort at all.

Pat dry do not rub or blow dry:

Using a blow dryer actually over dries the hair making it brittle and it will break, it also deprives your hair of the moisture you are trying to add with conditioner, as well as creates more split ends and frizz. Using a towel is a much better idea, however you must be sure to pat the hair dry and not rub it vigorously. This causes the hair to become tangled and to get pulled out by the cuticle, which can cause permanent damage and increases the chance of baldness later on.

Avoid chemical treatments:

We all know that chemicals are bad for us, so why do we insist on putting as many into our hair, and on our scalp, as humanly possible. Stay away from hair coloring, perms and other harsh chemical treatments, you're just making things worse. You will actually have better looking hair if you do. If you feel that you must use these products, find ones that use natural ingredients and use them as little as possible. Don't be afraid to spend a little money on your hair, it is worth it.

Avoid tight hats and pony tails:

This is just as bad as towel drying roughly. Great hair starts with your hair staying in your head. Tight caps and tight pony tails, along with tight braids, cause strain on the hair follicle, and pull the hair out by the cuticle. If you must wear a hat make sure it fits loosely on the head, and if you really feel the need to put your hair into a pony tail, use a hair tie and never a rubber band. Never pull the hair out of your head by the cuticle if at all possible. If you do keep long hair make sure you trim the split ends off at least once a month. It will grow faster, and look better.

Don't swim in the pool too much:

Again this goes back to the chemicals. If you want your hair to look great you want to protect your hair. We all know that pools are full of chlorine, and public pools are the worst. If you swim regularly, use a swimmers cap to keep as much chlorine off of your hair, and scalp as possible. Make sure to wash your hair thoroughly and condition twice, as soon as you get out of the pool. The longer the chlorine stays in your hair, the more damage it will do.

Condition, condition, condition:

No, conditioner is not just for girls! This is one thing that will help protect your hair, as well as make it look better. Conditioner that is natural and not loaded with chemicals is best. Think of the oil coating on your work boots, or the polish on your Italian leather shoes. It is put there to protect the leather underneath, as well as add shine and luster. Conditioner does the same thing for your hair. Not only making it look good, but keeping out harsh elements in the environment, so make sure you condition, rinse and repeat often.

Beer:

Yup now you have the perfect excuse to go out and buy some beer. It is well known that beer is good for your hair. There are many theories why this is true and no one agrees which ones are true. There is evidence that even the Egyptians used beer to help make their hair stronger, healthier, and more luxurious. I would recommend using a good beer, such as Corona or a good micro brew. These are usually made with higher quality ingredients so it stands to reason that they will work better on your hair, not to mention the left over taste better. Apply the beer after shampooing but before conditioning, and be sure to let it soak in for 30 seconds to a minute before rinsing.

A Great Haircut:

Of course the best secret to good looking hair if you are a man is the haircut. Make sure you choose a haircut that is right for you and your look. For example, if you are 45 years old do not try to look like a member of your daughter's favorite boy band. Also, make sure that the haircut you choose will work for your hair type. If you have thick and somewhat curly hair, don't try for a straight cut. You can usually ask your barber if a given hairstyle will work with your type of hair. I recommend cutting out pictures of various hair styles from magazines and asking your barber which ones will work for you. If you are going bald, I think your best bet is to go the Bruce Willis route, it is a good look these days, and if Vin Diesel can pull it off, you probably can too. Besides, it will look better than that ring of Saturn on your head.