Aside from the science, having good, healthy-looking hair can have a profound impact on your life beyond just appearance. Here are some things that may* happen when you change over to Modern Mammals Shampoo Light:
We built Shampoo Light for people who understand the importance of using lighter shampoo for better hair. We know some days there's just no avoiding washing your hair (especially for athletes and anyone else who is out doing things day to day. Shampoo Light is made to still cleanse your hair effectively while preserving its natural oils, leaving your hair looking and feeling healthier than ever.
In short, the idea that "lighter shampoo equals better hair" is not just a catchy slogan; it's based in hard science. By using lighter shampoos that preserve your scalp's natural oils, you can break free from the dreaded 'Shampoo Cycle' and enjoy the qualitative benefits of healthy, beautiful hair. Say goodbye to greasy roots, hello to compliments, and embrace a new era of haircare that puts your hair's health first.
*Footnote: Modern Mammals is not clinically proven to provide better dates, more compliments, confidence-enhancement, or professional success. But we have a hunch you'll like the results.
We're getting into the thick of the winter, and a lot of us notice a common problem: a dry and itchy scalp. But why does this happen, and what can you do to keep your scalp healthy during the colder months? In this article, we will explore the science behind winter scalp dryness and introduce you to Modern Mammals Magic Mud, a revolutionary product designed to combat this issue while maintaining the natural balance of your hair and scalp.
Low Humidity: During winter, the air tends to be drier, both outdoors and indoors due to heating systems. This low humidity levels can lead to moisture loss from your skin, including your scalp.
Reduced Sebum Production: Your scalp naturally produces sebum, an oily substance that moisturizes your skin and hair. In colder weather, the production of sebum can slow down, leaving your scalp more susceptible to dryness.
Hot Showers: While a hot shower might be tempting in cold weather, it can strip your scalp of its natural oils, exacerbating dryness and irritation.
Overwashing: Many people tend to wash their hair more frequently in winter, thinking it's the solution to dryness. However, overwashing can lead to a vicious cycle of further moisture loss.
Modern Mammals understands the challenges of maintaining a healthy scalp during the winter months. That's why they've developed Magic Mud, a groundbreaking product that addresses the root causes of winter scalp dryness while offering numerous benefits for your hair and skin.
The mystery of why your scalp gets dried out in the winter has been unveiled, and the solution is within your reach. Modern Mammals Magic Mud is your ally in combating winter scalp dryness, offering a gentle, moisturizing, and effective way to maintain a healthy scalp and hair, even in the coldest of seasons. Say goodbye to winter scalp discomfort and hello to a revitalized, balanced, and hydrated scalp with Magic Mud by your side.
]]>Now that you understand the importance of finding the right balance in your hair washing routine, it's time to introduce you to Modern Mammals' innovative product.
Modern Mammals has developed a revolutionary haircare solution that allows you to keep your hair fresh without the need for traditional shampoos. Their product is free from suds, sulfates, and detergents, which are known to dry out the scalp and strip hair of its natural oils. Instead, it offers a gentle and effective way to cleanse your hair without compromising its health.
By incorporating this product into your routine, you can extend the time between washes while keeping your hair looking and feeling its best. Modern Mammals' formula is specially designed to nourish and protect your hair, making it an ideal choice for those looking to reduce the frequency of hair washing.
Since his diabolical concoction hit shelves, we’ve put computers in our pockets and traveled to the moon (maybe). But we’re still nuking our scalps with the same chemicals used to wash dishes and scrub floors.
We’re overdue for an upgrade, and luckily there’s a fresh invention to salvage your hair: the Modern Mammals Shampoo Light Bar. As the name implies, a shampoo bar is a hair cleanser that comes in solid form, rather than a watered-down liquid formula. However, not all shampoo bars are created equally.
The idea of bathing with a bar instead of liquid might seem way too 1950s. But if you get the right stuff, it’s a game-changer for your hair, your scalp, and your bank account.
Are you bar-curious yet? Good—because we’re about to drop some sweet knowledge on what makes shampoo bars better than liquid, how to use them, and what kind of results to expect.
On the fence about being a bar guy? Here are five reasons to make the switch.
One of the biggest advantages of shampoo bars is that they don’t require harsh detergents like sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) that are found in most liquid shampoos. These chemicals strip away your hair’s natural oils and create an unnatural “squeaky clean” sensation.
Even though harsh detergents aren’t necessary for shampoo bars, a bunch of brands use them anyway because they’re cheap and familiar. But you deserve better than washing your hair with the same ingredients found in dish soap and laundry detergent.
That’s why we teamed up with one of the smartest haircare scientists on the planet to make Shampoo Light: a low-impact shampoo bar designed to leave your hair in better shape after every wash.
Most shampoo bars are made the same way as soap using lye: a strong alkaline liquor. But we use a melt-and-pour method to create a condensed, low-lather product that won’t fry your hair follicles. You won’t find any sulfates, silicones, parabens, or artificial fragrances in this bar. Instead, it features a pH-balanced blend of naturally-derived ingredients that preserve your hair’s natural moisture.
Translation: you can use it every day and not worry about frizzy shampoo hair.
Old-school shampoo is basically bottled water with cheap chemicals mixed in. No wonder guys go through it so quickly, especially when they wash their hair every day.
Shampoo bars aren’t diluted with water. Instead, they’re concentrated with the good ingredients that actually cleanse your hair and nourish your scalp. That means a small bar will last for dozens or even hundreds of washes—the equivalent of 2-3 bottles of liquid shampoo.
Longer-lasting products mean less money wasted on mass-produced goop that you need to restock every month. Use the extra cash to buy your mom something nice.
Good luck getting your bottle of neon gel through airport security. Shampoo bars are an underrated travel hack: since they’re waterless, they won’t get confiscated by TSA.
Throw it in your carry-on and forget about buying those mini shampoo bottles. Plus you won’t have to worry about frying your hair with mystery liquid in hotel showers when you need to look fresh for those wedding pics.
Shampoo bars are also ideal if you shower at the gym. You can toss it in your gym bag without neon blue sludge leaking all over your sneakers.
