by Bridget Webber

Created on: October 04, 2010   Last Updated: March 20, 2011

Hair care for men who have long locks comprises of being mindful about treating hair with respect. Men can successfully care for long hair by keeping it clean, avoiding unnecessary damage, reducing the likelihood of spilt ends and by eating a healthy diet.

Keeping hair clean

It's important to wash long hair and keep it clean. Busy men who aren't used to following a hair care regime can inadvertently leave washing long hair until its roots become over oily and are no-longer odourless. The main reason for this is that it's generally the top part of hair, closest to the scalp, which is likely to be affected by natural oil, while hair further down each shaft is more prone to being dry.

Different shampoo's are designed to work more favourably with certain types of hair. For example men may have greasy hair, dry hair, or hair which is classed as being normal, meaning it's neither dry nor greasy. If men choose the right shampoo to suit their hair type they can achieve the best results.

Long hair will often need two washes to become completely clean. The amount of shampoo to use is approximately one to two inches per wash, depending on exactly how long a mans hair is. After shampooing hair the next stage is to rinse it, and to apply conditioner before the very last rinse if hair is dry in texture.

Men who work in industrial environments, or in other professions where long hair is likely to come into contact with odours and grime, will need to wash their hair more frequently than men who work in an office environment.

Avoiding damage

Chemicals, such as those found in swimming pools and some hair products, can cause long hair to become damaged and weak. It's best to protect hair in harsh environments, either by wearing a hat or by using conditioner as a barrier. Heated appliances, the sun, and using elastic bands in long hair can cause bad damage too.

Split ends

Men with long hair need to be careful to take care of split ends. When hair begins to split it works its way up the shaft until the hair splits into two. This makes it flyaway and frizzy, leaving it dry, dull and unmanageable. Split ends can be reduced if the ends of damaged hair are snipped off, before split ends work their way towards the scalp and multiply.

Healthy diet

What a man eats can affect the condition of his hair. Men who eat whole grains, fish and vegetables are more likely to have shiny, handsome hair than those who don't bother to watch what they eat. Vitamin supplements are a viable alternative for men who don't like such cuisine.

Long haired men can benefit from remembering that their hair is an asset which needs attention now and then. It won't take care of itself, and looking after it can help a man feel proud of his manly mane.

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