How to Stop Puffy Hair for Guys: 5 Best Tips for Sleek Locks

Ladies aren’t the only ones cursed with puffy, frizzy hair –men can find it a hassle, too! So, if you’re looking for a guide on how to stop puffy hair for guys, you’re on the right page!

Like a book, I will discuss the complete rundown of what you can do to eliminate men’s puffy hair.

Before we get to that, though, what is the reason why people get puffy hair? Let me explain.

Why Do Men Get Puffy Hair?

There are many contributing factors to curly hair, some of which could be a little weird for you.

The most common ones are weather, excessive shampooing, friction, chlorine, and heat damage.

Contrary to popular belief, puffy or curly hair isn’t just singled out to a specific hair type. Whether you have curly hair, straight hair, wavy hair, or even thick hair, you run the risk of frizz and puffiness.

1. The Weather or Climate

During unpleasantly hot days, the humidity in the air can cause your hair to absorb moisture more.

This can cause the hair to swell and puff up with irregular bends, causing frizz.

2. Excessive Washing or Shampooing

Washing your hair with shampoo every day makes your hair worse than better.

man shampooing his hair

Although it is used to clean the hair, overdoing it will strip your scalp of all the needed natural oils, causing dry hair and eventually leading to poofy hair for guys.

3. Too Much Friction

Friction in the hair can be anything from the vigorous rubbing of towels to wearing hats and other head apparel.

If done incorrectly, the movement and friction in these activities can damage the hair cuticle.

4. Exposure to Chlorinated Water

Although not toxic, chlorine is an irritant and can cause acute damage to your hair. When exposed and submerged to chlorine for longer times, it can make it dry.

Frustrated with fragile strands up top? Delve into our guide on tackling Hair Breakage on Top of Head and reclaim your crown’s strength. Let’s restore that glory!

5. Heat Damage

Last, but most definitely not least, is heat. The heat I’m talking about can be anything from the weather (sun exposure), improper use of blow-dryers and straighteners, and other hair-heating devices.

blonde man blow dying his hair

You don’t want to have a bad hair day all your life. I mean, who wants to have unruly hair?

So, here are some of the things you can do if you’re already tired of that puffy head of hair!

To further enhance your hair care knowledge, be sure to check out resources on “thinning hair” and “how to stop extreme hair breakage” for effective solutions and preventative measures.

The Perfect Guide on How to Stop Puffy Hair For Guys

Make sure to save all these exclusive hair care tips and tricks because I’ll tell you everything I know that helped many people be free from frizzy or puffy hair.

1. Shower With Cold Water

Showering in colder and lower temperatures isn’t only refreshing and can protect your scalp and hair from frizz and dehydration.

Experts say that, unlike hot showers, cold showers provide a natural layer of lubrication that helps protect the skin and hair. [1]

2. Use a Moisturizing Shampoo

Another thing you can do is use a good-quality shampoo that would promote the stoppage of hair loss and dry hair.

For this, the ideal shampoos would be those that contain coconut oil, argan oil [2], or almond oil.

EXPERT TIP: While using moisturizing shampoo is good, refrain from shampooing daily. This can remove all oils needed by your head, resulting in dry hair or dry scalp.

Wash your hair with shampoo at least three (3) or four (4) times every week.

3. Use Leave-In Conditioners and Hair Serums

Hydrating hair products like hair serums and leave-in conditioners moisturize and hydrate your hair. Unlike shampoos, these are designed to be left in your hair to maximize their effects.

man applying hair serum

Choose products containing olive, coconut, jojoba, aloe vera, and other active ingredients contributing to hair health.

4. Use a Hair Mask For Conditioning

In addition, you can also opt to use a hair mask to treat your hair and give it all the nutrients and moisture it needs.

There are a lot of pre-made hair masks in the market you can use for your hair. Here’s the best way to use a hair mask:

  1. Wash, shampoo, and clean your hair thoroughly.
  2. Then, put on the hair mask and leave it on for about 20 to 30 minutes.
  3. Take the hair mask off and detangle the buildup of your hair.
  4. Once done, apply conditioner to your hair.

EXPERT TIP: When putting the hair mask on, ensure it doesn’t go all the way to the roots. Have it midway through the strands of your hair.