Traditional shampoo is made up of 75-85% water by volume. And while water is cheap, it costs a lot for good old Mother Earth. The water-free formula of shampoo bars requires way less energy during the production process.
That’s a win-win for your hair and the planet.
Speaking of the environment, shampoo bars don’t require plastic bottles, making them an eco-friendly alternative to those giant bottles of goop. Putting shampoo in a box instead of a bottle burns less fuel, creates less waste during production, and makes it light and easy to carry on the go.
Want to optimize your life? Your next life hack starts in the shower. Using a shampoo bar is faster and easier than the two-bottle dance you do with your clunky bottles of liquid shampoo and conditioner. We cut 8.5 seconds off our morning routine once we became bar guys (not that we’re competing or anything…)
Not to mention shampoo bars take up way less space in your shower, which we’re guessing is cluttered with random bottles of mystery liquid from your girlfriend. This bar is your chance to simplify your life. If you’re not ready for Zen meditation yet, you can at least declutter your shower.
Guys, washing your hair with a shampoo bar isn’t rocket science. Here’s how it’s done:
If your shampoo bar is free from harsh detergents, sulfates, and parabens, then yes—you can use it every day. But if you see “sodium lauryl sulfate” or “SLS” on the ingredient list, it’s not built for daily washing.
As a rule of thumb, the more suds your shampoo makes, the less often you should use it.
If you’re an active guy (or if you just sweat a lot), you should still be able to wash your hair every day without looking like Bob Ross. That’s why we designed Shampoo Light for daily use. The lighter formula leaves your hair in better shape after every wash—perfect for athletes, gym rats, runners, hikers, surfers, and bikers.
You may have heard you still need to condition your hair after using a shampoo bar. But that’s because many shampoo bars contain sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and lye (the same stuff in bar soap) that zap the nutrients, moisture, and minerals that make your hair soft.
If you’re the kind of guy who wants to simplify his hair care routine, Shampoo Light is designed to cleanse your hair while preserving its natural oils, so you don’t need to use an extra conditioner. It’s pH balanced—and in case you skipped science class, that means it preserves your hair’s natural balance of moisture every time you wash.
Rather than having to scorch your hair dry and then coat it with conditioner, Shampoo Light provides all-in-one, minimal hair care with one bar. You’ll save room in your shower and save money from not having to build an arsenal of products.
Switching to the Modern Mammals Shampoo Light Bar after washing your hair with toxic berry sludge is like watching HD TV for the first time. There’s no going back to your old, shameful ways.
As guys who use this stuff religiously, we can tell you our shampoo bar is the bomb—or you can ask the thousands of guys who are obsessed with it. (Some have dared to call it a cult).
Grab a bar here or on Amazon and prepare for your DMs to be flooded with compliments on your impeccable flow.
]]>Shampoo has been around for a long time… too long, without being updated for the way we live our lives. Have you heard that shampoo is too damaging, and you shouldn’t use it more than twice a week? Well the shampoo industry thinks that’s fine, but we don’t. We noticed a lot of us avoid shampoo because it’s too harsh. So we asked, why don’t we just make a product that isn’t damaging and gives people hair that feels good?
That’s why for the last year we’ve worked with one of the nation’s top haircare scientists to develop a new product that is lighter on hair and scalp, not harsh and drying like shampoo.
We’re no strangers to shaking up the old school haircare industry. In 2020 we launched our first product, Easy Rinse, which is now used by over 40,000 customers who love their hair. But our team continued to innovate, and we believe Shampoo Light is our best product yet.
The term surfer hair emerged in the 1960s when magazines like Billboard and Life started documenting the rise of surf culture in southern California. They noted how “beach bums” often wore white Levi jeans, cut off at the knee. But the defining characteristic was their hair: thick, long, tousled, wavy, and naturally bleached from the sun and saltwater.
Surfer hair got a cult following, but over the following decades it made its way into pop culture with shows like Baywatch and movies like Surfer, Dude starring Matthew McConaughey (who rocks immaculate surfer hair).
But surfer hair is more than “a look.” It’s a social statement. At the risk of sounding cringey, you might even call it a lifestyle. It symbolizes rebellion, independence, and freedom. Maybe that’s why guys, like you, want it.
But we digress. We’re not fashion critics—we just help guys get amazing hair. Read on to get all the tips you need to rock surfer hair.
Surfer hair gives off chill, care-free vibes, but ironically it takes time and effort to achieve the look (that is, if you don’t actually surf). Luckily, you don’t need to live by a beach to look like a dude who catches waves for a living. You just need the right routine, the right products, and a little patience.
First things first: you need long locks to pull off the surfer look. Ideally, it should be long enough on the sides to reach the bottom of your ears and long enough in the front to go past your eyes. (For a complete guide to growing out your hair, head over here). Depending on how long your mane is right now, this can take up to a year.
Once your hair reaches the optimal length, you’ll want to cut long layers to get a shaggy look. Pro tip: ask your barber or stylist to cut your hair with a razor, which gives your hair a rougher, deconstructed look you don’t get with scissors.
Texture is the most important component of surfer hair, so you need to avoid nuking your head with harsh shampoo at all costs. Sulfates (the ingredients that make shampoo lather up) are your biggest enemy because they destroy your hair’s outer protective barrier, leaving it dry, poofy, and brittle.
Authentic surfer hair retains an abundance of natural oils and minerals, but shampoo strips all of that away. If you feel too grimy, wash your hair with something gentler like Modern Mammals Shampoo Alternative: a rinse packed with vitamins and essential oils that cleanses your hair without compromising its health.
Did you really think surfers in the 60s were buying Head & Shoulders?
The secret ingredient to surfer hair is saltwater which expands hair fibers, giving them texture and volume. Think of it as the ocean’s natural pomade. Exposing your hair to saltwater day after day will certainly pump up its volume, but what if you’re nowhere near a beach?
A handy alternative is sea salt spray, which is basically surfer hair on demand. This product will open your hair cuticles and add extra definition to your locks (without adding the other nasty stuff you’d find in ocean water).
Sea salt spray works best on damp hair, so just spritz it in after showering. This mimics the effect of air-drying after a day of catching waves.
