Best Hair Styling Products: The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Right Product for Every Hair Type

Choosing the right hair styling product can, at best, be a challenge. When you walk into any beauty supply store, shelves are lined with gels, mousses, styling creams, pomades, waxes, clays, hairsprays, texturizing sprays, curling creams, serums, oils, heat protectants, finishing products and on and on.All claim to have the best hold, the right volume, smoother texture, perfectly defined curls or the latest salon finished look.

And what may be best for your hair might be the least expensive or least advertised product in the salon aisle.

Choosing the best hair styling product really just depends on your hair type (coarse, fine, thick, thin), hair texture (straight, wavy, curly, coily) as well as the condition (damaged, healthy, oily or dry), desired style (sleek up-do, bouncy blow out, choppy short style) and the finish you’re after.

For instance, a lightweight mousse may be better suited for fine hair in need of body but a rich conditioning styling cream may work better on thick, curly hair to achieve moisturized defined curls. A firm hold gel is ideal for slick, structured hairstyles, while a matte clay may look more appropriate on a short, textured style.

According to Hair.com, “Styling products have different intended uses – things like mousse and curl definers add texture, definition, volume, structure and hold.”

What exactly is a hair styling product and why does it matter whether or not you have the one that works best for you? In this guide you will learn about different types of hair styling products, their purposes, how to choose the right products and how to layer those products for various looks, not forgetting what product works best for each and every hair type.

What Are Hair Styling Products?

Hair styling products are the formulations you use to shape, control, enhance, define or protect your hairstyle. Shampoo and conditioner add cleanliness and condition to your hair but it’s generally styling products we rely on to achieve a specific look and enhance the look, manageability and even feel of the hair.

Depending on the formulation, a hair styling product may help to:

• Add volume
• Increase hold
• Define curls and waves
• Smooth strands and reduce frizz
• Slick and control flyaway strands
• Add shine
• Create texture
• Provide a matte look
• Protect hair during heated styling
•  Greater manageability
• Smooth, streamlined aesthetics.
• Make a blowout last longer
• Maintain the structure of a formal up-do
• Add separation and definition

Ultimately there isn’t a ‘best’ product to use on all hair types or to achieve all styles; it all depends on what you want your hair to achieve and perform now you are looking for that perfect finish.

Short Guide: What are the best hair styling products?

What difference will the best hair styling products make on your hair?

Incorrectly applying the right hair styling products can sometimes make your normally health-looking hair appear:

• Oily
• Stiff
• Crunchy
• Heavy
• Dry
• Dull
• Sticky
• Over-shiny
• Hard to wash out

An example: Applying a heavy styling wax onto fine hair might make your roots flatten with the weight while applying mousse to thicker strands might not hold the style effectively.

It’s just as important to know what a product will and won’t do for your hair and hair type as it is knowing whether you have curly, wavy or straight hair in the first place. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends, “know your hair type,” “understand your hair’s properties, and handle your hair appropriately to minimize potential damage while Styling procedures that minimize the need for heat and the manipulation or movement of the hair” are suggested to keep it as manageable as possible, which is certainly key when finding hair styling products.

1. Hair Mousse

A versatile styling product, hair mousse usually comes out as a foam and is a great styling product for those who require volume, lift, and body or slight definition of your curls/waves. Generally, it won’t leave your hair feeling coated and is widely used for fine/thin or flyaway hair, wavy and curly hair as well as blowouts.

According to Hair.com: “While mousse works for many textures and hair types, a lightweight foam styling product will be most effective at achieving bounce and hold while giving hair a fluffy but structured texture to encourage volume and lift, as well as shape.”

Best Hair Type:

Fine or thin hair lacking volume
Straight or wavy hair in need of definition and movement
Medium-density curly and wavy hair
Hair that gets easily weighed down by too much product (a lighter product can be a styling advantage)

How to Use mousse:

Apply mousse onto towel-dried hair that hasn’t been dry. Rinse from hair and remove as much water as possible from your strands with a hair dryer; next distribute about a ping-pong-ball sized amount onto your strands, using your hands to smooth, scrunch your hair if you are trying to shape waves or curls and style it with either heat or air. For more lift, focus a decent bit on the root area.

