Packer’s Pine Breakdown: Why Do We Make Shampoo?
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If you’re not up to date on the latest and greatest science around personal hygiene, that’s okay. We make a soap invented more than a century ago, so we believe not everything needs to be updated.
That said, we’re not Luddites, and we’re not neglecting our hygiene either. While shampoo doesn’t always seem like a rugged, manly way to get clean, it’s still an important part of our daily routine. If you want to know why that is, keep reading.
Shampoo cleans your scalp.
Maybe you haven’t noticed, but your head is dirty. Probably not more than most, but all of our scalps secrete an oily, waxy substance called sebum. When left unattended, this sebum can build up on the scalp, leading to greasy, limp hair, clogged pores, acne breakouts where hair touches the face, odor, and dandruff. Avoiding all of this is simple, as all you have to do is wash your hair a few times per week. While some people can get away with washing once per week, most will need a minimum of two or three wash days for their scalp.
Using a quarter-sized amount of shampoo in the palm, apply it to your scalp and work it in vigorously with your fingertips. Not only does this spread the shampoo across the head, but it helps you exfoliate some of the dead skin, oil, and dirt that gets caught on your scalp and hair. There you have it! A perfectly clean scalp.
While fingers have always worked well enough for us, scalp exfoliators are a great tool to keep in the shower if you struggle with dandruff and flaky scalps. These tools help remove the extra skin that’s hanging around the top of your head, keeping your shoulders flake-free.
Washing your hair prepares it for styling.
While we’re aware many men seem to be allergic to actually styling their hair; they shouldn’t be. Grooming is a great way to care for yourself and assert your presence at work and in public. Looking better usually makes you feel better.
One of the other benefits of shampoo is that it cleans and softens the hair, preparing it to be expertly sculpted by you fresh out of the shower. If you want to look dapper, it helps to start with a clean palette. Shampoo gets rid of the dirt and grime, but it also strips away layers of pomade, gel, mousse, and whatever other products you put into your hair on a Friday night.
What if I have a sensitive scalp?
Packer’s Pine is made with pine tar, an all-natural formula that’s gentle on the skin. Pine tar shampoos have been a favorite of people with dermatitis, psoriasis, eczema, and other skin conditions that may affect the scalp. Just as our body washes are gentle on the skin, our shampoo is an excellent choice for people who need gentle cleansing for their hair and head.
In many cases, skin irritation on the scalp can be partially caused by the harsh ingredients in mainstream hygiene products. Strongly scented soaps can contain compounds that aggravate eczema. Similarly, parabens and sulfates in many shampoos can dry out the scalp, causing itching, irritation, and hair loss. Save yourself the trouble by using a gentle, natural source of relief from dandruff and eczema, like pine tar shampoo.
What about conditioners?
Conditioner isn’t strictly necessary, particularly if you keep your hair closely cropped. While everyone benefits from cleaning their scalp, conditioner is primarily made to soften the hair and maintain its health as it grows. Conditioners can soften the hair, making it easier to comb and detangle. If you do have longer hair, it’s absolutely worth investing in a high-quality shampoo to help prevent breakage and unnecessary hair fall and maintain soft and supple texture.
Many hair gurus today recommend a conditioner that’s sulfate-free for the reasons laid out above. For people with hair that tends to be dry, try looking for a conditioner that moisturizes the hair. For people with hair that tends to be quite oily, you should avoid moisturizing conditioners and instead look for products that volumize and balance your hair rather than weigh it down with unnecessary moisture.
Do I need to shampoo my beard?
While there are a variety of shampoos and products dedicated to properly cleansing the beard, not everyone has the shower shelf real estate to keep that many products around. The main difference between beard products and conventional scalp products is that beard products are often specifically formulated to be gentle on the delicate skin of the face.
Our pine tar shampoo bar and liquid shampoo are already formulated for sensitive skin, so we say that if your skin tolerates a beard washing with our shampoo, go for it! You’ll get the same benefits as shampooing the scalp—cleaner skin, less acne, better odor, etc.
One of the extra benefits of pine tar soaps is that you get to spend the whole day smelling the piney, woodsy scent of a forest in your beard. Packer’s Pine is a high-quality formula that’s been passed down since 1869 to keep people clean and healthy. Our soap is a premium way to keep clean while catering to sensitive skin. You can read more about us here.
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Pine tar soap had existed for generations, initially used by Native Americans until the late 19th century, when it became commercially available. It is made from pine wood and has antibacterial properties, so it is a natural treatment. Many people used soap made from pine tar during and after the Civil War. However, pine tar soap slowly lost popularity as synthetic detergents became more popular.
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