When you spend all day in the sun, you’re bound to develop natural highlights. These “sun streaks” come from UV rays (although too much sun can actually damage hair). This is more common for people with blonde or red hair, but sun streaks can develop on dark hair too.
You might get that sun-bleached look during the summer months, but if you want more pronounced sun streaks you can ask your stylist for highlights. Just make sure they’re subtle—you want to look like a surfer in 1969, not Justin Timberlake in 1999.
Most surfers tie up their hair so it stays out of their face when they’re out catching waves. Over time, this creates waves or curls in the hair which is a signature part of the surfer look. You can replicate this at home by letting your hair air dry while it’s scrunched up.
Once you nail the surfer hair look, you’ll probably never want to get rid of it. To keep those tousled tresses healthy, make sure you avoid the shampoo aisle. Opt for conditioner washing (co-washing) instead with a rinse like Modern Mammals, then let it air dry. And when it comes to styling, use a wide-tooth comb to avoid breakage.
If you stick to this guide, people will think you’re a SoCal native, even if you live in South Dakota.
]]>The time frames for a six-pack and luscious locks are roughly the same too, depending on your starting point. On average, the hair on your head grows half an inch per month, or six inches per year. If you have straight hair, it’ll need to be roughly 12 inches to reach your shoulders and 16 inches if you have curly hair.
According to our napkin math, that means you’re looking at six months to a year before having what most consider “long” hair (which is going to look great with that six-pack, by the way). Indeed, your patience and sanity will be tested. But like all great things in life, long hair is worth the wait.
Now that all the quitters with crew cuts have clicked away, let’s cover six rules for growing out your hair as a guy. If you follow them, you’ll be on Noah Syndergaard’s level before you know it.
You’ve probably heard that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. We say the journey to fierce flow begins with a visit to a barber or hairstylist (or at least it should).
We polled our Instagram followers who have grown their hair out to see if they asked for professional advice or took matters into their own hands—it appears our fans are fiercely independent.
You’re probably wondering why you need to divulge your hair goals to anybody. Can’t you just let it grow wild and free? Sure, you can—and you’ll probably be fine. But if you show a barber/stylist the look you’re trying to achieve, they can help you “prep” your hair so it doesn’t look unruly as it gets longer. This usually involves a quick trim to help it lay properly as it grows.
Over the next several months, you can go back in for maintenance trims so it doesn’t look like there’s a bird’s nest on your head (more on that later).
If you consult Google about growing out your hair, you might see advice like “limit shampooing to 2-3 times per week.” 76% of our long-haired followers took this as gospel. But there’s a better way to wash.
The vast majority of shampoo you find at supermarkets contains harsh chemicals that strip away your hair’s natural oils and proteins. The main culprit is sodium lauryl sulfate, which makes shampoo (as well as laundry detergent and toothpaste) lather up. This stuff cleans your hair, but dries and weakens it in the process. In fact, this study found that hair treated with sulfates loses seven times more protein than treating it with water alone.
Of course, you can’t stop washing your hair for a year or more. That’s where a shampoo alternative like Modern Mammals Magic Mud comes in. This rinse gets rid of gunk, but it’s sulfate-free so you can maintain your hair’s natural moisture.
If you need to go one step more cleansing, try Modern Mammals Shampoo Light Bar. It's just a bit more cleansing and can be worked into a light lather for spreadability, but still far gentler than any shampoo, leaving your hair in better shape after each wash.
The more hair you have, the more noticeable it’ll be if you get brittle, frizzy, poofy “shampoo hair.” Don’t let that neon-colored goop sabotage your flow.
We know this sounds counterintuitive, but trust us: you’ll benefit from a few maintenance trims on your way to long hair—especially if you want to look somewhat presentable. This was the most polarizing topic for our followers, with a near 50-50 split.
We understand the hesitation here. But keep in mind you’re not getting a full-blown haircut that ruins your progress. The barber or stylist will just trim, texturize, and layer in a few key areas to make sure you don’t look like a barbarian. Instead of looking unruly, you’ll have a legitimate hairstyle to tide you over.
Depending on how fast your hair grows, consider going in every couple of months. “You only need maybe half an inch off if it’s already long or just the ends and the neck cleaned up if you’re trying to grow it even longer,” says one barber on Reddit. “Keep it in that cycle and when you’ve got it to a point that looks good you can either grow it more to see where it stops being manageable, or you can get it cut to that same length every time you go back to the salon.”
Almost every guy we talk to about growing their hair out mentions the dreaded few months where their hair was neither short nor long. This is called the “awkward stage” and it takes creativity (but mostly patience) to navigate.
When we asked the people how they coped, many said wearing a hat kept their hair out of their eyes and face. That also saved them from having to actually style their hair. Beanies work too, plus they keep your head warm in the winter months. And when you’re working out, use a headband. You can channel your inner Rafael Nadal.
Whatever you do, don’t cave and get a haircut. Once you survive the awkward stage, you start to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
It’s tempting to go down the rabbit hole of sketchy supplements, but there’s evidence that one supplement can strengthen your hair and even help it grow faster: biotin.
Also called vitamin H), biotin is part of the B complex group of vitamins and supports the health of your skin, nails, and hair. According to this study published in The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, oral biotin supplementation improved hair growth after 90 and 180 days.
In addition to accelerating hair growth, biotin also helps strengthen your follicles, which is essential as the strands get longer and need more support.
Biotin isn’t a miracle potion by any means, but it won’t hurt to pop a tablet or gummy, especially if you’re not getting enough from your diet alone.
As your hair grows, it gets more prone to knots and clumps. Obviously, you’ll want to get rid of these from an aesthetic standpoint. But there’s a more important, scientific reason to de-tangle your hair.
The sebaceous glands on your scalp produce natural oils that protect and strengthen your hair. Brushing distributes these oils evenly from the roots to the ends, giving your hair a natural shine. If you don’t have one already, get a wide-tooth comb that can tame wet or dry hair without getting caught and pulling out precious strands.
You’ll surely be tempted by naysayers who say you’ll regret growing your hair out: it’s not worth the time, you won’t pull off the look. Tune out the noise.
