14 Best Conditioners for Men

Men with hot hair… are just hot. And guess what? Healthy, glossy hair is not only for the ladies. Magazines for men are increasingly talking about ways to keep your hair strong and in good health.

In fact, male grooming — which refers to the activity where males invest in their beauty, such as hairstyle, barbering, or skincare —  is on the rise. Preserving your hair is a natural beauty process. The basics require you to shampoo your hair and use a conditioner or a mask if necessary. Using a conditioner is part of a daily routine to protect your hair.

This damage can cause these to stand out, which makes the hair look dull, rough, and out of condition. Conditioners work by smoothing down your hair to look smooth and shiny again. So why do you need a conditioner, and what can you do to improve your diet to obtain, preserve, and get strong, beautiful hair?

Learn about hair composition

Most people have around 100,000 hairs on their head. As a living organ, hair is essentially composed of keratin and other chemical elements. To get an idea of what makes your hair, Healthline states that the chemical composition of hair is 45% carbon, 28% oxygen, 15% nitrogen, 7% hydrogen, and 5% sulfur.

Keratin is the protein that makes up nails, hair, and skin, derived from the wool and horns of animals. Plus, keratin plays an important role in hair strength and growth. As hair contains diverse chemical elements, it’s important to detect your hair condition and type before you choose the best conditioner.

Define your hair type and its condition

Normal hair is a good balance between dry and oily and has an adequate production of sebum. Normal hair needs just three washes a week, can be styled easily and doesn’t require high maintenance. Everyone wants normal hair as the hair remains strong, healthy, fresh, and easy to treat.

Dry hair may result from a temporary condition — for example, after some time spent under the sun — or can result from something chronic. You may also notice split ends on dry hair. Finally, dry hair lacks oil and proteins and may appear dull. For rebalancing dry hair, using oils and vitamins are essential.

Oily hair, on the contrary, results from an excess sebum production, which may make the hair appear greasy, unbalanced, and dirty. Issues in the scalp or poor beauty habits may make your hair oily. Excessive oil productions may be hereditary or due to hormonal changes. Another consequence of oily hair may be dandruff.

Greasy to oily hair swings between oily and dry. The hair looks damaged yet oily, which results in a poor looking appearance. Sometimes, seasonal changes may cause this type of hair imbalance. Hormonal issues may also affect the hair and turn oily hair greasy.

Men’s issues with hair

On top of it, men can experience hair loss or hair scalp. Compared to women, men are more likely to see hair loss in their life. There’s no treatment to prevent hair loss as the condition may be hereditary.

If you notice dandruff too, you may start to treat your hair with anti-dandruff shampoo and conditioner. Limp and lifeless hair may also appear with aging or due to stress.

What types of conditioner should I use?

A conditioner is essential as an after-shampoo treatment to make your hair smooth, clean, and gorgeous. Plus, applying a conditioner helps remove the limestone residues that remain on the hair after you rinse your shampoo.

Finally, most conditioners help rehydrate the hair and prevent them from drying, as long as you use the correct one for you. Depending on your kind of hair, you may go for various conditioners such as:

Classic conditioner: suited for normal hair, a classic conditioner contains the right ingredients to protect and nurture your hair.

Nurturing conditioner: best to use for dry hair, this conditioner brings nutrients, oils, and hair-softening properties to soothe your hair and keep it hydrated.

Balancing conditioner: perfect for hair between oily and greasy, this conditioner helps your hair remove the excess oil while bringing the right nutrients to it.

Color protection conditioner: for those of you with hair color, there’s some need to protect your hair with a smooth and highly protective conditioner.

Anti-dandruff conditioner: to remove the excess of sebum without damaging your hair and preserving its natural look, use an anti-dandruff conditioner.

Rinse-free: more popular these days, rinse-free conditioners don’t require water to be removed. Such conditioners are practical if you travel and have normal to dry hair.

Hair mask: in case of super-dry or dehydrated hair, you can apply a hair mask, which is a deeper treatment than a traditional hair conditioner. Hair masks may be left on the hair for up to 15 minutes. Rinse and enjoy the natural beauty back in your locks.

