At the moment there are countless different types of hair styling products on the market and there seems to be new ones popping up all the time. It can be difficult to work out which one will be right for your hair, hopefully this article will help you with finding the best hair styling product for you.
First, it is important to understand what the condition of your hair is and what you would like to achieve with it. Below is a basic list of different hair types and some of the problems they may face:
Fine hair - appears thin and sparse even as it generally has little or no natural body. Can be difficult to curl and holds style poorly.
Course hair - appears wiry and out of control. Takes time to style and can frizz just as easily as fine hair under the right conditions.
Normal hair - the ideal, few of us actually have this type of hair though.
It is also important to understand the current condition of your hair. Is it fragile from colouring or chemical treatments? Is it excessively dry or too oily? Are your ends spit or damaged? All of this must be taken into consideration when choosing any styling product.
Now you know what type of hair you have it is important to decide what you want to achieve with it. Do you want to enhance what you already have or are you looking to change your hairstyle? For example, do you have natural curly hair that you want to make straight? You will use styling equipment to help you achieve that goal. The equipment that you choose to use on your hair will impact upon the type of styling product you use.
Now let’s get on to the styling products, we have put together a list of the general styling product types available and what they can help you to achieve:
Heat protecting styling products - should be used for hair that is styled using equipment that applys heat to the hair, including blow dryers, hot rollers, or even straightening irons. These products add a coating to the hair to help protect it from the damaging effects of heating products. Most come in a spray form that is sprayed directly onto the hair - wet or dry - and then worked through with a comb before styling.
Mousses - the lightest styling products that leave the hair soft while still providing a certain amount of hold. Mousses are often formulated to provide specific types of styling support to hair. Some add volume to thin or fine hair. Others help provide definition for curly hair. Still others help to thicken fragile hair. There are any numbers of excellent mousses available, if possible try and select one that does not contain any alcohol which will be best for your hair.
Shine serums - add shine to dry, damaged hair. Some come with built-in conditioners but many just contain silicone, which only sits on top of the hair; not penetrating the hair shaft to aid the damaged follicle. Women with excessively fragile or dry hair should seek out a serum that contains conditioners, while those with normal hair may find that sheen is all they need or want to add to their style.
Smoothing creams - can be used on almost any type of hair. This product seeks to smooth the ends of the hair so that they will take the intended style.
Styling creams and lotions - good for smoothing out course, unruly hair. Some are especially made for curly hair as well, a few work equally well on normal hair. Many of these products include intense moisturizers to help tame the hair as well as hold the style in place.
Styling gels - provide volume and extra hold for hard to style hair. Some are great for that popular “wet” look. Gels are usually not recommended for fine, limp hair as they tend to weigh the hair down even more. If you have curly hair try and choose a gel that is specifically for your hair type as many can cause matting and tangling.
Waxes/Pomades - used for smoothing down flyaway hair as well as for adding texture to layered haircuts. Because both waxes and pomades are oil-based products, it is important not to apply too much to the hair at one time, or it will look flat, greasy, and dirty.
Hairspray – designed to provide hold, volume and control so can be useful for fine hair. The hair spray you choose depends on the hair styling process. If you do a lot of intricate styling, it's a good idea to have both a working spray and a finishing spray. Hairspray comes in aerosol and pump forms, which you choose is strictly personal preference. Generally, the aerosol products dry faster.
This just about covers it but with new styling products coming on to the market all the time it is becoming more and more difficult to find the one that is right for you. Don’t be afraid to seek assistance through beauty websites or ask for recommendations from your hairdresser.