“My hair was getting messy…It felt and looked like I was wearing a dead animal on my head,” said one guy in r/FierceFlow. “Of course, I knew that my hair wasn’t looking good…But if other people could manage to grow long hair, why couldn’t I? So I ignored the people who questioned my decision to grow it and their suggestions that I cut it.”
Amen, anonymous Redditor. One morning you’ll wake up and see your luscious mane graze the tops of your shoulders, and you’ll thank yourself for seeing this journey through.
And if you get discouraged during the awkward phase, here’s a little motivation from some Mammals who have endured the journey:
Xander says: “Just do it. There are going to be a few distinct “bad phases,” but if you persist it will be worth it.”
Cole says: “Be PATIENT and see it through.”
Charlie says: “Life’s a garden. Dig it.”
]]>It’s easy to blame bad taste for this decline in hair quality. But the problem wasn’t necessarily how guys were styling their hair, it was the stuff they put in their hair: shampoo.
Until around 1970, the idea of a guy shampooing his hair at home was a foreign concept. Then companies hired advertising agencies (the same agencies hired to peddle cigarettes) to tap into Americans’ hygiene obsession and convince people to wash their hair multiple times a week. Next thing you know, everyone had a bottle of shampoo in their shower.
This highly-calculated PR campaign generated serious cash for shampoo companies, but made our hair dry, brittle, and hard to manage. Before we go into the details of what shampoo does to your hair, we need to cover a quick biology lesson.
Hair, one of the defining characteristics of mammals, is made of amino acids and a tough protein called keratin which keeps your mane looking full and glossy (the way it’s supposed to look). Your hair stands up pretty well against natural elements, but certain chemicals can break down those proteins, making your hair frizzy and brittle.
Ironically, one of these chemicals is a primary ingredient in mass market shampoos: sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). Developed in the 1930s, SLS is the first man-made detergent and was originally used in laundry detergent. Because it was cheap and easy to make, chemists started putting it in all sorts of products like floor cleaner, dish soap—and shampoo.
Without getting too science-y, sulfates are basically your hair’s archnemesis. They make shampoo lather up to give you that “squeaky clean” feeling. That’s not a good thing, though. While sulfates help shampoo get rid of dirt, they also strip away the natural oil (sebum) which protects your hair.
Ideally, your fingers should be able glide through your hair with little to no resistance. But if you notice friction between your hair and fingers after shampooing, it’s because you’ve eroded that natural barrier.
Sulfates also remove your hair’s protein (a big problem considering your hair is over 90% protein). According to a 2005 study, researchers found that treating hair with sulfates causes hair to lose seven times more protein than water. It’s even worse when you add hot water to the mix.
Let’s recap: the main ingredient in shampoo dissolves your hair’s natural barrier and destroys the proteins that give it structure. Of course, you won’t find that information in their commercials.
Ok, so we established that shampoo is bad for your hair. But calling it a “scam” might seem dramatic. Let’s unpack their business model so you can decide for yourself.
When you zap the moisture off your head, your body senses dryness and sends scalp oil production into overdrive. Within a day or two, your scalp feels greasy so you shampoo it again…and again. We call this the “shampoo cycle.”
Before you know it, you’re out of shampoo so you buy another bottle. On top of that, they push you to buy conditioner to repair the damage. Bottom line: shampoo brands charge you money to damage your hair, then charge you again to "fix" it—not a shabby business model if you’re trying to make billions.
So what are you supposed to do if you want to clean your hair without nuking it?
As guys who were familiar and frustrated with the poof, frizz, and discomfort that shampoo causes, we took matters into our own hands (literally). The result was Modern Mammals: two shampoo alternatives that cleanse out grime without the harsh chemicals that damage your hair.
Unlike shampoo, our rinses are totally free of sulfates. Instead, they're packed with moisturizing vitamins and essential oils that soak into your hair and scalp, keeping your flow fresh and healthy after every wash.
Saying no shampoo used to be for hippies and that smelly kid who sat next to you in math class. Fortunately, the masses are waking up to the harsh truth about shampoo. It may have taken a few decades, but better late than never.
]]>Dandruff and dry scalp share some of the same symptoms, like itching, flaking, and (most of all) embarrassment. However, these are two different conditions that require different treatment options.
In this article, we’ll explain the differences between dandruff and dry scalp so you can eradicate your flakes for good. As Sun Tzu said, you can’t beat your enemy if you don’t know your enemy.
The main difference between dandruff and dry scalp is usually the amount of moisture and natural oil you have on your head.
As the name implies, dry scalp happens when the skin on your head isn’t producing or retaining enough moisture. Specifically, you’re running low on sebum: the oily substance produced by your sebaceous glands.
Your scalp can lack hydration because of your climate, genetics, hair care products, or a combination. Here are some common causes:
Like other forms of dry skin, you can experience itchiness, irritation, and tightness. Your hair can also be dry and brittle since the hair follicles aren’t getting enough oil.
If the dryness is severe, you might notice small, white, dry flakes. But if your flakes are big, oily, and scaly, you’re probably dealing with dandruff.
Dandruff is a common medical condition that causes your scalp to shed clumps of dead skin cells that look like oily flakes. Researchers aren’t exactly sure what causes dandruff, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. However, there are two main theories.
Dandruff is often attributed to an overgrowth of a yeast/fungus called Malassezia, which feeds on scalp oil. That might sound gross, but this stuff lives on virtually everyone’s head. For reasons unknown, some people produce too much of it. When that happens, the skin cells that would typically slough off bind together and form large, oily flakes that appear yellow or beige.
Dandruff can also be a mild form of seborrheic dermatitis, a skin condition that causes a red, itchy rash and a flaky scalp. Seborrheic dermatitis can flare up with stress or a cold, dry climate.
There’s a stigma that people with dandruff are “dirty,” but the reality is that anybody can get it, even if your hair care routine is on point. In fact, up to half of adults worldwide experience dandruff, and it’s more common with males, according to Mayo Clinic.
Bottom line: the easiest way to know whether you have dandruff or a dry scalp is to look at the flakes. Dry scalp flakes are small, white flecks while dandruff flakes are bigger, scaly, and oily.
