Hair Styling Guide: How To Choose the Right Product For Your Hair

It can be mind-boggling to try and navigate the world of hair styling products. Not only are there several different categories, but each brand is going to put their own spin on the product, AND you have to take into consideration your hair type, texture and condition.  Sigh. What’s a girl/guy to do?

I tried to find a comprehensive and descriptive list of the different options, but alas there was always something lacking, and I still didn’t get all of my questions answered! So here is the best I can do for you!

Here is a general overview of style goals and which products are best suited for achieving them:

• To add luscious body and sexy volume – mousse and/or volumizing gel or spray.
• Define or add texture to saucy cuts – cream, wax, paste, pomade.
• Soften, straighten natural curls and waves – straightening balm.
• Control humidity, frizz and static– pomades and balms, wax and finishing sprays
• Make hair gorgeously shiny –glossers and shine serums.
• Different levels of hold from soft to extreme – hair and finishing sprays, glues, etc

This looks like a long post, but really you only need to read about the products that apply to the results you’d like! Skip the rest.

Mousse:

Hair Type:  Medium to long styles, naturally wavy hair, thin/fine hair

Goal: Create body and movement, enhance volume, control curls and waves

Hold Level: Soft, flexible and natural

Shine Level: Low

Use: Using a golf ball sized amount, work between palms and apply to damp hair starting at the roots and working down with fingers or a wide tooth comb.

• Blow dry, lifting at the roots or upside down to create volume.
• Let it airdry for a soft, frizz free, naturally wavy/curly look
• Dry with a diffuser for ultimate curl definition

Other info:

• Mousse uses resins to coat the hair and create fullness and volume, lifting the hair away from the scalp
• Mousse can come in different formulas, from light to extreme hold, moisturizing to thermal protecting
• It can be drying on the ends of hair due to alcohol content, so focus on the roots
• Your hair shouldn’t be sticky or clumpy, that only happens when too much product is used
• Apply and dry hair fully, then curl using a curling iron or flat iron for a longer lasting style

Options: ISO Daily Foam, Joico Reconstruct K-Pak Thermal Design Foam, Lakme k.Style Natural Boost

Gel

Hair Type: All hair types

Goal: Any type of styling control. This is the most versatile product to hold hair in place.

Hold Level: Anywhere from light to extreme depending on how it’s used.

Shine Level: Medium to high

Use: Can be used wet or dry, on long or short hair. Use a nickel to quarter size amount, emulsify in palms and apply to hair from roots downward. If in spray form

• Put a small amount through wet hair and allow to dry naturally for texture and lighter control
• If you want volume, apply to the roots and focus blow drying there, lifting hair up
• You can apply it to damp, almost dry hair, comb through and make twists. Let hair dry completely to achieve long lasting curl.
• Apply to wet, short hair to create sculpted styles
• Apply to wet hair and letting it dry naturally will help prevent frizz

Other Info:

• Cheaper quality gels use more alcohol and can dry the hair out, they can also cause flaking
• Spray gels are great as they are faster to use, make sure to only use a small amount and spray from the recommended distance. They do provide less holding power though.
• Hard and crunchy results come from using more product. Use less to achieve a softer look

Options: American Crew Firm Hold Gel, ISO Tamer Smoothing Gel, Joico JoiGel Medium, Lakme k.Style Wet Designer

Pomade

Hair Type: Thick/curly hair that needs extra hold and protection. Adds definition to any style

Goal: Shine, separation and frizz control

Hold Level: Light to medium

Shine Level: High

Use: Emulsify a small amount in the palms of hands and run lightly over hair, adding definition where needed

• Spread a small amount through wet hair  to control frizz and get more defined curls
• Use after styling to achieve shine and reduce fly-aways and static
• On shorter styles, use on dry hair to add shine

Other Info:

• Can be combined with gel to get more hold
• Do not use on fine/thin hair, it will weigh it down too much
• It can have a slightly greasy texture, but washes out easily with a clarifying shampoo

Options: American Crew Pomade, D:fi D:Tails Pomade, Joico Brilliantine Pomade

Wax

Hair Type: Shorter styles wanting definition and texture

Goal: Separation and shine

Hold Level:Medium to high depending on the formula

Shine Level: High

Use: This is perfect for spot styling and texturizing. Apply small amounts using finger tips to the areas you’d like to highlight.

• Can be used to smooth down ends when you are curling hair
• Spray waxes are great for all over texture. Use only on the areas that you want defined and work roughly through the hair.

Options: Joico Creme Wax, Joico Design Collection Dry Spray Wax, D:Fi Light Styling Wax

Straightening Balms/Serums/Creams

Hair Type: Curly

Goal: To straighten the curly! Also relaxing waves.

