Men's Hair Products

“Hair is nature's biggest compliment and the treatment of this compliment is in our hands.”
- Vidal Sassoon

Men’s hair products are any substances that alter the shape or texture of the hair. As with any discussion of proper hair care, one about hair products must begin with shampoo. While there is evidence that early humans used soaproot to clean hair, the process of shampooing is relatively new. The word was borrowed by the British from the Hindi word champo, which originally referred to a practice of massaging the scalp with oils. By the early 1990s, the meaning of the word shifted to the application of soap to the hair. The British first started using shaved bar soap boiled in water with herbs to make the hair shinier and smell better. This was an improvement over the previous use of plain bar soap, which left a residue, made the hair appear dull and caused scalp irritation. It wasn’t until the 1930s that shampoo as we know it today began to be manufactured.

The first modern men’s styling products debuted around the same time as commercial shampoo. In 1928, the Birmingham, England-based company, Chemico Works, created Brylcreem for keeping men’s hair in place. While the company originally made exactly what the name implies -- abrasive household cleaning agents -- its first hair product began a revolution in men’s grooming. The water, mineral oil and beeswax in the concoction held hair and gave it a wet look. By the 1970s, drier looks had become more fashionable and the need for other men’s hair products that offered a range of textures and holding properties surfaced. That’s why today an entire multi-billion dollar industry is dedicated to the development and sale of every spray, paste, wax, and mousse imaginable.

Men's Hair Products On AM

Men’s hair products should be a critical part of any grooming regimen, because the best clothing in the world won’t apologize for an unattractive coif. The wide availability of hair products out there specifically geared toward the male head can be daunting. But selecting the right items can mean the difference between premature baldness and a healthy head of hair. The scalp requires extraordinary attention even if you’re genetically programmed to lose everything before you turn 30. Scrubbing shampoos and scalp conditioners will help keep your skin in the clear while using lighter styling products, like matte pastes and creams, will give your hair a more natural look. Just remember that no matter what you do, the only thing worse than an untamed mane is a hardened head of gloppy goo. Leave the relaxers and dyes (yes, that includes highlights) for women and creepy guys in their 40s trying to look 20 years younger -- unsuccessfully.

Men's Hair Products Fact

In the United States, baldness is big business. Men spend more than $1 billion a year fighting thinness and receding hairlines with everything from over-the-counter men’s hair products like serums, lotions and shampoos to expensive medical procedures like surgical transplants.

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