A lot of people use anti-dandruff shampoo to scrub away the buildup of oil and fungus on their scalp. But here’s the catch: shampooing frequently can dry you out. So you end up trading one problem (dandruff) for another (dry, brittle, poofy hair).
That’s where Modern Mammals' Magic Mud Shampoo comes in: a shampoo alternative preserves your hair’s natural moisture while also rebalancing your scalp’s microbiome—because you shouldn’t have to choose between scalp health and amazing hair.
For severe cases of dandruff, you might need to see a dermatologist. They might prescribe an anti-fungal shampoo that contains salicylic acid, coal tar, or ketoconazole to slow the buildup of dead skin cells on the scalp.
The main reason guys get a dry scalp is that they over-wash their hair. Too much shampoo sends your natural oils down the drain.
If your hair is always grimy and you desperately need to wash it, Modern Mammals has your back—or your head, rather. Unlike shampoos and conditioners (or worse, 2-in-1) our formula is free of sulfates and parabens so you can wash your hair as often as you need without worrying about flakes.
For guys who live in a super-dry climate, running a humidifier can help your skin retain hydration. Speaking of which, make sure you’re drinking enough water (about 15 cups daily). Your skin will thank you.
Dandruff and dry scalp are common, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take matters into your own hands (literally). Just like the food you eat affects how you feel, the products you put on your head affect your hair and scalp.
Say goodbye to shampoo so you can say goodbye to your flaky, itchy scalp.
]]>The bad news? Many of them have swung to the other extreme: they stopped washing their hair—permanently.
That might seem absurd, but it’s picking up traction in communities like the No-Poo/Natural Haircare subreddit, which has more than a quarter-million members. If you scour the archives, you'll see guys talking about putting all sorts of bizarre stuff in their hair like apple cider vinegar, baking soda, bananas, and even raw eggs. Are they onto something?
It’s true that your hair evolved with natural oils to protect against the elements, and your ancestors survived without any fancy shampoos to wash their manes. But let’s not let that obscure the fact that they also dealt with lice and matted hair, not to mention the horrific stench of body odor mixed with dirt.
Read on to see seven gross things that happen if you don’t wash your hair—and more importantly, how you can maintain natural-looking flow without compromising basic hygiene.
Going a long time without washing your hair can cause a buildup of a yeast-like fungus called Malassezia on your scalp. Over time, this leads to a layer of dead skin cells that shed from your head in the form of oily, yellow-ish dandruff flakes. Dandruff can also make your scalp red, scaly, and itchy.
Note: dandruff isn’t the same thing as a dry scalp, which produces a different type of flake that’s small, dry, and white.
If the hair follicles on your scalp get clogged or irritated from a buildup of sweat or hair products, you can develop a common skin condition called folliculitis. This is when the hair follicles get infected or inflamed, causing red or white-headed pimples that leak pus or blood if you pop them. Fun times.
Folliculitis typically goes away after a few weeks, but if you refuse to wash your hair it could become a chronic issue, especially if you work out and sweat a lot.
We’ll preface this by pointing out that oil (sebum) isn’t your hair’s enemy. In fact, you need a certain amount of sebum to protect your hair, give it structure, and stabilize your scalp’s pH balance. But if you forgo washing your hair, excess oil can accumulate, giving you that slimy, shiny look.
We’re not talking about dapper Don Draper shiny. We’re talking about that guy you knew in high school who looked like he dunked his head in bacon grease every morning.
Pro tip: co-washing is a great way to rinse away excess grime without making your hair dry and brittle.
Ingrown hairs tend to be more common in sensitive areas like your neck, eyebrows, and below the belt. But you might start to notice them crop up on your head if you stop washing your hair.
That’s because a buildup of sebum or hair products creates a barrier over the top layer of skin, making hair grow back into the skin. Ingrown hairs aren’t harmful, but they can cause tiny bumps that are a pain (literally) to get rid of.
Excessively oily hair is a magnet for odors, whether from your gym, the pizza parlor, or that pillowcase you haven’t washed in weeks. And don’t get us started on airplane seats. Basically, your hair turns into a time capsule, carrying remnants of every odor you encountered.
There’s also your everyday body odor, sweat, and bacteria that fester in your hair. Left untreated, it can start to smell sour or mildewy, especially if you have thick hair which traps odors more easily.
The longer you go without washing, the worse the stench gets. Even if you shower regularly, it can be tough to get rid of lingering smells with water alone. We’ve heard from dozens of guys desperate for a shampoo alternative because their partners couldn’t stand the smell of their hair.
Losing hair isn’t “nasty,” per se, but it’s definitely problematic if you cherish your mane. Most guys associate hair loss with old age, but chronic under-washing may be a culprit as well.
In rare cases, excess sebum can harden over the hair follicles, causing blockage and inflammation. As a result, the hair might fall out faster than it’s able to grow back.
Keep in mind that it’s normal to shed up to 100 hairs a day. But if your hair loss becomes noticeable, talk to a dermatologist to see what’s the matter.
You have every right to turn your back on Big Shampoo and the neon gel they pumped into our scalps for decades. But you shouldn’t have to pull a 180 and never wash your hair again.
That’s why we created our products - they rid of grime without stripping away the healthy oils your scalp likes (and needs). Think of them like paleo, but for your head.
Don’t take our word for it, though—you can read hundreds of reviews from guys who quit shampoo (without quitting washing their hair).
]]>This internal dialogue can drive you crazy, and Googling your way to a solution certainly doesn’t help. By the time you weigh all the contradictory advice, you’re more confused than when you started.
It’s natural to wonder how often you should wash your hair to balance style with sanitation. But you can’t answer that question without answering a bigger question: what are you washing your hair with?
(TLDR: switch to Modern Mammals)
A lot of so-called hair care experts recommend that guys wash their hair 2-3 times per week. However, that’s assuming you wash with a traditional shampoo that probably contains harsh ingredients like ammonium sulfate, which is also used in carpet cleaner (more on that later).
The problem with a one-size-fits-all answer is that it doesn’t take your hair type or habits like exercise into account. For example, if you have fine hair that gets greasy fast, you might get away with washing your hair every other day. On the other hand (or head, rather) if you have thick, curly, or wavy hair you may only need to wash your hair a couple of times per week.
