WHETHER it's curly or straight, full or thinning, a short hairstyle or a long, flowing mane, hair plays a major part in a man's appearance. So understanding basic hair care and hairstyles is an important step in the grooming process. Luckily, good hair care comes down to four simple areas: washing, conditioning, styling and protecting. Follow these simple guidelines of men's grooming and hair care and look forward to maintaining a stronger, healthier head of hair over time.

Washing

Regularly wash hair with a shampoo that is gentle enough for everyday use. Look for shampoos like MenScience Daily Shampoo that contain ingredients such as Panthenol and Vitamin E to strengthen and condition hair follicles.

Don't overwash hair. Washing more than once a day, even with a gentle cleanser, can often stress hair follicles, causing them to weaken and break. It can also provoke an oilier scalp as your skin tries to compensate for moisture being washed away.

If your hair is very fine, or thinning, you may want to shampoo every other day to prevent stressing hair. The key is to keep hair clean and free of buildup, without damaging it.

Make sure to firmly massage shampoo into the scalp. In addition to working grime free, this also stimulates blood circulation.

After washing, rinse all traces of shampoo away with clean, cool water. A buildup of shampoo can not only cause your scalp to itch, but can also dull hair and damage it.

Conditioning

Although not for every type of hair, adding a conditioner to your hair regimen can help if your hair is very dry or brittle. Conditioning helps replenish lost moisture levels and makes hair more manageable.

However, most men should not need to condition hair if they treat it gently and use effective hair products.

Too much conditioning or not rinsing conditioner completely away can create buildup and oiliness.

Styling

You might not think you need it, but regular haircuts remove dead ends and stimulate healthy hair growth. And although it's different for every hairstyle, opt to see a barber or stylist at least once a month.

Use products appropriate for your type of hair: oily, dry, thick, thin, thinning or curly. Ask your barber or stylist for some recommendations based on your specific hair type.

If you suffer from oily hair, the best haircut for oily hair is one that keeps hair off the forehead and back. Oily hair follicles rubbing against skin can cause acne outbreaks and irritations. For a good acne prevention treatment, try MenScience's Acne Treatment System.

Change your hairstyle from time to time. What looked good on you a few years ago might not be making the cut these days. And something as simple as a different part or trim can give you a more youthful or polished appearance instantly.

Keep any hair tools (brushes, combs, etc.) clean and replace them from time to time. Did you know that the simple act of brushing hair from forward to back can redistribute oils of the scalp and cut down on oiliness and dryness at the same time?

Men's hair styles constantly change, but for men with thinning hair or dealing with hair loss, a short hairstyle might be the best bet. If you wear your hair long, be sure to keep it well-trimmed and groomed. Even if you're going for an "unkempt" look, hair needs to be trimmed and styled on a regular basis to look good.

Protecting

Protect your scalp and hair from harsh chemicals and drying agents by rinsing your hair with cool, clean water immediately after taking a dip in the pool or ocean. This will prevent follicles from becoming dehydrated and damaged.

The sun can damage hair, too! If your hair is already thinning, or you've opted to shave your head, it's imperative that you apply an effective sunscreen to avoid sun damage. Choose one that is non-greasy and fast-absorbing with an SPF of 30 or higher (like MenScience's Ti02 Sunblock SPF 30).

Wear a hat whenever you'll be in direct sunlight for prolonged periods of time. For more sun protection tips, see our Sun Care article at www.menscience.com.

Avoid products that contain alcohol, which can have a drying effect on scalp and follicles.