Hair Care for Dry and Damaged Hair for Men
Difference between dry hair men and women
Causes for dry scalp and damaged hair men
What happens in these situations?
How to take care of dry scalp and hair?
It’s easy to believe that a man’s hair can withstand a lot more damage than a woman’s and still bounce back. But you might not want to go down this route because the difference in hair structure is nearly non-existent. Damaged hair men and women is equally terrible and can even leave you wanting dry scalp remedies.
What is dry hair in men?
Your scalp is covered in sebaceous glands which secrete an oily wax-like substance called sebum. This is vital in the proper functioning of your head’s ecosystem, as it coats the scalp and hair in a protective acidic layer. This prevents germs, dirt and microbes from attacking your head, which can lead to inflammation and infections.
It also helps retain hydration on the scalp and reduces oxidative stress. This sebum is supposed to travel down your hair strands, thereby lubricating them and closing the cuticle layer.
In certain scenarios, this sebum layer can get disrupted and make your scalp vulnerable. It usually happens due to over-cleansing or under production of sebum, which also reduces the amount of sebum travelling down the hair. This leads to brittle hair strands and it’s how you get dry frizzy hair men.
Difference between dry hair men and women
Most studies have shown that there is no difference in the structure of the hair strands between men and women. You can have different types of hair, but it’s not based on gender.
The difference actually lies in sebum production, which directly impacts how dry scalp men and women occurs. Men usually have larger pores and higher sebum production as compared to women. So men have a tendency for oilier skin, which can attract dirt and lead to build-up. This can increase the chances of dandruff, infections, inflammation and folliculitis.
Women on the other hand have a higher chance of developing dry hair. Thus if you have dry scalp men, it means you’ve really gone to an extreme. This might be key in understanding why you have rough hair men.
Causes for dry scalp and damaged hair men
There are various scenarios which can lead to damaged and rough hair men. It all depends on your hair type and how you take care of it. Some of these are:
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Overwashing-
Shampoos are great for cleaning your head, but overuse of this can strip away the natural oils from your head and leave you with dry frizzy hair men. -
Allergic reactions-
This is extremely common when you start using some new products, which can trigger a reaction in your body and disrupt the oil secretions on your scalp. -
Hormonal changes-
We don’t usually think about this, but fluctuations in your hormones can directly affect your oil production. Even stress can spike your cortisol levels and disrupt the amount of sebum. -
Gels and styling products-
These might give you the ideal look, but it can also excessively dry out your hair strands. Especially alcohol-based styling products, which have a tendency of making your hair brittle and weak. -
Weather change-
Sudden changes in weather, or even hopping into a hot shower in the winter, can impact your scalp and hair. These fluctuations in scalp temperature can lead to oil disruption and excessive drying. -
Exposure to the sun-
Spending too much time in the UV rays of the sun can severely damage the cuticle layer of your hair strands. -
Rough towel drying-
We don’t realise this but drying your hair roughly with a towel can traumatise your hair strands and damage hair men.
What happens in these situations?
- Hairfall and hair loss
- Hair breakage
- Increase in dandruff
- Scalp becomes vulnerable to infections
- Inflammation
- Split ends and further loss of moisture
- Scalp itching
- Dull hair
How to take care of dry scalp and hair?
Thankfully, dry scalp is usually a temporary condition and can be easily treated. Finding the right dry scalp treatment for men can help prevent bigger problems from cropping up.
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Create a hair routine-
You might not like to hear this, but you have to take care of your hair. Many men still use soap on their hair instead of shampoos, which can be disastrous and lead to brittle hair strands. Find a shampoo for dry scalp men's issues and use it 2-3 times a week. Try the Head and Shoulders Anti-hairfall Shampoo , which can rescue hair from damage, dullness and hair fall. -
Oils-
Reclaim your childhood with a regular oiling of your hair. Applying oils on your head can moisturise and restore damaged hair strands. Massaging it onto your scalp can also increase blood circulation and flow of nutrients to the hair follicles. Try argan oil, coconut oil, almond oil or jojoba oil. -
Avoid hot water-
Don’t have a hot shower, especially during the winter months, as this can dry out your hair and make it weak. Lukewarm water is better. -
Hair masks-
You might not be keen on putting in all this effort, but you can either buy hair masks or create your own at home. These are great to bring back moisture to the hair. Aloe vera, avocados, honey, bananas, yoghurt, or apple cider vinegar, are just some of the ingredients you can use. -
Reduce styling products-
Either due to allergic reactions or alcohol-based products drying out your scalp, it makes sense to reduce the use of these products. Give it a break for a few weeks until your hair returns to normal and then restart the ones which don’t affect you. Additionally, don’t combine different products, as that mixture might be causing you problems. -
Conditioners-
Just like hair masks and oils, conditioners can be effective in moisturising your head. If you don’t want to use different products, you can try the Head and Shoulders 2 in 1 Active Protect . This combines the benefits of a shampoo and conditioner in one, which deep cleanses, provides scalp hygiene and restores any damaged hair strands. -
Cover your head-
When you’re out in the sun, it’s important to cover and protect your head. Wear a cap or a hat to prevent the harmful sun rays from damaging your cuticle layers. -
Stress-
Meditate, exercise and live a balanced lifestyle. Stress can directly impact the health of your hair and even increase hair loss. -
Diet-
Don’t ignore what you put into your body. Ensure that you create a healthy diet which gives you enough zinc, biotin, proteins, iron, minerals and vitamins. This is important in reducing the damage on your hair.
There is no need to have anxiety over these issues, as a damaged hair and dry scalp treatment for men is always around the corner. Just make a few changes and see how it impacts the health of your hair. In case you feel that your problems run deeper, visit a dermatologist.