How To Grow Out Hair: The Ultimate Guide
Posted by Afterpay Integrations on July 23, 2020
Whether you’re tired of your crew cut, want to hop aboard the ‘man bun’ trend or just want to give long hair a go, growing out your hair as a man is a bit of an art form. A few strategic products here and trims there can mean the difference between a grease-ball mop and Jason Momoa-esque locks.
To help you, we’ve put together a simple guide on how to grow out hair properly. If you’re keen to know how to keep your hair healthy and vibrant as it grows and the best men’s hair care products for long hair, then keep reading.
Overview of how to grow out hair:
- Get regular trims
- Shampoo your hair less
- Stock up on hair styling products
- Know that there will be awkward hair stages
- Embrace the man bun
Best tips for how to grow out hair
1. Get regular trims
We know it seems counterintuitive, but getting regular haircuts can actually help to grow your hair out. With a few strategic trims, your hair will look under control and not like you’ve just let it all go.
Speak to your barber or stylist and let them know of your plans to grow your hair out. They’ll work with you, your hair goals and face shape to ensure your hair looks good both now and as it’s getting longer.
Plus, longer hair is more susceptible to damage, split ends and frizz, and those bi- or tri-monthly trims will help with that.
2. Shampoo your hair less
Believe it or not, you don’t have to wash your hair every day - especially if you have long hair. Shampooing your hair too regularly will actually damage it and make it greasier. How? Every time you wash your hair with shampoo, it sends a signal to the scalp to produce more sebum (oil). So, more shampoo = more oil.
You could probably get away with this with shorter hair, but if you want healthy and non-greasy long hair, skip the daily shampoo. Instead, shampoo your hair once or twice a week. Make sure the shampoo you’re using is hydrating and won’t strip your hair of all its natural oils. To get you started, we’ve picked out a few of our favourites:
Our recommended shampoos for longer hair:
- Sknhead London Keep It Clean Shampoo
- Balmain Paris Revitalizing Shampoo
- St James of London Lemongrass & Bergamot Shampoo
While we’re on the topic of washing your hair, you also need to invest in some good, moisturising men’s conditioners. When it comes to looking after long hair, your cheap, supermarket conditioners won’t get the job done. Instead, opt for ones that are nutrient-rich, ones that will keep your hair soft, manageable and hydrated. Here are a few deep conditioners we recommend:
Our recommended conditioners for hair growth:
- DS Laboratories Revita.CBD Super Antioxidant Hair Stimulating Conditioner
- Balmain Paris Revitalizing Conditioner
- Fatboy Daily Hydrating Conditioner
And if you find that your hair is getting super greasy between washes, it’s time to try a dry shampoo for men. Dry shampoo is a type of shampoo that doesn’t need water to give your hair a refresh. Simply spray it at your roots, comb/brush it through and voila - clean hair.
Our recommended dry shampoos for men:
- Balmain Paris Dry Shampoo
- Hanz de Fuko Dry Shampoo
- Schwarzkopf OSIS+ Refresh Dust Bodifying Dry Shampoo
3. Stock up on the right styling products & hair tools
As you’ve probably already gathered, when you’re learning how to grow out hair, you need to learn how to change up your daily routine. This not only includes the basics (i.e. the shampoos and conditioners you use), but the products you use to keep your hair in place.
If you really do plan on having longer hair (whether that’s just extra length on top or a shoulder-length mane), it’s time to chuck out your hair gels and hair waxes. While these are great for your classic, shorter hairstyles, they won’t work with longer hair. Now’s the time to look into men’s hair creams and men’s hair paste.
For the first few months of growing out your hair, opt for hair pastes. These will give you a medium to strong hold. They’ll help your hair lay flat or slicked back, without restricting its natural movement.
Our recommended hair pastes:
Once your hair is longer and doesn’t really need hold, but taming, it’s time to go for styling creams or sea salt sprays. These will help keep your hair textured, frizz-free and manageable.
Our recommended hair creams & sea salt sprays:
- Kevin Murphy Free.Hold
- label.m Curl Define Cream
- Burly Fellow Sea Salt Spray
- Instant Rockstar Beach Rock Ocean Spray
Last but not least, you need to stock up on some good quality men’s hair brushes, hairdryers and men’s hair oils.
4. Know that there will be awkward stages
No matter how hard you try, there will inevitably be some days or weeks when your hair doesn’t cooperate. Maybe the hair is sticking up when it should be laying flat or it’s starting to look shaggy and a little unkempt. Welcome to the awkward stage of learning how to grow out hair, friends.
You’ll experience this usually around the time when your hair is just too short to be tied up. Our advice? Invest in hats, hair bands and beanies. Trust us when we say, you’ll be grateful on those days when you can just reach for a hat and not have to deal with that mop on your head. While you may be tempted to just cut it all off at this stage, stay strong and keep the long-term vision in mind.
5. Embrace the man bun
Going from a crew cut to a shoulder-length mane is a big change, and there are going to be moments when you can’t be bothered styling it. Not to mention, longer hair gets everywhere, just ask your girlfriend or wife.
This is where the ‘man bun’ comes in. So love it or hate it, you might want to give this androgynous hairstyle a go - even when you’re just at home or pumping iron at the gym.
The Wrap
So there you have it, 5 tips on how to grow out hair properly. Whether you just want to grow your hair a few extra inches without it looking sloppy or you want a shoulder-length mane, you can rely on our tips to get you there. While reverting back to your buzz-cut may seem enticing, especially during the awkward stage, stay strong and keep your eyes on the prize.
And to make the entire process stress-free, you can shop the best men’s hair care and grooming products at Above The Collar. Shop and pay later with Afterpay or Zippay to get long, healthy hair today.
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