The Best Hair Products for Men
Managing and caring for your hair shouldn’t be difficult, but it seems like a lot of men fight an uphill battle with it.
One of the main reasons for this is that up until the last decade, most guys didn’t spend very much time learning proper grooming techniques, let alone evidence-based tactics for dealing with issues such as male pattern baldness.
They never learned how to work with the hair they had, which meant that anyone with slightly wild hair had a difficult time keeping it under control. For issues like a receding hairline, it was mostly a case of learning to live with it, not taking action to stop it from getting worse.
Fortunately, we now have access to more information than ever before about men’s hair care, as well as a larger, more diverse range of hair care and styling products to make almost every head of hair look and feel its best.
We also have access to more effective products than ever for dealing with problems like brittle hair, damaged hair and hair breakage.
Put simply, the best hair products for men are much higher quality today than they were even a few short years ago.
As such, if you’ve ever asked yourself “What hair products should I use?,” finding an answer is easier than it’s ever been.
So if you struggle to style your hair, keep it looking healthy, prevent it from thinning or just keep it under control on a daily basis, you may consider using some of the best men’s hair products listed below.
Mens Hair Products
Hair Wax
Best for: Short, straight hair, or wavy hair that’s prone to developing flyaways
Use for: Hairstyles that need a medium hold without looking shiny or wet
Always a useful option for styling your hair without making things look too deliberate, hair wax helps to hold your hair in place without giving it a wet, shiny or unnatural appearance.
Wax works best for short or medium-length hair. It has a moderately strong hold, meaning it’s great for keeping your hair in place if you style it up or away from your forehead. It’s also fairly discrete — a lot of the time, it’s often barely noticeable that you’re using wax at all.
And best of all, using it is really simple. All you do to apply hair wax is put a dab on your palms, then smooth it over your hair. Try to apply most of your wax to your roots, as this provides more support and holds your hair in place for longer.
Wax also doubles as a great tool for controlling flyaways if you have longer hair — just apply a bit to your fingertips, then use it to stick strays to the rest of your hair.
Pomade
Best for: Straight, medium-length hair that suits lots of shine
Use for: Classic slicked-back hair, side part or a modern undercut
Pomade is a classic men’s hair product that’s made from grease, wax or water. It’s a timeless styling product that broke out into the mainstream during the early 20th century, fuelled by the popularity of classic, Golden Age Hollywood movies.
More recently, pomade has made a huge comeback thanks to the increasing popularity of the undercut and other mid-20th century hairstyles.
Pomade provides lots of hold and plenty of shine, making it perfect for hairstyles that require a clean, precise look. Think of Al Pacino’s mafioso hair in The Godfather, or Johnny Depp’s short, slicked-back hair in Donnie Brasco.
To make things simple, think of pomade as your styling product of choice for any hairstyle that requires a comb. Just don’t expect your hair to move around a lot throughout the day.
By the way, since pomade is oil-based, it can clog your pores and cause scalp pimples. If you often get acne on your scalp, look for a water-based pomade, which is less likely to clog pores and much better for applying to damp hair.
balding can be optional
Styling Cream
Best for: Medium and long hair, or short hair that doesn’t need much styling
Use for: Discreet, textured hairstyles that only require a light hold
Styling cream offers a light hold and relatively little shine, making it a good option for when you want to style your hair without drawing too much attention to yourself.
Because cream offers a light hold, it’s a great choice for hair that only needs minimal styling to look good. Think of it as an all-purpose tool for controlling curly or coarse hair that turns into a shapeless mess on its own.
In addition to giving your hair some shape, a good quality styling cream will also help to keep it moisturized. And even though it doesn’t offer that much hold, hair cream will also give your hair better-looking waves and curls.
Salt Spray
Best for: Long and curly hair, as well as hair that’s thinning and lacking volume
Use for: Getting that just-got-back-from-the-beach look whenever a beach isn’t available
Have you ever noticed that going to the beach completely changes the texture of your hair? As a result of exposure to salty water, even a guy with nearly straight hair will start developing curls and waves after a couple of days in the ocean.
Many people try to replicate this look with gel, wax and other hair products for men, but nothing is quite as effective as real salt water.
Enter salt spray. Designed to provide the same effects as a day at the beach, salt spray lets you maintain that curly, wavy, just-got-back-from-the-beach hair texture every day, even if you live in Kansas.
Simply spray a little into your hair and watch as your hair gets a boost in volume and changes in texture, developing more refined curls and waves.
Paste
Best for: Medium-length hair that needs a little extra texture
Use for: Styling your hair without locking it into one style
Hair paste is similar to pomade, although it has a thicker consistency and is usually made from water, making it less likely to clog your pores and easier to wash out.
Paste is great if you’re looking for a versatile styling product that can do just about anything. It’s easy to apply to the entirety of your hair thanks to its soft texture. Since it offers a medium hold, it’s an extremely versatile product that’s suitable for almost every hairstyle.
One advantage of paste is that it softens in your hands, allowing you to restyle your hair during the day without ever locking it into a single style. Since it only has a mild level of shine, it won’t ever make it too obvious that you’re using any product.