Hold Level: None worth mentioning

Shine Level: Low

Use:Apply evenly to damp hair from roots to end. Blow dry from roots downwards in sections using a paddle brush

Other Info:

• These are fantastic at humidity control (no frizz or fly-aways) and can reduce drying time

Options: Lakme Smooth and Shine, Joico Silk Result Straight Smoother, Joico K-Pak Reconstruct Smoothing Balm

Glues

Hair Type: Shorter cuts looking for extreme, sculpted styles

Goal: Gravity defying or extreme hold (I’m saying extreme too much.),

Hold Level: You guessed it, EXTREME!

Shine Level: Depends on the products, but you will most definitely see some sheen.

Use: Apply to hair and style. It should stay once it dries. You will probably need a deep cleansing shampoo and a wash or two to remove it all.

Other Info: Pastes and putties are sometimes designed to be re-styled. This really comes down to the individual product. Do make sure to read the label!

Options: Joico I-C-E Spiker Styling Glue, Lamke Hottest: Spike Glu

Shine Sprays/Serums

Hair Type: All

Goal: Glorious shine and luster, no fly-aways or static

Hold Level: Non-existent

Shine Level: Very high

Use: These are used to promote shine and smoothness. During or at the end of styling , spread 2-3 drops in palms and smooth lightly over hair. Stay away from the roots as this will cause a greasy look.

Other Info: Use a light hand with these products. If it’s a spray, go from the recommended distance and aim at the mid-length area. Smooth down any fly-aways. The silicone oils seal the cuticle of the hair shaft, creating a smoother look . This is very beneficial for anyone with coarse or chemically treated hair.

Options: Joico Silk Result Sheer Gloss, Joico Brilliantine Spray Gloss, Lakme Smooth and Shine: Polish

Hair Spray

Hair Type: Any and all

Goal: To hold a style

Hold Level: From lightweight and workable to rock hard and unmovable

Shine Level: Low to medium. There are other products with that purpose

Use: There are two main types of hairsprays; working ones and finishing ones. Both create a “net” over the hair, holding it to various degrees. Spray from 6-8 inches away, aiming for even coverage. To much focus in one spot will create a sticky mess. Not cute.

• Working Hairspray: These give weightless, natural hold. Best when used during styling, they are brushable and re-workable. Great for use during backcombing. They aren’t beneficial to holding a complicated style but work extremely well when layered with other products.
• Finishing Hairsprays: Strong hold, this is the last step in any style. It finishes everything off. Spray lightly and smooth down flyaways.

Other Info:

• Available in both pump an aerosol you do have options. Aerosols tend to dry faster.
• Finishing sprays have a higher alcohol content and as a result are often more scented to cover up that smell.

Options:

• Working Sprays: Lakme Thick and Volume: Shape, Joico Design Collection Flexible Shaping Spray, Joico JoiShape, ISO Daily Shape Spray,
  
• Finishing Sprays: Iso Daily Finish Spray, Joico JoiMist Firm, Joico ICE Blast Spray Adhesive, Lakme Fix Plus: Hard

Thermal Protectants

Hair Type: All

Goal: To protect hair from damage due to heat styling (blow driers, curling irons, and flat irons)

Hold Level: Other styling products are now incorporating thermal protectors into them, so it depends on the product. On their own though, there is no hold.

Shine Level: High

Use: They can come in spray, cream or serum form. You apply to the hair while still damp or before any heat styling and proceed!

Other Info: These create a barrier between the hair and the heat. It is completely fine to layer it with other products during styling. Usually these up the Shine Factor fo the hair as well.

Options: Joico Reconstruct K-Pak Leave-In Protectant, Lakme Style Control: I-Tool

Styling Creams, Thickeners and Texturizers

Hair Type: Any from short to medium length. Especially beneficial for fine or thin hair.

Goal: Add texture and bulk to the hair, which in turn can add volume

Hold Level: Medium

Shine Level: Low to high

Use: Apply to wet hair before styling. These add texture and grip to the hair to make styling easier. These are kind of all purpose styling aids that can be used to improve any style. Some are in powder form, in which case you would use on dry hair so as not to create some sort of bizarre Scalp Biscuit.

Other Info:

• They’re similar to gels, but looser in the hold and creamy in texture.
• A great basic product for everyday  styling.

Options: ISO Daily Detail Putty, American Crew Grooming Cream, Joico ICE Distortion Styling Gum, Joico Design Collestion Pliable Paste, Joico Body Luxe Thickening Elixir, Lakme Hottest: Chalk

I hope this helps and inspires! I know I’ve learned more efficient ways to get the look I want. If you have any hair tips or tricks, we’d love to hear them! You can also visit our Faebook Page and participate in the discussions. Visit www.spaboutique.ca for more great hair care options and fantastic specials.

Tags: gel, hair product, hair spray, hair styling, hair type, how to choose hair products, ISO, joico, lakme, mousse, pomade, texturizers, wax

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.