To get a closer look into guys’ hair washing habits, we ventured into the subreddit r/AskMen where a user asked: “Do you guys wash your hair everyday with shampoo when you shower?” This sparked a 100+ comment discussion with a plethora of testimonials.
One guy said he washes his hair every single day because he sweats during the night. One claimed it’s been “years” since he touched a bottle of shampoo and only rinses with water. Outside of those extremes, most fell into the 2-3 washes per week range.
So, what’s wrong with washing your hair every day, especially if you’re a dirty dude?
Many of us grew up worrying that if we didn’t scrub our domes on the daily, we were somehow unsanitary beasts. Whether that’s the fault of our parents or marketing campaigns from multi-billion dollar brands is a debate for another time.
The point is that most traditional shampoos you find in the hair care aisle do more harm than good, especially if you use them all the time. The most problematic ingredients are sulfates, a chemical a lot of shampoos use to suds up. Sulfates strip the natural oil (sebum) off your hair strands, making it dry and prone to breakage, split ends, and frizzy hair that’s impossible to tame.
Don’t take our word for it though—this study found that rubbing hair with sulfates causes it to lose seven times more protein than rubbing it with water.
When you scrub off your hair’s natural moisture, your head responds by producing even more sebum to compensate. Now you’re stuck in the vicious “shampoo cycle” where your hair is either too dry or too greasy.
Shampoo also wreaks havoc on your scalp. Too much washing can make your scalp feel tight and itchy. If things get really dry, you might even start shedding white flakes of dead skin.
Ok, so you’re sold on the idea that too much hair washing, especially with sulfates, is a bad idea. But what if you work up a sweat at the gym every day or use hair products that need to get rinsed out?
You don’t want to switch to the other extreme of never washing your hair (like some of the Redditors we encountered). A buildup of excess oil on your scalp can lead to dandruff, a chronic condition that causes the skin to flake. Not to mention you’ll feel grimy and gross if you stop washing your hair long-term.
A great workaround is co-washing (short for conditioner washing), which means washing your hair with conditioner and only using shampoo intermittently, like once a week. This lets you de-gunk your hair while preserving its natural moisture.
Some guys say regular conditioner makes their hair too soft and silky, which is why GQ said the best product for co-washing is Modern Mammals Alternative Shampoo for Scalp Care: our shampoo alternative that cleans and moisturizes your hair without jacking up your flow.
As you can see, we’ve added some much-needed nuance to the question of “How often should I wash my hair?” If you’re a shampoo guy (an unfortunate situation) then the conventional advice to wash a couple of times per week may be right for you.
But if you want to wash your hair regularly without worrying about poofy hair and a flaky scalp, join the 21,000+ guys who have escaped the shampoo cycle with Modern Mammals Magic Mud Alternative Shampoo. Once you grab a bottle, you’ll never have to choose between clean hair and healthy hair again.
]]>So what are you supposed to do if you want clean, fresh-smelling hair after every shower without drying it out?
That’s where co-washing comes in: the best hair hack you’ve (maybe) never heard of.
Co-washing is short for “conditioner washing.” As the name implies, this simply means washing your hair with conditioner only—no shampoo. It’s sometimes called “no poo” (as in no shampoo). No matter what you call it, co-washing is a gentler way to get rid of gunk and grime in your hair while retaining its natural moisture.
Co-washing has been around for years and initially gained traction amongst people with thick, wavy, or curly hair. But it’s gone mainstream recently—and for good reason. Lots of guys are under the impression that they have to use shampoo multiple times a week—or even daily—to get clean. Maybe you’re one of them, and you’re paying the price with an itchy scalp and poofy hair.
We have good news: you can ditch your shampoo, and your hair will thank you for it.
Co-washing can be a game-changer, especially if you have trouble taming your mane. Here are the top three benefits most guys notice after co-washing:
The parabens and sulfates that shampoos use to clean your hair also strip away its natural oils, leading to that dreaded “poofy” post-shower hair that’s hard to tame.
Co-washing protects your hair’s strength and texture so every day can be a good hair day—not just the days you skip shampoo.
Guys sometimes go a week or longer without washing their hair because shampoo messes with their scalp. The problem with that, of course, is that you end up walking around with gross, smelly hair.
When you co-wash, you don’t have to make that compromise. Co-washing flushes away the buildup of dirt, grease, and grime without the negative side effects of shampoo.
Nuking your head with shampoo multiple times a week can make your scalp dry as a bone, especially in the winter months or if you’re prone to dry skin. A dry scalp can lead to flaking and itching since your head doesn’t have enough oil to lubricate the skin.
Co-washing soothes your scalp and gives it a chance to recalibrate its oil production so you can put flake fears behind you.
The most important part of co-washing is using the right product. You can use a regular conditioner, but most guys find that conditioners leave their hair too soft and silky. That’s why we created Modern Mammals: a shampoo alternative that cleans hair but gives you that perfect natural flow with every wash.
Don’t take our word for it though. GQ named Modern Mammals Scalp Care Alternative Shampoo one of the best products for co-washing and said it can even work better than plain old conditioner.
Now that you know what to use, it’s time to re-learn how to wash your hair.
Start by wetting your hair like you usually do. Spread a quarter-sized amount of Modern Mammals Shampoo Alternative (Magic Mud) (or conditioner of choice) around in your palms and then spread it throughout your hair and into your scalp. Make sure you use the pads of your fingers—not your nails, as this can damage your hair strands.
Work the product all through your hair, combing it through with your fingers all the way to the tips. This might be easier if you hang your head upside down, especially if you have long hair. Once every inch of your hair is covered, rinse it thoroughly until all the product is gone.
That’s it!
This varies from person to person; the frequency depends on your hair’s texture and your preferences. Most guys use Modern Mammals most days per week, without the need for shampoo or conditioner. Guys with long, curly, or wavy hair might benefit from co-washing more frequently than guys with fine, straight hair.
You may also want to co-wash more frequently in the summer when you sweat more and expose your hair to chlorine and saltwater.
