There’s nobody that knows your hair better than you (and your stylist). But what most women (and men) don’t know is how to choose the absolute best products for their hair. With this guide, your hair can look and feel healthier, be easier to work with, and my favorite, keep that “salon look” even longer.
I have low density hair (fine hair)
- Shampoo: You should shampoo daily to remove sweat and oil buildup. try shampoos with thickening, volumizing or amplifying ingredients, translucent, natural cellulose and polymers. Avoid intense moisturizing shampoos
- Conditioner: Use conditioners that detangle and add lightweight hydration (cetrimonium chloride, cyclomethicone, glycerin). Just apply it to hair ends. Avoid greasy conditioners (dimethicone, behentrimonium methosulfate)
- Stylers: For volume, use thickening sprays containing polyethylene particles, nylon, polyquaternium or panthenol. For texture, use mousse. Add shine with a lightweight serum or spray containing oils. Avoid creamy or waxy (beeswax) products
I have medium density hair (normal)
- Shampoo: Wash every other day with a formula geared for your scalp such as with fruit acids to reduce grease and product buildup you’re your scalp is sensitive, irritated or flakes, try a shampoo with hydrating oil (olive or sesame) and proteins (wheat or oat)
- Conditioner: If you have straight hair, you don’t want a conditioner that is too heavy, and with antistatic benefits. If you have waves or curls, you’ll want a smoothing keratin protein or a conditioner that helps detangle
- Stylers: You need a style that is ideal for medium hair, and not fine hair. Try thickening lotions or mousse with volumizing ingredients
I have high density hair (thick or coarse)
- Shampoo: Try to wash only once every three days – retaining your hair’s natural oils. Try a shampoo with shea butter or cocoa butter for softer hair
- Conditioner: Use a thick buttercream conditioner to reduce tangles and knots. Look for the words opaque, behentrimonium chloride, stearalkonium chloride
- Stylers: Use a silicone based product for coarse hair, otherwise oil. Water-based stylers should be avoided. And if it contains alcohol, make sure it’s cetyl, cetearyl or stearyl
A little more about shampoos
- Curly hair: Use a shampoo specifically for dry or chemically treated hair
- Color-treated hair: Choose a color-preserving shampoo that won’t strip out color
- Dry hair: Look for shampoos with intensive moisture replenishment with natural oils (i.e. coconut oil, avocado oil, grapeseed oil, argan oil)
- Oily hair: Use shampoo specifically formulated for oily hair. Avoid moisturizing conditioners
