With the wide array of hair styling products available in the market we often get confused as to which ones to buy for our hair needs. Here is your guide to choosing the right hair styling products and the exact order to apply your sprays, creams and gels.
You may be interested in our Healthy Food for Hair and Scalp and Protective Hair Styles for Natural Hair.
Start with Shampoo and Conditioner
Your style absolutely starts in the shower so make sure you’re using a shampoo and conditioner that is right for your hair type. For those of you with thick hair conditioners are an indispensable part of your life but gals with thin hair may shy away from using them. For them, we recommend spritzing a detangler, while you’re still in the shower and then rinsing it out.
Follow it up with Serums and Oils
Hair serums and oils are flexible hair styling products that can be applied to wet hair or dry hair, before or after styling. You can use them on dry hair after your styling session to tame those stubborn flyaways, fight frizz and impart shine to your hair. On wet hair they help to detangle the hair, providing moisture and protection to your strands. Keep these products away from your scalp area as it can make it look greasy and sticky.
Does your style for today involve HEAT?
If yes, then here are some of the products that aid you in achieving the style you have in mind!
Styling creams for Coarse Hair
Coarse hair is more prone to moisture evaporation and dry ends due to the large diameter of hair strands. The best hair styling products to use are those that are labeled as ‘re-moisturizing’, ‘moisturizing’ or ‘smoothing’ and those that tame frizz. While there are many ones available on the market, make sure to choose one that doesn’t contain too much silicone. Preferably it should not be listed in the first 3 ingredients, and definitely not the first 2. While the correct formulation containing the right amount of silicones can be wonderful, heat styling with a product that is too silicone heavy, or using too much of the product, can cause something we call ‘silicone burn’ – a nasty brittleness and dullness of the hair that can be even more annoying than frizz itself.
Hair Mousse for Fine Hair
A hair mousse is a styling product that adds volume to your fine hair, it also helps define your curls making them look fuller. Before using a mousse make sure your hair is damp. Shake the container well before squeezing out some product on to your hands and apply evenly on to your hair, don’t forget to coat the roots as well. When it dries, the mousse sets the hair in a manner that gives you more volume at the roots. You can also use a mousse to define your curls by cooking your hair using a diffuser. Some hair mousses protects the hair against heat which means you get both defense and style from the same product.
Heat Protectant
Heat protectants are formulated to protect your hair from heat damage by shielding it by forming a protective layer on the hair strands. If you do not use heat protection on your before styling, it can lead to frizzy, coarse, dry hair with split ends and breakage. Use this product on wet hair because it will ensure that all hair strands are coated. So if you’re not right out of the shower you can simply spritz some water on your hair before grabbing your heat protectant and spraying it evenly all over your hair. Also, comb through the hair so that the product gets distributed evenly.
The next step is to start blow drying your hair. After you hair is about 40-50% dry you can add a liquid anti-frizz products like argan oil or an anti-frizz serum to your hair before you start blow drying your hair again, this time to completion. You can now go on and straighten or curl your hair as you wish. You might cause severe damage to your hair if you curl or straighten it while it’s still wet or damp. So be sure to always blow-dry your hair prior to straightening.
Finishing touches offered by Texturizing Products
Texturizing products are used to impart texture to your hair. In simple words, to add texture means to play around with your hair to make it look messy, playful and natural but in a structured manner. Texture brings life to your hair by slipping in a few curls and waves. You can use them to add texture to your hair after styling but if you are feeling adventurous enough go ahead and use them on your hair in its natural state.
Salt spray
Spray some on, scrunch and play around with your hair and in no time you end up with scrumptious beach waves.
Gels/Pomades
You can use gels to attain a specific curl pattern while pomades can be used to create the wind-blown pieces that make a pixie cut look more chic.
Mousse
Well even though the mousse is primarily a volumizing product, you can use it to add bounce to your waves and curls.
Finishing spray
It is a hairspray that you can play around with before it sets.
The cherry on top- Hairspray
Basically, it sets your style in place. You should select hair spray according to its purpose. Use hair spray for light hold if you like your hair to still move naturally. Hair spray for strong hold keeps your hair in place in storm and most weather. You may have spent much effort on an elaborate hair style and would like to keep it intact for a while. In such a case, hair spray with ultra-strong hold serves your purpose. They are also available in varieties that help to keep frizz at bay as well.
Still not happy? You can take down those frizzy bits and flyaways using some argan oil or hair serum. You don’t have to incorporate all these products in your styling regime instead choose 2-3 products according to your hair type or the style you wish to achieve. As far as using styling products on your hair extensions is concerned, you can use them but excessive usage is not advised as it can lead to product build up and matting. Also, try to use alcohol free hair styling products that are more on the natural side.