5. Eat a Balanced Diet

Lastly, eating and maintaining a healthy and balanced diet can keep your hair from being puffy or frizzy.

Eat food that can deliver nutrients to your hair and help you avoid regular natural deficiencies.

Try to consume food that contains the following vitamins and minerals so that they can do your hair better:

  • Biotin and Protein
  • Vitamin A
  • B Vitamins
  • Iron
  • Zinc

These are among the most effective frizzy hair solutions you can find. It doesn’t matter what head of hair you have; it’s effective for wavy hairstyles, curly hair, coarse hair, and even shorter hair!

Here’s an expert’s take on how to fix and care for that poofy, frizzy hair! 

What You Should NOT Do to Avoid Puffy Hair

To add to your knowledge, you must also learn what things you need to avoid so you can properly maintain your hair health and avoid puffy hair. [3]

Want to clear and neaten your unruly head of hair? Make sure to avoid the following!

1. Keep Long, Uncut Hair

Cutting it short is the best and fastest way to get rid of puffy hair. This eliminates the parts of your hair strands that are frizzy and unruly.

It’s fast, easy, and it’s not as expensive as other methods. The only drawback of doing so would be the drastic change in your hair length.

2. Blow-Dry and Shower in High Temperatures

Blow drying isn’t as bad as it sounds –it only becomes bad if you do it more times than you should and in temperatures that exceed what your hair can handle.

When using a hair dryer, ensure that you set the dryer to medium heat to avoid burning your scalp or skin.

The same goes when you shower. Avoid going on showers that are too hot for your scalp.

While there’s no specific rule of thumb for the temperature, dermatologists recommend keeping it at an average of 37 to 38.4 °C or about 98 to 101 °F.

3. Overconsume Alcoholic Products

In case you didn’t know, the consumption of alcoholic products causes dehydration and malnutrition. This significantly affects your bodily function by rebuilding and replenishing your hair.

Because of this, overconsumption of alcohol will lead to brittleness, dryness, and eventually, breaking or damaging of your hair.

Keep these things from your hair care routine to keep your crown safe, fresh, and healthy!

FAQs

Don’t worry –I won’t leave you empty-handed! Here are a couple of the questions that most guys ask as regards their frizzy, puffy, and unhealthy hair.

Why Do Men’s Hair Become Frizzy?

Frizzy and puffy hair for men is usually caused by three (3) culprits: friction, hair damage, and dryness.
You’ll be able to avoid these things if you maintain and care for your hair properly –by giving the tips and steps I gave above a try!

Should You Use a Hair Mask Before or After You Shower?

Hair masks are applied to the hair after showering or washing the hair. It’s also always recommended to apply a leave-in conditioner or any other type of hair treatment product after your time with the mask.

Is it Safe to Brush Frizzy Hair?

Yes, it’s perfectly safe to brush frizzy, curly hair, so long as you wouldn’t brush it while it’s dry.
Furthermore, it’s most recommended to use boar bristle brushes because they can fight the dryness of your hair and scalp.

Conclusion

Puffy hair can be an extreme headache, especially if you’re unsure how to work around it.

Luckily for you, you have all these exclusive hair care tips to teach you how to stop puffy hair for guys! 

Resources:

  • 1. Cold Shower Benefits for Your Health [Internet]. Healthline. Available from: https://www.healthline.com/health/cold-shower-benefits
  • 2. Faria PM, Camargo LN, Carvalho RSH, Paludetti LA, Velasco MVR, Gama RM da. Hair Protective Effect of Argan Oil (Argania spinosa Kernel Oil) and Cupuassu Butter (Theobroma grandiflorum Seed Butter) Post Treatment with Hair Dye. Journal of Cosmetics, Dermatological Sciences and Applications. 2013;03:40–4.
  • 3. Frizzy Hair in Men: Causes, Treatment, and Prevention [Internet]. Healthline. 2020 [cited 2022 Feb 11]. Available from: https://www.healthline.com/health/mens-health/frizzy-hair-men#prevention

About Olaf Bieschke

Olaf Bieschke is a senior year medical student from Charité University of Berlin in Germany. He has gained professional experience in various hospitals and offices in Germany, Belgium, France, Poland, Brazil and Spain. Currently working on a dr. med. title thesis in neurosurgery. Follow him on LINKEDIN AND FACEBOOK. Learn more about him HERE.

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