Hair Fibers
Best for: Short or medium-length hair that’s starting to thin
Use for: Giving your hair extra volume, thickness and texture
Hair fibers are a little different from most hair styling products. Instead of holding your hair into a certain style, they attach to your hair and provide extra thickness and density to make thin spots look, well, less thin.
Most hair fibers are made from keratin protein — the same fiber that makes up human hair. They come in a variety of colors to match just about every person’s hair and can be used by men and women alike to cover up issues such as androgenetic alopecia.
Think of them as a tool for making your receding hairline look a little less obvious, or for adding some extra hair density to bald patches that can develop around your crown.
Since they work by adding volume and thickness rather than by holding your hair, hair fibers are suitable for every hair type.
If you use fibers, make sure that you apply them correctly. Most fibers are designed to attach to your existing strands of hair without any issues, but you may need to experiment with the order in which you apply them if you use multiple styling products at once.
Moisturizing Serum
Best for: Medium-length or long dry hair, or frizzy hair of any length
Use for: Giving your hair some extra moisture and shine
Moisturizing serum — or smoothing fluid, as it’s occasionally called — is designed to provide your hair with a smooth texture, extra hydration and less of the frizz that can appear due to other hair styling products.
You can also use serum to control stray hairs. Just apply a small amount to your fingertips, then gently run it down the flyaway hair strands to moisten them and stop them from sticking out.
Most moisturizing serums are infused with oils to keep your hair hydrated and healthy. This is a great thing for your hair’s texture and appearance, but it may be an issue if you’re prone to acne that affects your forehead and hairline.
To get the best look from moisturizing serum, try applying a small amount to your hair after you finish drying it in the morning. You can learn more about your options for this type of product in our guide to the best hair growth serums.
Hair Oil
Best for: Medium-length or long hair that’s difficult to tame
Use for: Hydrating your hair, adding texture and controlling strays
Hair oil is ideal for hydrating hair that’s dry, frizzy or damaged as a result of using too much gel or going a little overboard on chemical-based hair treatments.
Most hair oils contain one or several natural oils to moisturize and strengthen your hair. Popular oils include castor oil, coconut oil, sunflower oil, jojoba oil and even CBD-infused oils that claim to soothe your scalp.
While oil can be a helpful addition to your hair care routine if you have dry hair, it’s best avoided if you’re prone to acne, or if your hair gets oily naturally.
It’s also best avoided if you already use oil-based styling products, such as pomade. Trust us — one source of oil is more than enough to moisturize, protect and style just about every type of hair.
Balm
Best for: Thinner hair, especially hair that’s frizzy or in need of moisture
Use for: Hydrating your hair and giving it a glossy look
Hair balm is kind of like moisturizer for your hair — you apply it once a day and it keeps your hair feeling smooth, hydrated and healthy until your evening shower.
You’ll want to consider balm if you have hair that’s naturally thin, frizzy or just tough to control. It doesn’t offer much in the way of hold, but it does help to reduce flyaway hairs and give your hair a smooth, glossy look.
Since most balms are nice and light, they’re a good option if you want to give your hair a classic glossy look without dealing with the oiliness of pomade.
For best results, look for a balm that contains natural moisturizing ingredients. Start with a small amount of balm, then adjust based on how your hair responds. You can also combine balm with stronger styling products for a combination of shine, moisture and hold.
Gel
Best for: Straight or wavy hair of any length
Use for: Sculpting your hair into styles that require plenty of hold
Think of hair gel and there’s a good chance you’ll visualize yourself in your teen years, complete with hair so hard and locked in place there’s a good chance you’d fracture your finger attempting to touch it.
Gel has definitely been through its ups and downs, but it remains a popular styling product for a reason: it works.
Thanks to its very strong hold, men’s hair gel is always a good option if you like your hair to stay in one style throughout the entire day, without needing to worry about a light breeze ruining your fauxhawk.
However, gel’s extremely strong hold has several disadvantages. Because it’s often made using alcohol, it can dry out your hair. There’s also a risk of strong hold gel pulling on your hair follicles and causing a form of hair loss called traction alopecia.
To avoid these issues, try to look for a moderate hold gel that uses an alcohol-free formula. Pick a gel that’s water-based and you’ll also have an easy time rinsing it out of wet hair at the end of the day.
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The Best Men’s Hair Products for Thin Hair
Styling and hair care products like wax, pomade and gel can do wonders for keeping your hair looking its best. However, they’re far from the most useful items in your toolkit if you’re starting to develop a receding hairline, a bald patch at your crown or other signs of thinning hair.
Thinning hair can develop for many reasons, but it’s usually caused by male pattern baldness, or androgenetic alopecia.
This type of hair loss occurs due to genetic factors and the effects of a hormone referred to as dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Your body produces DHT as a byproduct of testosterone, which is your primary male sex hormone.
DHT is an essential hormone early in your life, especially for your physical development. As an adult, however, DHT can cause or contribute to certain issues, including hair loss.
If you’re prone to male pattern baldness, over time, DHT can attach to receptors in your scalp and cause your hair follicles to miniaturize. This is what can cause you to gradually develop a receding hairline or bald patch around your crown as you get older.