Oils, sage, and scalp treatments can help you rebalance your hair in case of dandruff or intense dryness. Choose among your favorite brands the best treatments.

Routine to maintain a healthy “hair” style

Get a stress-free life: there’s no denying that living a stressful life damages your hair, skin, and general health. It’s hard to maintain a stress-free life, especially in busy cities such as Paris, London, or New York.

But with the possibilities offered in cities to handle stress, it’s easy to live healthier than before. Attending yoga and meditation classes while eating healthy food is a must if you wish to live a life away from stress.

Stay away from pollution: air pollution adds toxic layers, dust, and contamination to your hair, which may prevent your hair from staying healthy and from shining. Protecting your hair against air pollution is important to keep your hair balanced, natural, and glossy. If you can’t stay away from a polluted environment, consider traveling during the weekend or indulging yourself into some countryside escapes.

Drink mineral water: Water is crucial in the development of the body. As the body is composed of water in the majority, you must stay hydrated. Sometimes, your skin or hair may be dry if you don’t hydrate yourself enough. Remember to drink at least 1 liter and a half of mineral water, and more if you travel.

Add vitamins to your diet: to boost hair growth, you can add these vitamins to your meals or take supplements. Remember to never exceed the dosage to avoid counter-effects.

Vitamin A helps in sebum production. You will need enough vitamin A to moisturize and grow your hair. Find vitamin A in sweet potatoes, carrots, or kale, as well as in some animal products like eggs or cod liver.

Vitamin B — or biotin — helps create blood cells which carry the nutrients to the follicles, and also boosts hair growth. Grains, beans, and fish contain enough vitamin B. Note that Biotin deficiency may result in hair loss.

Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant and is needed for the entire body to function perfectly, including your hair. Vitamin C also helps your hair absorb iron, necessary for hair growth. Lastly, vitamin C also produces collagen, which is part of the hair structure.

Vitamin D helps create new follicles and could, perhaps, boost hair production. A good way to add vitamin D to your diet by eating fatty fishes, cod liver, or supplements. The right dose of vitamin D is around 1,000 mg daily. You may find vitamin D in guava, orange juice, and broccoli.

Vitamin E prevents hair loss and oxidative stress, which describes an imbalance of free radicals and antioxidants in the body. Find vitamin E in avocado, sunflower seeds, as well as nuts and green leafy vegetables.

Homemade remedies to protect your hair

In addition to your favorite conditioner, you may use these homemade remedies to boost your hair vitality.

Coconut oil: multi-purpose, coconut oil can help your hair in various ways. First, coconut oil is one of the best conditioners ever and is effective on most hair types. It’s perfect for damaged, dry hair. Second, going deep into the follicles, coconut oil boosts hair growth. Third, it also prevents the hair from breaking and is a good remedy against split ends. As an antiseptic, coconut oil finally helps the scalp to fight against dandruff.

Olive oil: another conditioner, olive oil can help you get rid of dandruff easily. However, just use a tablespoon for effective treatment. Olive oil can soften your hair while protecting it against aggression, such as wind or pollution. To help with the dry scalp hair, tey using olive oil gently and massage your hair softly. Lastly, olive oil is known for its moisturizing effects.

Lemon juice: to make your hair shine more, you can apply some lemon juice to your conditioner. As a natural agent, lemon juice is unlikely to damage your hair. You can simply mix lemon juice with coconut oil or olive oil to get the maximum benefits and obtain protected, soft, and shiny hair.

Tips to try your conditioner

Consult a beauty therapist to help you determine your type of hair before buying any conditioner. Observe your hair from season to season, and find out if the condition remains the same, or if you notice changes.

Remember to stay healthy and eat a balanced diet to preserve the natural beauty of your hair. Groom and style your hair as often as possible to keep it looking sexy. Don’t forget to exercise to eliminate toxins in the body, which can alter your hair condition too.

When drying your hair, do not squeeze the split ends. Instead, be gentle, use a towel to slightly dry your hair with no pressure. For men with short hair, simply let your hair breathe and let it dry naturally.

Stay away from the sun as the sunlight can really damage your hair. If you are exposed to UVA and UVB, consider moisturizing your hair more than usual and add a hat to protect your scalp.