If you find your hair hard and stiff, you may have wondered if there are ways to make your hair softer and smoother. Many guys don’t have a lot of time to work on their hair each day. Luckily, there are methods to make your hair softer without spending a lot of time on it.
In order to provide you with the best tips on this topic, I connected with hair experts in the industry and asked them to provide for me their best tips.
Here’s How to Make Hair Soft for Guys:
Use Aloe Based Shampoo
Krysia McDonald is a resident hair expert at Plaine Products. She is a Licensed Cosmetologist with over 20 years of experience in the industry, Krysia graduated from the Artistic Academy of Hair Design in New Jersey.
According to Krysia, soft hair starts in the shower. She recommends using a nourishing shampoo that is aloe based.
A short review of Aloe Vera reveals that it contains vitamins A, C and E. These vitamins helps to promote cell turnover and contributes to hair cell growth. Using aloe vera based shampoos helps to condition and improve dry, damaged hair.
In contrast, harsh chemicals found in many shampoos will strip the hair of it’s natural oils, leaving it dry and brittle. If your hair tends to be dry, Krysia recommends shampooing every other day. Following shampoo, she says to condition the hair with a light and moisturizing conditioner, leaving the hair silky and smooth.
Apply conditioner from mid-shaft to ends, then rinse for manageable hair. Gently towel-dry the hair and don’t scrub it. For extra softness and shine, apply a light oil to damp or dry hair.
Use the Right Hair Washing Techniques
Vincent De Marco, celebrity hairstylist and owner of Vincent Hair Artistry, suggests the following steps for washing your hair:
- Use emollient rich shampoos. Be sure to allow the shampoo to remain in the hair for at least 90 seconds. Emollients are hydrophobic oils that form films on the surface of the hair where they act as anti-humectants. They help to make your hair smooth and decreases drag between hair strands. Emollient rich shampoos will aid in softening of the hair.
- Use a moisturizing conditioner. Do NOT over rinse the conditioner. You wouldn’t put on body lotion and jump in the shower. Over rinsing your conditioner has the same effect on your hair.
- Once out of the shower, DO NOT RUB your hair with the towel. A towel is like sandpaper to your hair. Instead, blot your hair by pressing the towel to your head.
- Once towel dried gently, the hair must be dried off to ensure less damage and to maintain your acid mantle. This is important for men who want to keep their scalp healthy. Air dried hair is stiff and brittle, but blown dry hair is soft and manageable.
Finish with a Pomade
Allison Day is a Licensed Hairstylist with over 20 years of experience in the industry, she graduated from Jean Madeline Aveda Institute in Philadelphia.
For guys who want to still be able to run their fingers through their hair all day, Allison recommends a pomade with a flexible hold like Oribe AirStyle. For men who want to accentuate their wave without that “crunchy gel feel”, Oribe Styling Butter is the perfect amount of shine and hold.
Tips For Using Pomade:
Warming up a pomade or wax in your palms before applying helps the product spread more evenly through the hair. Sometimes those clumps can feel really stiff and create build up. Also, applying product wet helps coat the strands more evenly. Let it air dry and break up those polymers with your fingers. You’ll be left with a nice pliable texture that you can work with throughout the day.
Try Hair Treatments
Allison also suggests that conditioning treatments (like aqua hair treatments) could be a great addition to a guy’s hair care routine. Shampoo, apply a moisture rich mask, leave it in for at least 5 minutes and rinse. Guys who have extra unruly texture and tough to manage may want to consider a clear gloss. Most salons offer it as a way to add shine and it also helps lay the cuticle smooth.