As GQ’s Adam Hurly points out, keeping shampoo in your cabinet may come in handy if you get serious junk in your hair—like campfire smoke or bird poop.
At the end of the day, nobody knows your hair better than you do. Feel free to experiment with your co-washing routine and find the rhythm that works for you.
You’ve been told over and over how it’s bad to wash your hair every day. That’s partially true, but the problem is that people giving that advice often assume shampoo is involved—not a shampoo alternative.
Co-washing is a whole different ball game: you can wash your hair more often and avoid the harsh side effects of that toxic goop you’ve used for decades.
Next time someone asks you how often you wash your hair, you can say “Never—but I co-wash every day.”
]]>When 2-in-1 hit drugstore shelves in the 1970s it seemed life-changing—the grooming equivalent of sliced bread. But it also ignited an intense debate that’s been raging ever since: can this stuff really clean and condition your hair at the same time?
Some guys swear by it; others refuse to consider it. For many women, finding a bottle of 2-in-1 in a guy’s shower is a dealbreaker, right up there with wet towels on the bathroom floor and dishes piled up in the sink.
So, is 2-in-1 really that bad for your hair? Or is shaming this product just a way for grooming snobs to look down upon the common man? Before we answer that question, let’s do a quick dive into where this stuff came from.
Sometime in the mid-20th century, grooming experts noticed that people were washing their hair regularly with shampoo, but rarely (if ever) conditioning. Brands exploited that gap by infusing conditioning ingredients into shampoos and marketing it as a “2-in-1” hair care solution.
Chemists were skeptical about this move since cleansing agents work differently than conditioning agents. The workaround came from an ingredient called Polyquaternium-10, which could linger on hair strands to reduce friction.
The problem, however, always came down to the ratios. Most detergents in shampoos are anionic (meaning they have a negative charge) while conditioners are cationic (meaning they have a positive charge). No matter how you tweak the ratio, the ingredients don’t play well together.
“When it comes to all-in-one products, they have to leave something out,” says Mike Smith, host of Modern Man TV. “With 2-in-1s you usually see some compromise in the performance on either side. It might not clean as well, but it’ll really condition well. Or…it might clean super good but it might not condition that well.”
Today, 2-in-1 products hold a relatively small share of the $30+ billion shampoo market, but they’re causing a big controversy.
If you’re puzzled as to whether a bottle of 2-in-1 is a triumph for science or a total scam, you’re not alone. Let’s settle the case—once and for all.
Using 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner is counterproductive because the two products are supposed to be used one after the other. Shampoo is designed to strip away dirt, grime, and grease from your hair (unfortunately, it dries you out in the process). Then, a conditioner follows up to seal moisture into the hair shaft, making it soft and silky.
Basically, 2-in-1 removes moisture and tries to capture it at the same time, which doesn’t make any sense. Shampoos and conditioners are formulated separately so each product can do its job without making compromises.
You might think of your fingers when you think of cuticles, but hair strands have cuticles too. It’s the outermost layer that protects and strengthens the hair shaft.
Alkaline substances (like shampoo) have a negative charge, so when they’re applied to the hair the cuticle raises slightly. Conditioner has the opposite effect: it has a positive charge which smooths or closes the cuticle, making it less likely to chip.
A product can’t simultaneously open and close the cuticle. In other words: a 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner is an oxymoron.
2-in-1 belongs on the bottom shelf in the grooming aisle—not in your precious hair. But before you go back to the standard shampoo-then-condition routine, think again. While that approach is better than using a 2-in-1 product, there’s a better way to clean your hair, and it doesn’t involve shampoo or conditioner.
After getting frustrated with hair products that left our hair either too fluffy or too dry, we made Modern Mammals: a minimal rinse that replaces shampoo and conditioner.
Rather than combining two products that work against each other (shampoo and conditioner), this rinse cleanses your hair while refreshing it back to its natural balance each time. Best of all, Modern Mammals products don't have parabens or sulfates (the stuff that dries you out) so you can use them every day without worrying about flakes or frizz.
Spare yourself from any more confusing trips down the hair care aisle. Ditch your products that were invented in the 70's and join the 40,000+ guys who have quit shampoo for good.
]]>Let’s get to the bottom of what’s sending your scalp oil production into overdrive and how you can get it under control.
Most of what makes your scalp look oily is sebum: a mixture of fatty acids, sugars, waxes, and other chemicals. Think of it as your body’s natural moisturizer.
Sebum is produced by your sebaceous glands, which are attached to hair follicles beneath the skin. Your face and scalp have more sebaceous glands than any other area of the body, so if you produce a lot of sebum, your head is likely the first place it will show.
In addition to sebum, the stuff we call “oil” on the scalp also contains sweat, dead skin cells, hair products, and other gunk builds up throughout the day.
Bottom line: scalp oil is your body’s natural protective barrier against the elements, but sometimes it makes way more than you need. Let’s find out why.
There are many factors that determine how oily (or dry) your scalp is, ranging from your genetics to your hair care products. Let’s take a look at six common causes of an oily scalp. Keep in mind, there can be some overlap here.
A lot of people with oily scalps try to scrub away their problems with shampoo. This seems intuitive, and it might work temporarily. But when your body senses a lack of moisture, it can overcompensate with even more sebum than before. We call this the shampoo cycle:
It’s a vicious cycle that shampoos can’t fix. In fact, the sulfates that old-school shampoos use to lather up are notorious for drying out your scalp, which will inevitably become oily when your body over-corrects.
People with fine, straight hair may have a more oily scalp than people with thick, wavy, or curly hair. That’s because the sebum doesn’t have as much texture to cling to, making the scalp look oily.
The products you use to treat and style your hair probably aren’t causing a hypersecretion of sebum. However, they can cause your scalp to look shiny. Gels, mousses, styling creams, conditioners, and hair oils (obviously) can all give your scalp a greasy look.
Sebum secretion is regulated by your hormones, like testosterone. Accordingly, higher hormone levels may result in an oily scalp. Sebum production can increase up to 500% during puberty, which is why younger males tend to have more oily skin than their female counterparts. (You can blame that for your acne, too).
