Hair Care Tips From Tim Weber of Restoration Salons

I’ve always found ads for products promoting “healthy hair” to be a bit funny. There’s no such thing as healthy hair, is there?  Hair is basically protein and keratin with no blood supply and has no reparative qualities. Hair is not alive, so how can it  be healthy?

 “Well maintained” hair, probably makes more sense. Once damage has occurred, the only way to “repair”  hair is to cut off the damaged length. Of course, a healthy looking head of hair starts with a  great looking haircut,   but that’s just the beginning. Like your car, your hair needs maintenance in order to preserve strength, elasticity, and shine. Here are some hair care tips for men.

Pat / Towel Dry
People are too rough with their hair. Towel drying is one of the biggest causes of damage to men’s hair, believe it or not. When hair is wet, it is highly susceptible to damage. When the hair is rubbed with a towel, some of the hairs become tangled in the threads of the towel and become stretched to the breaking point, causing damage to the cuticle (the shingle-like outer layer of the hair), frizziness, and split ends.

To properly towel dry, shake out the excess water and stroke your hair in the direction it grows, rather than rubbing the hair with the towel. Press the towel to your head – blot the hair, pat the head – be gentle.  Drying takes a bit longer this way but after a few haircuts, you’ll notice the difference in the way your hair looks.

Blow drying is another  common cause of damage to hair. Excessive blow drying can dry out the hair and scalp. If you must use a blow dryer, apply a thermal styling spray or detangler to coat the hair and protect it from damage, use a wide-tooth comb to prevent pulling, and always leave the hair slightly damp. This will prevent over drying the hair.

Avoid High  Heat and Cool Off
Nothing feels better than a piping hot shower, but it’s wreaking havoc on your hair and scalp. Very hot water strips too much of the essential oil from the hair and scalp and leads to dryness. If you like a real hot shower,  do your body first, then drop the water temperature down to do your hair.

Avoid Chemical Treatments at Home
 I recommend avoiding at-home chemical products and seek a good stylist for such services. A stylist will know how to properly prepare you hair and choose the best products for your hair type. Results from a trained professional will almost always look more natural than those which can be produced at home.

ALWAYS Use a Good Shampoo and Conditioner
A good shampoo and conditioner will help cleanse the hair, add moisture and elasticity, and smooth the cuticle to add shine.

Maintain a Healthy Scalp
Hair starts from the scalp, so for hair that’s sleek, strong, and shiny, make sure you take good care of your scalp by following some Scalp Care Tips.

Hair that is subjected to too much sun can become brittle and dry. And
people with balding or thinning hair are especially susceptible to
cumulative and irreversible scalp damage from sun exposure [source: Cheyenne Skin Clinic].
To avoid sun damage, wear a hat. You might also try hair care products
with sunscreen in them (look for Octyl Salicylate/PABA on the label),
but take care to coat your hair evenly in order to receive even
protection.

If you’ve ever had your hair professionally shampooed at a salon, you
know the calming luxury of a scalp massage firsthand. However, you may
not know that there is a method to your stylist’s madness. Next time you lather up, take your time and really massage your scalp,
rubbing the pads of your fingers firmly against your head in small
circles [source: Rooks]. You might also consider investing in a scalp massage brush, which can be used while you shampoo or on dry hair.

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.

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Unsatisfied with the performance of mainstream hair
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Born from the same philosophy as skin care and
inspired by nature’s best, the KEVIN.MURPHY range of shampoos,
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When asked What’s the one hair product every man should own?
Tim Weber of Restoration Salons says, “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.”

Since hair is such a big part of your appearance, keeping it well maintained will make you more attractive and give you confidence.  Following these  simple guidelines will put you on your way to a healthy looking well maintained head of hair.

Tim Weber
Restoration Salons
Lincoln Park, Lakeview and Andersonville

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