Mousse or Gel? Volumizer or styling spray? Confused by the array of hair care products?

paul mitchel styling gel-
Paul Mitchell Super Clean Sculpting Gel

Selecting a hair care styling product can be a 30 minute event. There are so many types of products each meeting a specific hair care need. How many hair care styling products are in your bathroom? Did you know that the overuse of hair care products can weigh your hair down and leave it to oily or dry and brittle? Well hopefully this summary will help you sort out the differences in hair care products and help you select the right product for your hair.

Mousse: also know as shaping foam, it is good for loose natural hairstyles. Mousse is lightweight can be applied to the roots for volume and lift. Because mousse is lightweight it offers modest control and leaves hair soft and flowing and not crunchy or sticky. To apply mousse, dispense a golf-ball size into your hands and work it through damp hair from roots to ends. Additionally, you can use as a spot treatment for an unruly area such as a cowlick. Try ISO Daily Foam

Gel: also comes in spray form and has different degrees of hold, from firm to soft. Gel is good for making short hair more manageable, and/or taming curls that tend to frizz. Gel can also be applied to create a wet look or slicked back look such as in a pony tail. Gel gives more hold than mousse but not as much hold as hairspray. To use gel, apply a nickel-size amount in your hands and work through damp hair. Allow your hair to air dry or blow dry. Gel is not necessarily recommended for fine hair as it tends to flatten it. Also, gel is not recommended for long hair because if the product is not thoroughly worked into the hair it can leave hair sticky and stiff. A nice product! Paul Mitchell Super Clean Sculpting Gel

Hairspray: probably the first of hair care products, next to shampoo and conditioner. Also known as texturizing sprays, finishing spray, mist or spritz, and comes in a varying degree of hold. Hairspray is best used for fine hair or medium-thick hair that needs a little volume. Hairspray is also useful for a styled look to keep hair in place. To apply hairspray, hold the bottle at arm's length and spray hair. Hairspray is not recommended for curly or frizzy and/or dry hair as it can make it feel more dry and crunchy.

Styling Spray: also known as sculpting or styling spray, volumizing lotion, and blow-dry styling spray. Anyone that blows dries their hair needs a protectent. Fine to medium hair benefits the most from a body boosting styling spray. Styling sprays can protect hair from heat, smooth down or boost up flat hair, depending on the formula of the styling spray. To use, comb styling spray through hair from roots to ends before blow drying. Styling sprays will not do much for styling curls. If you are air drying this type of styling sprays will leave hair crunchy and stiff. How about Tri Aerogel Styling Spray

Pomade: also known as balm, clay, mud, paste, and wax. There are water based and oil based pomades. Fine ore medium textured hair responds well to water-based products as it does not weigh them down. Coarse and thick textured hair responds well to oil-based pomade for its taming properties, although oil-based pomades will attract dirt. Some pomade has light deflecting properties which will give dull hair shine. Additionally while some pomade will hold hair in place others will leave a greasy look. To use, apply a pea-sized amount to your hands until it disappears and apply from mid-shaft of hair to ends. If you have not let the pomade disappear from your hands then it will go on leaving clumps in your hair. Great reviews Tres Flores Three Flowers Brilliantine Pomade

Gloss: also known as shine, finishing polish, shine spray and silicone drops. Dry, dull and damaged hair responds well to a gloss and so does curly and medium-to coarse hair. The silicone coats the hair shaft and smoothes out the roughness on the shafts making the hair reflect light. A shine adds moisturizer to your hair without making it look greasy and oily. To smooth finished hair rub to or three drops or one spray from a spray gloss, and run your hands over the top of the hair. If gloss is not used sparingly, it can make hair limp and oily looking, especially on fine hair. This product has great reviews! Frederic Fekkai Glossing Sheer Shine Mist To Go

Humidity Blocker: also known as anti-frizz serum. A humidity blocker coats the hair to keep water out, such as humidity, so that curls stay curly and straight blow-dried hair stays straight and it doesn't get frizzy. Humidity blocker can be applied on damp hair or dry hair. To apply on damp hair, put a dime size amount into hands, rub together, and work through hair. To apply on dry hair, run your hands over the top of your styled hair to tame fly away hair.

Root Volumizer: also know as lifting spray, root booster, volumizing spray. Great for fine hair that tends to lose it volume at the end of the day. A root volumizer will add lift at the roots and give a styled look more volume. To apply, lightly spray or massage into roots of wet hair then style as usual. Gel or any spray or mousse can do what a root volumizer does. Root volumizers tend to make the scalp look flaky and can create an unnatural style at the roots.

Summary:

Curly and/or coarse hair should use a gel or lotion to smooth out, tame, eliminate frizz and hold the final style. The final product should be a promenade or gloss to add shine.

Fine or limp hair needs products with polymers such as a volumizing mousse to plump up hair shafts and allow styling. A light gel or hairspray should be the final touch.

Now that you have your hair care products all figured out, check out some great skin care recipes for flawless skin at Complete Skin Care Therapy


Wishing you much success in getting the right products for your hair!