Hair Care Products for Men

Multi-colored highlights, revolutionary shampoos, hair conditioners, hair oils, a dime a dozen hair gels, hair sprays, frequent salon visits, hair styling sessions...hair care is no longer an activity that has remained exclusive to the women of the world. Today, you have as many men (perhaps even more) visiting fancy hair salons for hair coloring, innovative haircuts, hair setting, as well as for experimenting with a variety of hair styling options. The 21st century male is urbane, fashion-conscious and style oriented. In short, today's men are a combination of both, old and new - macho as well as metrosexual. Of course, when it comes to appearance, hair plays a very important part in a man's scheme of things. Therefore, on that note, presented in the following sections of this article, are a few hair care products for men.

Hair Care Products for Guys

For those of you who are still stuck in the 1900s when all that a man's hair care accessory comprised was a pocket-sized comb and the odd bottle of hair oil, it's time to step out of your time warp and step into the new millennium. A millennium in which men have progressed to the point of having an entire dedicated hair care cabinet for themselves, filled with a variety of products such as styling mousse, hair styling gels, holding sprays, pomades, styling waxes, form putty, multi-purpose hair oils, anti-dandruff shampoos, mild shampoos, tea tree shampoos, everyday use shampoos, hair conditioners, essential oils, defining pastes, hair serums, grooming creams, hair mattes, forming creams, shine lotions, wet look gels and God knows what else. (To all my female readers - this long list has almost caught up with that of yours, hasn't it?)

Anyway, delving into the details of each and every of the above-mentioned products for the hair is out of the scope of this article. However, what I will do, is run you through the basics of a few common products used by the males all over the world.

Hair Gels
Hair gels have been around since the late 70's (maybe even earlier than that). Once the favorite hair product of men who longed for an Elvis-like hairdo, hair gels have since undergone tremendous changes and today, are available in so many variants that one could end up using a different type for every day of the month! Gels are mostly water-based hair products and they serve the purpose of keeping your hair in place while giving it a wet, shiny look. Depending on your hair type and desired hair style, you can choose between a gel that provides strong hold, medium hold or light hold. There are gels for almost every hair type, so you needn't worry if you have curly hair, frizzy hair, thin hair or a head full of rough, coarse hair.

Styling Mousses
Mousse is mainly a hair styling product and one that is used by both men and women. When it comes to professional hair care for men, you will find plenty of men's salons making use of different types of styling mousse for styling their client's hair. Mousse works equally well with both wet and dry hair. It helps in keeping the hair in place and gives it a nice, healthy texture. Once applied, it remains effective throughout the day and you can re-style your hair anytime simply using your fingers.

Shampoos and Conditioners
Though being the most basic of hair care products, I nevertheless feel that they are worth a mention simply because of the role that they play when it comes to natural hair care for men. Today, shampoos and hair conditioners are available a dime a dozen and in a plethora of types. Depending on your hair type, lifestyle, existence of any hair problems (such as dandruff, head lice, hair loss, etc.) and hair manageability, you can select the shampoo and the hair conditioner that best suits your needs. With a number of brands and a wide range of available choices, selecting the right shampoo is a task that, these days, is easier said than done!

Hair Sprays
Though they are more popular among women, hair sprays have also started becoming a somewhat common hair care product for men. They are used more as a hair finishing product, rather than a hair styling product. When used with wet hair, hair sprays help in adding a bit of gloss to your hair and help in maintaining the shine. When used with dry hair, they help in holding the hair and also form a protective layer over the hair thereby protecting it from UV rays and harmful atmospheric chemicals.

Pomades and Hair Waxes
Pomades are used for ensuring hold and adding a bit of shine and gloss to the hair. They can be water-based or wax-based and excessive use of pomade may make your hair sticky. They are mostly suitable for people with medium thick hair or rough, coarse hair and do not work as well with fine, thinning hair. Hair wax is mostly oil-based and it helps in holding the hair and making it pliable. It works well with dry hair, and as is the case with pomade, too much of hair wax isn't good for your hair either.

This was a short introduction to hair care products that men use. Remember, wash your hair regularly and keep it healthy. It will make you look good!