Our guide to DHT and male hair loss explains the process of losing hair in more detail, as well as the role that DHT plays in it.
Luckily, there are products available to stop this process, promote steady hair growth and keep your hair healthy, no matter how genetically prone you are to hair loss.
Finasteride
One of the most effective men’s hair products for stopping hair loss is finasteride, a prescription medication that comes as a daily-use oral tablet.
Finasteride has been available since the late 1990s and is currently the only oral medication for male pattern hair loss approved by the FDA. It works by preventing your body from converting testosterone into DHT, the hormone that can damage your hair follicles.
Several studies show that finasteride is effective, including a study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, which found that men who used finasteride displayed improvements in scalp hair count over the course of two years.
You can buy finasteride as a generic medication, or under the brand name Propecia®. It starts reducing DHT levels right away, but it can take several months before you’ll be able to see any changes in your hairline.
Most of the time, finasteride starts producing noticeable improvements (or at least prevents hair loss from getting worse) after three to four months of regular use.
It’s worth noting that finasteride can potentially cause side effects, including erectile dysfunction (ED). However, only a small percentage of men who use finasteride report any issues from this medication.
Interested in trying finasteride? We offer finasteride online, following an online consultation with a physician who will determine if a prescription is appropriate.
Minoxidil
Minoxidil is another great men’s hair product for stimulating hair growth. It’s available as a foam or liquid solution and is applied topically to your scalp to boost blood flow and move hair follicles into the anagen, or growth, phase of your hair growth cycle.
Although minoxidil doesn’t block DHT, research shows that it can produce real improvements in hair growth and stop thinning hair from getting worse.
For example, one study published in the journal Dermatologic Therapy found that 59 percent of men with pattern hair loss showed improvements after using minoxidil for 12 months.
Interestingly, the same study also found that minoxidil and finasteride were especially effective when used together, with 94.1 percent of men who used both minoxidil and finasteride showing improvements during the study period.
Because of its proven effects, minoxidil is another hair loss product that should be near the top of your list of treatment options. Since it’s sold over the counter, it’s an easy treatment to add to your hair care and hair loss prevention routine.
We offer minoxidil topical solution and minoxidil foam online, as well as a Topical Finasteride & Minoxidil Spray that allows you to easily apply both medications together.
Hair Growth Shampoo
Hair growth shampoos that contain ingredients like ketoconazole, zinc, saw palmetto and biotin can have some impact on the rate at which your hair grows, making them worth considering as part of your collection of men’s hair products.
After all, you need a shampoo anyway, and it’s best to get one that also helps to stimulate hair growth while helping you avoid oily hair and an itchy scalp.
Instead of viewing hair growth shampoos as a whole, it’s better to focus on specific ingredients that are associated with improvements in hair growth and reductions in issues like breakage.
For example, active ingredients like ketoconazole — a widely-used antifungal medication — and saw palmetto are associated with some changes in DHT levels and improvements in the growth of hair.
On the other hand, many herbal extracts, oils and other ingredients used in popular hair growth shampoos aren’t supported by much in the way of scientific evidence. Our full guide to what to look for in a men’s hair growth shampoo goes into more detail about ingredients to prioritize.
Our Hair Thickening Shampoo contains saw palmetto, which helps to target DHT on your scalp and promote better hair health.
Biotin and Other Hair-Friendly Vitamins
Just like your skin, nails and internal organs, your hair depends on a steady supply of nutrients to grow. When you lack these vital nutrients, whether due to dietary deficiencies or other issues, keeping your hair healthy and maintaining dense hair can prove challenging.
While the link between specific vitamins and thicker hair isn’t crystal clear, some research does show that women with hair shedding are often low in biotin, or vitamin B7.
While it’s unclear if this finding also applies to men, taking a hair-friendly vitamin may act kind of like an insurance policy against hair loss from certain nutritional deficiencies.
Our Biotin Gummy Vitamins make it easy to reach your recommended daily intake of biotin and other nutrients that help to support thick hair, strong nails and healthy skin.
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The Bottom Line on the Best Hair Products for Men
Everyone’s hair is slightly different, meaning the best hair products for you may vary from others based on your natural hair texture and preferred hair styles.
However, there are a few essentials you’ll want to stick with, from a good shampoo and reliable conditioner to your preferred gel, wax, pomade or other styling product.
By knowing your options, you’ll find it easier to purchase hair products that match both your hair type and the style you’re aiming for.
If you’re unsure about buying a bottle of a new type of hair product, ask your barber or stylist for a sample the next time that you get a haircut. You may also want to ask them about what they’d recommend for your type of hair as well.
By the way, all styling products work best when your hair is thick, healthy and growing to its full potential.
If you’re feeling insecure about styling thin hair or a receding hairline, you may want to look into treating and preventing hair loss with hair loss treatments such as finasteride and minoxidil.
Our full guide to the best treatments for thinning hair goes into more detail about how these and other dermatologist-recommended hair products work, as well as how you can use them to grow thick, healthy natural hair even if you’re prone to male pattern baldness.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment or medication.