IF YOU’RE LIKE THE GENTLEMEN AT THE GMM OFFICE OR THE MILLIONS OF GUYS AROUND THE WORLD, YOU ALREADY KNOW THAT WINTER CAN BE THE SEASON FOR UNEXPLAINED HEALTH ISSUES. AS A GUY, WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DROPS, OUR BODIES BEGINS TO GIVE US SIGNS THAT IT NEEDS EXTRA CARE. DRY WINDS AND HARSH WEATHER CAN DAMAGE EVEN THE MOST METICULOUS GROOMERS. UNFORTUNATELY, OUR HAIR AND SKIN ARE USUALLY FORGOTTEN. ONE OF THE BIGGEST AREAS AFFECTED BY THE WEATHER CHANGE IS SCALP HEALTH. WHEN YOU’RE NOT SPORTING A WOOL CAP, YOUR HEAD AND HAIR ARE EXPOSED TO THE DRY, FRIGID WEATHER. THESE CONDITIONS CAN TURN YOUR HAIR AND SCALP INTO A DRY AND FLAKY MESS. WE SPEND SO MUCH TIME DURING THE WINTER TO PROTECT OTHER PARTS OF OUR BODY, BUT OUR HEAD AND SCALP ARE ABANDONED UNTIL WE START TO NOTICE PROBLEMS. THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE OFFERS SOME SIMPLE STEPS YOU CAN TAKE DURING THE WINTER MONTHS IN ORDER TO KEEP YOUR HAIR AND SCALP HEALTHY.
WHAT THE WINTER WEATHER DOES TO OUR SCALP
The dry air associated with the wintertime can do some serious damage. While we try our best to keep our skin moisturized, we often fail to keep our scalp and hair to the same standards. We should first understand the common skin conditions that can arise during this time of the year. Colder temperatures can have an affect our entire body, most of which we don’t realize until it’s too late. Our scalps and hair take a beating from the constant temperature changes of being inside and then going outside in freezing temperatures. The breaking of your hair from the root, split ends, and the overproduction of oils are the main causes for bad hair and scalp health. On top of that, by wearing a wool cap, you can leave your hair a greasy unkempt mess, which is never a good thing. When our heads start to flake, we as men automatically think, “I need a dandruff shampoo, it will solve the problem.” This isn’t always the case. In the next section, see what steps you can take that are simple and might not require a product to solve your scalp problems.
IT’S A PROCESS OF FINDING THE SOURCE
A dry scalp can be frustrating. A man who prides himself in his appearance and wants to feel confident, doesn’t want to wear a hat all winter long. The appearance of white flakes on your shoulder doesn’t say, ‘I’m a well-made man.” Fear not. It’s not as complicated as it may seem. By following a few simple steps, You can managing symptoms of your dry and flaking scalp.
- Proper hydration always starts from the inside of your body. Drinking half your weight in water per day should be enough to keep skin and hair moisturized. Just like the summer months, the sun and wind can dry out your body just as fast as it would when it’s hot.
- Try using a humidifier in your space. Keeping your skin moisturized during the low humidity/colder months is a must. Humidifiers come in all shapes and sizes should you want something small and mobile or substantial and room filling. Check out these three options we like. One for bedroom and one for your office desk should be more than enough.
MistAire Silver Ultrasonic // Deneve Cool Mist Humidifier // VAVA Humidifier
3. To help protect a dry and flaky scalp, try gently massage a healthy oil or tonic into your scalp (when wet). A flaky scalp isn’t always a sign of dandruff. It can come from a lack of hydration and/or too much oil naturally secreted by the scalp. We suggest TRYING THIS ONE (Mentioned below).
Another quick tip to wrangling your flakey scalp, starts in your bathroom and the oh-so enjoyable wintertime shower. While showering is an everyday necessity, for some, showering in scorching hot water may actually strip your scalp and hair of moisture. By lowering your water temperature to lukewarm, you’ll essentially be keeping more of your hair’s natural oils and keep your scalp from over producing oil and causing problems like seborrheic dermatitis. If you can also manage these symptoms by shower less frequently. Once every two days can help curtail the stripping of your hair and is actually less wasteful.
FINDING THE RIGHT PRODUCT(S) THAT WORK FOR YOU
Finding the right product that can assist you on your path to a flake-free winter isn’t always easy. Sure, you could start with all those big, name brand shampoos but in reality, what you’re putting in your hair might not be as safe as you think. At GMM, we make it our priority to vet out some of the best grooming brands before letting you know about them. Our newest friends from the UK, are Truefitt & Hill, who for over two centuries, have been recognized as one of the finest traditional gentlemen’s barbers and perfumers in London. They’ve provided the discerning gentlemen with only the finest in grooming products and services. Along with their traditional barbershop, they’ve produced their own line of grooming products that are made with quality ingredients and have even been touted as being fit for royalty. It says a lot about a company to be around for almost two centuries. With their meticulous eye, Truefitt & Hill continues to strive to maintain their Founder’s vision of bringing the highest quality goods and services to their patrons. Proudly “MADE IN THE UK”, they’re ensuring that they bring the very best of British products to their customers.
Truefitt & Hill was kind enough to send us over some of their famous hair friction, everyday shampoo and conditioner. With these three products, your scalp should be ready to tackle anything the dry, cold weather has in store. Start by using their Frequent Use Shampoo, scented with rosemary and mint. This formula should provide moisture, add body and shine while helping to prevent styling damage. After you rinse out the shampoo, condition with their Replenishing Conditioner. The wheat proteins in this product strengthen hair and make the hair appear thicker and add volume to the hair follicle. When you’re done, hop out of the shower and apply the final step. Their Freshman Friction is a traditional hair tonic (yup, like what you see in an old barber shop), which aims to lock in moisture. This product adds a bit of shine, but also stimulates and invigorates your scalp. For best results apply to hair that is slightly damp. After all is said and done, your hair and scalp will thank you and see some improvement in its resiliency.
IF ALL ELSE FAILS, WHAT DO I DO?
Sometimes our bodies are telling us the problem is bigger than the products we use. If you’re seeing signs like large patches of hair loss, uncontrollable dandruff and/or an extremely itchy scalp, you should consult a doctor or dermatologist. As we get older our bodies are always changing based on things like the environment, stress or even the types of foods we eat. Having an allergic reaction to something like a hair product or food can sometimes cause our bodies to fight back or tell us that it doesn’t agree with us. Biggest advice we can give is to not wait on these conditions. Talk to someone about it as soon as you can. By letting these symptoms build, you’re only doing more long term harm to you body. As you get older your body won’t be able to bounce back as it once did when you were younger.
We want to thank Truefitt & Hill. It was because of them that this feature was possible. Genuine Men’s Magazine was gifted product, but was NOT given any monetary compensation for this article. We wrote this article for the education of our audience in hopes that you’ll both learn from it and make your own purchasing decision based on what you’ve read. Thanks for your viewership!
