What Does Naturally Healthy Hair Look Like?

Determining if your hair is “healthy” can be a confusing challenge for men. What are split ends? Is it normal to have dandruff? How smooth should my hair be? In this blog, we aim to define what naturally healthy hair should look like and provide easy-to-implement tips to maintain healthy hair. 

Smoothness

Smoothness refers to the texture of each strand rather than the hair’s overall texture. When hair is damaged, you will often notice that the strands feel rough. The roughness is due to the cuticle layer of the strand being lifted or missing in some places. You can check your hair’s smoothness by sliding a strand of your hair (assuming it’s long enough) between your thumb and forefinger. If your fingers run along easily, your hair is likely healthy, while a rough and bumpy feeling means you might have damaged hair.

Shine

Hair shine is one of the easier signs of healthy hair you can spot, mainly because you can just take a quick look in the mirror. For hair to show shine, it requires moisture, and with moisturized hair, the cuticle lies flat, allowing light to bounce off of it. Moisture is one of the critical components of hair because the more water the fibers have, the stronger they can be and the less dry your hair will look. Moisture is also a deterrent to hair frizz, which is why shine can signal a healthy head of hair. One important aspect to remember is that curly hair will naturally emit less shine due to its shape. So, if you have curlier hair, remember this fact and consider it when examining your hair for shine. 

Less Breakage

We often consider split ends, or when the hair’s protective cuticle layer is damaged and stripped away, a sign of a much-needed haircut. However, split ends can also give us a glimpse into our hair’s overall health. Intact ends are generally a sign of healthy hair. Everyday wear and tear will naturally result in some breakage at the ends of your hair; however, excessive breakage could be a sign of unhealthy hair.

8 Tips for Naturally Healthy Hair

1. Don’t Overwash Your Hair

Overwashing hair is one of the most common mistakes people make regarding hair health. In theory, it would make sense if washing your hair more meant you would have healthier hair. However, the opposite is true. Frequent washing dries out your hair and removes the natural oils that give it shine. Try to limit your washings to two to three times a week.

2. Avoid Chlorine Water

The chlorine in swimming pools is extremely harmful to the hair and scalp, causing parched and fragile hair. The easiest method to protect hair from chlorine damage is bathing with plain water and using a gentle conditioner before entering a swimming pool. 

3. Less Usage of Heat

Direct exposure to heat can be very damaging to your hair. Avoid applying dryers to your wet hair, and instead opt for natural air drying, even if it prolongs the process. If you need to use a hair dryer to dry your hair, make sure to have it on the lowest or moderate setting to limit the potential damage inflicted. 

4. Shower with Colder Water

Taking colder or lukewarm showers won’t remove as much oil from your hair as hot water showers will. Try to mix some lukewarm showers into your routine, and you will immediately notice a difference in the smoothness and shine of your hair.

5. Pat Your Hair Dry

It is recommended to pat your hair dry after showering rather than vigorously rubbing it. By patting gently, you will improve your hair’s texture and avoid additional breakage. Harshly rubbing your hair can sometimes lead to the loss of valuable chemicals that will, in turn, give you a rough hair texture.

6. Invest in the Right Hair Products

Every man’s hair is different, so finding the products that fit your hair is essential. Try different shampoos and styling ways to find the ones you enjoy using and make your hair feel great. Knowing your hair type—straight, curly, wavy— is crucial in finding the right products for your hair.

7. Consistent Grooming

Since men’s hair grows in places beyond the head, such as the neck and sideburns, it’s essential to maintain a consistent grooming schedule. Hair consistently trimmed and touched up tends to have a healthier life than hair left to its own devices.

8. Ensure Proper Moisturizing

Consistent moisturizing your hair with conditioner is one of the easiest and most effective ways to keep your hair looking and feeling healthy. Shampooing alone will strip your hair of its required nutrients and dry out your scalp.

Hair Restoration at Lowcountry Male

We have two treatment options for hair loss at Lowcountry Male. The first is our best-selling hair loss spray. This spray combines two FDA-approved ingredients, Finasteride and Minoxidil, to form a potent and effective hair restoration solution. Our second treatment option is PRP Therapy. PRP Therapy is a natural treatment that uses the healing powers of your blood to repair your hair follicles. Reach out to us below, and we will help you determine which hair loss option is suited for you!