For those developing manly smell: what do you do with your hair?

[TomGray]

How do you not shower but keep your hair looking good? I adopted a new practice some time ago of not using body wash except once per week. But now that it's getting cold, I can't rely on the weather to make me sweat. So today, I sat on the edge of my tub with my handheld showerhead and only washed my hair. And how long do you think before smell turns to stink?

 

[Ross]

TomGray,

I personally take a shower every day, but avoid using any products I don't need. I don't use product in my hair, so therefore I don't have a need for shampoo or conditioners. My hair feels and looks better when I just wash it with water. If you're having difficulties with being completely odorless, you could always go to the gym for in order to promote a boost in the testosterone content in your sweat. You should be going anyways .

The only scent that I use that doesn't derive from my body is clary sage. It has been proven to increase testosterone through inhalation resulting in the stimulation of LH. Essential oils definitely need a lot more research. Unfortunately, they can only be used in pure compounds rather than in clinical drugs, therefore the chance for extensive studies on their use and application is a dime a dozen. I don't apply it directly, but rather allow for diffusal of the oil in my apartment room. Clary sage has also been known to eliminate symptoms of anxiety, so it might be beneficial to take a whiff of it if you are experiencing approach anxiety.

Word of caution: if you've been washing your hair with product and decide to stop, your hair will take 1-2 weeks to adjust. It will be quite oily and greasy during this time, but typically it returns to natural levels of oil production after the adaptation period.

 

[Big Daddy]

Yeah, I noticed my hair looks better if I don't wash it for 4 or 5 five days. But then again, it becomes as hard as a stone, and texture/motion plays a large role on my hair style, so not showering is basically a no-no.

I use wax for modeling hair, so I've got to shampoo and conditioner it everyday. Truth is, if you go for the brands you would find in a supermarket, it wouldn't do you any good in regard to helping you with the smell of your hair. You could give a try to man-specific brands, such as Paul Mitchell, but that's just me. I found that the looks of my hair matter much more than its smell.

 

[Ryan]

I remember there was a no-poo (or something like that) craze going on 1 or 2 years ago. The idea was that hair, especially curly and wavy (i have loose curls), are very vulnerable to shampoo, and there was no need for it. So i stopped for a whole month, only washing my hair with cold water (hot water damages the hair).

Maybe my hair would have improved, but after 2 weeks, i suffered from SERIOUS dandruff. I was scratching my head all the time, and it felt like sand particles were irritating my scalp. My shoulders didn't look too great with lots of the white stuff falling out. Even so, my hair was VERY greasy. But once every week, my hair would look perfect. Which was odd.

I stuck with it for a whole month, and then i just couldn't take it anymore and scrubbed really thoroughly using a good shampoo and conditioner. It took a few washes, but it went back to normal soon after.

 

[TomGray]

Clary sage, huh? I'll give it a look. On days when I go out, I put pomade in my hair and it gives it a good hold and wave. But it needs shampoo and conditioner in the morning. I've never thought about just washing my hair with water. I'll give it a shot. Thanks, guys.

 

[trashKENNUT]

Hello everyone,

Washing your hair everyday, especially if your hair is long is not recommended by hairstylist. However, as Big Daddy noted, using supermarket brands doesn't do much to your hair if you do want to wash your hair everyday.

So brands like Paul Mitchell, Loreal Paris, Shisheido is better in helping you maintaining your hair.

Zac

 

[Big Daddy]

Maybe my hair would have improved, but after 2 weeks, i suffered from SERIOUS dandruff. I was scratching my head all the time, and it felt like sand particles were irritating my scalp. My shoulders didn't look too great with lots of the white stuff falling out. Even so, my hair was VERY greasy. But once every week, my hair would look perfect. Which was odd.

This. I mean, really, it's not sustainable, at least for me. All the hair finesse is gone on the moment you have to scratch your hair all the time.

 

[Ryan]

Guys, i just reattempted the 'no-shampoo' programme. But this time, i've been using absolutely no products in my hair at all (no conditioner too). Just relying on my hair's natural oils. Trick is to wash hair everyday using just water.

It's been a week so far, i had a brief period of mild dandruff, and my hair is still looking a bit greasy, but it is naturally so much more better looking, manageable and just generally sexier than my hair with products (minus the greasiness, but that should go as my scalp gets used to no products).

I strongly suggest guys with similar hair to mine (thick, rough and wavy/loose curls), to try it out - FAO PrettyDecent?

Maybe the serious dandruff will come later, so i will update in a week or so.

 

[Oskar]

Hey, I stopped using any chemicals in my my hair a few years back and it worked out great. At first it got greasy and I had dandruff, but when it got too bad I just used baking soda (baking soda can solve a surprisingly large amount of domestic problems). Brushing and combing every day if you have long hair is important, as well as knowing how to wash your hair properly. If you use two fingers to rub small concentric circles starting at your crown while holding down the ends of the hair, it should get clean, while also making it more textured and have greater volume. It took a few months for my hair to stabilize but it was definitely worth it -- I have no intention of using any product in my hair ever again -- which is particularly great if you live a highly mobile lifestyle. Hair smelling like hair without masking itself with chemicals is definitely the way to make it smell the manliest.

Best,
Oskar

 

[Ryan]

Hey, I stopped using any chemicals in my my hair a few years back and it worked out great. At first it got greasy and I had dandruff, but when it got too bad I just used baking soda (baking soda can solve a surprisingly large amount of domestic problems). Brushing and combing every day if you have long hair is important, as well as knowing how to wash your hair properly. If you use two fingers to rub small concentric circles starting at your crown while holding down the ends of the hair, it should get clean, while also making it more textured and have greater volume. It took a few months for my hair to stabilize but it was definitely worth it -- I have no intention of using any product in my hair ever again -- which is particularly great if you live a highly mobile lifestyle. Hair smelling like hair without masking itself with chemicals is definitely the way to make it smell the manliest.

Best,
Oskar

Hey Oskar, thanks for that. I'm even more encouraged now to go through with this.

Hair is improving everyday. Don't think i'll ever return to Shampoo/Conditioner/Chemicals unless an avalanche of dandruff appears tomorrow. What a con shampoo is :/