Some guys just naturally produce more scalp oil than others. It doesn’t mean you’re dirty—it’s just the way you’re wired. If you fall into this category, it’s nothing to be ashamed of (in fact, it’s probably better than having dry, itchy skin).
Seborrheic dermatitis is a skin condition that causes scaly, itchy patches in areas with a high concentration of sebaceous glands, like the scalp. These patches often appear greasy, and when they dry up and fall off the scalp they look like white flakes.
Seborrheic dermatitis is generally harmless and common, affecting about 11% of people, according to Cleveland Clinic. The exact cause of the condition isn’t clear, but Cleveland Clinic notes that oily skin and increased levels of sebum can trigger or worsen it.
You can’t rewrite your genetic code, but you can make modifications to your hair care routine that reduce your odds of an oily scalp. Here are a few tips to consider.
As we mentioned earlier, washing with shampoo can do more harm than good for an oily scalp. However, you still need your hair to look, feel, and smell fresh.
That’s why we made Modern Mammals: a shampoo alternative for guys that solves problems like dry hair, itchy scalp, and excess oil production. Rather than blasting your hair with harsh chemicals or coating it with conditioner, our formula offers complete scalp care while preserving your hair’s natural moisture.
Life is full of compromises, but you shouldn’t have to choose between clean hair and a healthy scalp.
A steamy shower might soothe your mind, but it bothers your scalp. Hot water melts away the natural oils on your head, triggering your sebaceous glands to send more oil to the surface. Instead, rinse your hair with cool water. It will help your sebaceous glands chill out—literally.
Gels, creams, and pomades can build up on your scalp and make it look oily. If you suspect that’s the issue, make sure you wash your hair thoroughly or use styling products that don’t have silicones, which can give your hair a glossy look.
If home remedies can’t control your oily scalp, or you have accompanying symptoms like chronically itchy or irritated skin, it might be time for a trip to the derm. They can help you identify the root cause of the problem and prescribe medication, if necessary.
Oil on your scalp is like icing on a cupcake: if there’s not enough, it feels off; if there’s too much, it ruins the experience. That’s why it’s essential to wash your hair with a rinse that won’t jack up your scalp’s pH balance and natural oils (we’re looking at you, shampoo.)
]]>What gives?
Wet hair is weaker than dry hair, so chances are your bathing habits (or the hair care products you use in the shower) are to blame for your post-shower poof. Let’s take a look at four common mistakes that cause dry, frizzy hair and how you can tame your mane.
Sure, traditional shampoo that you find at the supermarket cleans your hair—but it comes with a hefty cost. If you scan their ingredient lists, many shampoos contain harsh chemicals that strip your hair of its natural oils.
Some red flags to look out for are parabens and sulfates. These are common culprits of hair frizz, a dry or itchy scalp, and excess oil production.
So, what kind of shampoo should you use instead of that neon-colored goo you’ve used since middle school? To be honest, you don’t need shampoo at all. We spent years formulating the Alternative Shampoo Magic Mud by Modern Mammals and the Shampoo Light Bar. Both leave your hair fresher and cleaner than before but without the negative effects of shampoo and conditioner.
As GQ said, Modern Mammals “straddles the line between shampoo and conditioner,” but it’s actually neither. Unlike traditional shampoo (which strips your hair clean) or conditioner (which coats it), Modern Mammals washes away sweat, grease, and dirt while refreshing your hair back to its natural state.
We said goodbye to parabens and sulfates so you could say goodbye to flakes and frizz.
Steamy showers are relaxing, but they can also wreak havoc on your hair. Hot water melts away your natural hair oils, leaving it dry, brittle, and frizzy. Excess heat also lifts your hair cuticles, the outermost layer. When that happens, the cells separate and the cuticle layer can’t seal itself—another cause of frizzy hair.
Fear not, you don’t have to take ice-cold showers every day. Just finish up with a quick cold water rinse in the sink afterward.
“Washing your hair with cold water helps with closing your cuticle after the wash,” Florian Hurel, a celebrity hairstylist, told Vogue. “This also has the added benefit of helping, along with your hair care products, to make your hair look strong and shiny, and who doesn’t want that?”
Pro tip: cold showers can also boost your immune system, soothe your skin, increase circulation, and reduce fatigue—not to mention you’ll save on your hot water bill!
Now that you know what to do during your showers to prevent frizz, let’s explore some hair care mistakes guys make after they step out of the shower.
Even with top-notch products, you can get frizzy hair after showering if you use a regular terry-cloth towel to dry off.
“If we use a regular towel to dry [hair], the grooves of the towel become aggressors to the cuticle of the hair,” says hairstylist Isabella Vasquez. “Towels absorb all the moisture from our hair when what we want to do is absorb the excess water without stripping it of the moisture that helps the hair from becoming frizzy.”
If you’re looking for a quick hack, dry your wet hair with a cotton t-shirt.
“Because t-shirts do not have rough grooves like a towel, the flat surface allows water to sink in and slides over the hair instead of roughing it up,” explains Vasquez.
If you’d rather not use t-shirts to dry your hair, we don’t blame you. Instead, grab a microfiber towel (they’re pretty cheap on Amazon). These are ideal for reducing the friction that causes frizz, especially for guys with curly hair or wavy hair.
If you don’t have time to air dry your hair, use an ionic blow dryer. Unlike regular hair dryers that blast you with heat, ionic dryers extract water from your hair with a magnet. You can also use a diffuser attachment, which moves the air evenly around your hair rather than concentrating it on one spot.
Your hair is very fragile when it’s wet, don’t brush it right after you get out of the shower. This can lead to split ends, breakage, and (you guessed it) frizz. Boar bristle brushes are especially problematic for wet hair since they don’t distribute sebum well (that’s the stuff that lubricates your hair follicles).
Instead, use a wide-tooth comb. This will detangle your wet hair without pulling apart the strands or causing excess friction.
As you can see, you don’t have to choose between clean hair and frizzy hair. With a few tweaks to your hair care routine, you’ll have a healthy, natural flow after every wash. That starts with making the switch to Modern Mammals. Our anti-frizz formula will make you wonder why you ever wandered down the shampoo aisle.
Got a friend with frizzy hair? Send him this article so he can join the frizz-free movement!
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