MANILA, Philippines?The more fights he wins, the better Manny Pacquiao seems to be looking.

The celebrity boxer is often seen in crisp long-sleeved shirts, well-fitted trousers and designer leather shoes. Accessories are basic blings, usually a diamond stud on the left ear. Even his hair seems to be different now, full, with side-swept bangs.

But he insists that while he has become more fashion-savvy, his grooming routine has been kept to the minimum proper haircut.

?I have two barbers from General Santos who cut my hair,? he said. ?Pinapapunta ko sila dito sa Manila kapag kailangan ko ng gupit.?

The 30-year-old boxing champ is the newest poster boy for Head & Shoulders for Men Hair Retain Shampoo. It targets two main hygiene issues of men: dandruff and falling hair.

Pacquiao has gained a major fan base and has been endorsing items from ice cream to motorbikes. Head & Shoulders is his first venture in personal care products.

?Before pa ng fights ko sa Amerika, gumagamit na talaga ako ng Head & Shoulders, totoo talaga ?yan,? he said at the recent launch at Ranaissance Hotel in Makati. ?Noon namang nasa Amerika ako, nagbabaon ako ng mga dalawang malalaking bote para gamitin doon. Kaya natutuwa ako noong kinausap nila ako para maging endorser.?

Pacquiao said he is low-maintenance when it comes to skin care as well. His wife, Jinkee, said in a recent Inquirer interview that he cannot put skin products on his face or have treatments because it might get too sensitive when hit during fights.

His advice to fellow Filipinos who look up to him as a male idol: The key to looking good is being confident and thinking positive.

?Dapat confident ka sa sarili mo. Katulad sa boxing, dapat nage-ensayo. Kapag nasa fight, dapat walang iniisip na negative.?

The Golden Boy from GenSan?s fashion style has improved over the years. Did he hire a stylist?

He said he still picks his own clothes, but there?s someone else who buys it for him. ?Ako ang namimili pero may bumibili para sa akin.?

Macho shampoo

While there are tons of anti-dandruff shampoos in the market, Head & Shoulders Hair Retain promises to be the made-to-measure product for men.

?What makes it different is it combats dandruff and prevents hair loss with regular use,? said Gloria Nieto, Head & Shoulders? country marketing manager.

?It has a conditioning level optimized for men?s needs, so it?s not too strong to drag men?s short hair down, making it limp and looking sparse, nor too light to make it stiff. The scent is also tested and developed with men.?

The active ingredient is zinc pyrithione, which counters the growth of the yeast (Malassezia globosa) on the scalp for a healthy, flake-free feel. It has a softening blend that makes it fit for men who do not use conditioner on their hair.

Dr. Adolfo B. Bormate, hair and scalp expert from UP-PGH, said 50 percent of adults suffer from dandruff, making the scalp itchy, flaky and scaly. This condition is usually caused by fungi, oiliness and individual sensitivity.

Hair distress

?Dandruff prompts hair loss in two ways?repeated scratching that damages hair shaft and causes hair breakage; and by promoting shedding, resulting in thin hair,? Bormate said. ?Since men produce more oil and sweat, it is best to use a potent anti-dandruff shampoo tailored to their needs.?

Dandruff and hair loss can also pose psychological concerns, said Dr. Randy Dellosa, a psychotherapist.

?When a guy learns he?s losing hair, his first reaction would be to deny and ignore it, thinking it would go away. If it doesn?t, he gets alarmed.

?He may become self-conscious and dress differently, stop wearing black because he has dandruff, or have an outrageous wardrobe to keep people?s eyes off his thinning crown.
?Paranoia may kick in when he starts thinking people laugh and talk behind his back, calling him names like ?panot,? ?shaggy,? ?Hercules? (?hair ko less?).?

Dandruff makes guys conscious because it makes them look unhygienic. Men look older with less hair, and this can damage their self-esteem, added Dellosa.

Pacquiao refused to comment on showbiz questions, especially those pertaining to women who are linked to him. He said his focus now is the upcoming fight with Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto.