Hair routines – what you actually need

You don't need ten different products to take good care of your hair.

Start with the essentials. Once your basic routine works, you can add serum, oil and a hair mask as needed.

Your basic hair routine

1. Wash your hair with shampoo

Use shampoo on your scalp.

Wash your hair as needed:

• Oily hair and scalp: Often every day or every other day.
• Normal hair: Typically two to four times a week.
• Dry or curly hair: Often less frequently.

There's no single washing frequency that suits everyone. Wash your hair when your scalp starts to feel oily, dirty or weighed down by products.

Here are some good examples of solid hair products for men: see the selection at Rodeo

2. Use conditioner

Use conditioner every time you wash your hair.

Conditioner makes your hair softer, easier to manage and less prone to breaking. Dermatologists recommend conditioner after shampoo, especially when hair is dry, fragile or affected by hair loss.

Apply conditioner to the lengths and ends of your hair. Avoid large amounts directly on the scalp, especially if your hair gets oily quickly.

Leave the conditioner in for a couple of minutes, then rinse it out thoroughly.

3. Dry your hair with a hairdryer – not with a towel

Don't rub your hair dry with a towel. You can use it to gently squeeze out the worst of the water. Then use a hairdryer.

Here's how:

1. Gently squeeze excess water out of your hair.
2. Optionally use a soft microfibre towel briefly.
3. Apply heat protection.
4. Blow-dry your hair on low or medium heat.
5. Keep the hairdryer moving and at a distance from your hair.
6. Stop when your hair is dry.

Avoid very high heat close to your hair. Repeated intense heat can damage the hair strands. Low or medium heat and heat protection reduce the strain.

4. Style your hair gently

You're welcome to use wax, paste, gel and hairspray. Only use as much as you need.

Avoid pulling hard on your hair when styling it. Also avoid very tight hairstyles that constantly pull on the roots.

Wash out styling products regularly so they don't build up in your hair and on your scalp.

Need to have

Minoxidil

Minoxidil isn't an ordinary hair care product. It's a medicine for hereditary hair loss. You can start using minoxidil 14 days after your procedure.

It's applied directly to the scalp and can help stimulate hair growth and preserve existing hair. In Denmark, topical minoxidil is available for both men and women with androgenetic hair loss.

Minoxidil must be used regularly and over a long period. As a rule, the effect only lasts as long as you continue the treatment. There may be a temporary period of increased shedding at the start.

Hairplant's recommendation: Use minoxidil as agreed with Hairplant, your doctor or your pharmacy. Follow the dosage on the product. Apply it to the scalp – not to the hair itself.

Minoxidil must not be applied to an irritated or damaged scalp. It should also not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Finasteride

Finasteride is a prescription medicine for men with androgenetic hair loss.

It reduces the level of DHT in the scalp. DHT is a hormone that plays a central role in the development of hereditary male hair loss. The treatment can slow hair loss and help preserve the hair you still have.

Finasteride is particularly relevant after a hair transplant because it can help protect the existing, non-transplanted hair. The transplanted hair can be stable while the hair around it may continue to thin.

Finasteride is intended for men only and must be prescribed by a doctor.

The treatment can cause side effects, and even though this happens in very few cases, it should be taken seriously. Talk to your doctor about sexual side effects and fertility, among other things. Men who experience mood changes or depression while taking finasteride 1 mg are advised to stop the treatment and contact their doctor.

Hairplant's recommendation: Finasteride should be seen as a long-term treatment – not as a vitamin pill or a cosmetic product. Only use it after an individual assessment and in dialogue with a doctor.

Nice to have

Nice-to-have products can make your hair feel softer, look healthier and be easier to style. They can't replace minoxidil or finasteride when the goal is to treat hereditary hair loss.

Heat protection

Use heat protection when you blow-dry your hair. It's the first extra product we would prioritise after shampoo and conditioner.

Apply it to damp hair before using the hairdryer.

Leave-in conditioner

A leave-in conditioner isn't rinsed out. It can be a good choice if your hair:

• Feels dry
• Tangles easily
• Gets frizzy
• Is curly
• Is long or chemically treated

Apply a small amount to damp hair. Start with the lengths and ends.

Some leave-in products also contain heat protection. This should be clearly stated on the packaging.

Hair serum

Hair serum is mainly used to make hair smoother and glossier. It can also reduce frizz and make your hair easier to style.

Use a small amount. Distribute it through damp or dry hair, depending on the product. Normally apply it to the lengths and ends – not directly to the scalp.

Hair oil

Hair oil is especially relevant for dry, thick, coarse or curly hair. Use just a few drops on the ends.

If you have fine hair, be careful. Too much oil can quickly make your hair look heavy and greasy.

Hair mask

A hair mask gives extra care to dry or damaged hair. Typically use it once a week instead of or before your normal conditioner – depending on the product's instructions.

A hair mask can make your hair softer and more manageable. It can't permanently repair dead or damaged hair strands and can't stop hereditary hair loss.

The simple shopping list

Everyone should have at least

• A shampoo that suits your scalp
• A conditioner that suits your hair
• A hairdryer
• Heat protection

To fight hereditary hair loss

• Minoxidil
• Finasteride for suitable male clients after a medical assessment

Add as needed

• Leave-in conditioner for dry or frizzy hair
• Serum for shine and easier styling
• Oil for dry lengths and ends
• Hair mask for dry or chemically treated hair

Hairplant's recommendation

Keep it simple.

1. Wash your hair with shampoo.
2. Use conditioner.
3. Gently squeeze out the water.
4. Use heat protection.
5. Blow-dry on low or medium heat.
6. Use minoxidil and finasteride as agreed.
7. Only add serum, oil or a hair mask if your hair needs it.

You don't need more products. You just need to use the right products the right way.