2. Hair Gel

Designed to make sure your hairstyle of choice stays put in place for a number of hours, the most typical uses of hair gel include structured hairstyles, defined styles, spiked or structured looks and more importantly edge styling and slicked-back hairstyles. Gels generally provide strong hold while a suitable formula may even increase the body and flexibility of your style.

Benefits of Styling Gel:

• Adds hold
• Boosts definition
• Achieves the ultimate sleek or classic styles
• Combats flyaway strands
• Suitable for creating a controlled look, including defined curls
• Assists maintain and shape an up-do
• Drawbacks of Styling Gel:

Some formulas can make hair seem extremely stiff or appear flaky and dusty if too much product is applied. For curls, a gel can make them incredibly defined, however, if your choice gel makes them very stiff and dry, consider another option.

Best Hair Types:

Hair types where hold and definition are a priority more than extreme softness.

3. Styling Cream

Lighter in composition than a pomade or styling wax, styling cream works at giving hair a smooth and natural-looking finish that is styled yet not excessively done. Styling cream adds control and reduces frizz; it also works wonders at defining waves and making hair appear softer while controlling flyaway strands and for any that just don’t enjoy a heavily productified or over styled look.

4. Curling Cream

If smooth, defined, well-moisturized curls are the goal, then curl cream must be in your arsenal of hair styling products. Generally, they enhance curl patterns while working to reduce frizz.

Best For:

• Wavy, curly and coily hair types
• Damaged hair
• Flyaway-prone and curly hair types

A good curl cream should not feel greasy when added to your hair, nor make curls droop.

How to apply Curl Cream:

Add to wet hair and use your fingers to spread through hair, mid-lengths to the ends. Use your hands and pull up at the roots in an upward motion; for defined texture, use your fingers to twirl any stray curls to ensure they match the curl pattern and dry using a heat or air dry option; experiment to find if your curls thrive best by air-drying or blow-drying. Only add enough product as is necessary and use sparingly.

5. Hair Wax

A personal favourite for many because it’s ideal for creating texture and definition, as well as giving flexible hairstyles that don’t completely harden. It is ideal for those who want to be able to reshape or retouch your hairstyle during the day. Works great for spikes, textured choppy and layered haircuts.

Who not to use it on:

Very strong holding waxes may make the finer/thinner hairs appear flat and grungy-Use with caution, and apply lightly, or use a lighter texturizing paste.

6. Hair Clay.

The hair clay style is popular on modern textured styles. Generally, offers you a matte or low shine finish, giving you texture and definition but also holding your hair in place. It works great on…Short hair thick hair Fine hair requiring volume/texture Messy styled hair Quiffs Textured crops Modern men’s styles Glossy products like pomade generally create a wet look, clay offers a more natural style.
Best suited for…texture + volume + matt finish + medium/strong hold.

7. Hair Pomade.

A classic styling product which lends itself well to polished styles: Side parts Slick-backs Pompadours Classic styled hair Glossy finish Controlled short hair. Pomades can be oil-based or water-based.
Water-based pomades wash out easiest while oil-based ones hold longest and the shine the same time but wash out harder. If looking for a sleek polish without overly oily look modern water-based pomades will be the most beneficial.

8. Hair Paste.

Falls somewhere between cream, wax or clay depending on the brand of paste, but generally gives a Flexible hold Definition texture Separation Natural finish. Can be a good general-purpose style, as this is not quite so stiff, also good on short to medium hair pieces.

9. Hair Spray.

Hair spray is normally the final step of a hair styling routine; it does not shape hair from the start but hold a finished style in place. Hair sprays are generally divided in flexibles, medium hold, strong hold or extra strong hold hairsprays. Flexible hairspray must be used when moving the hair (allowing flexibility) and stronger hairspray is required when longevity matters more than movement. Hair.com cites hairspray as a common tool used for holding a styled hairstyle.

10. Texturizing Spray.

This helps hair have volume, separation and a defined undone look to the hair: beach waves messy looks

Fine hair Layered styling

Lived-in looks Casual style Creates fuller looking hair by separating the strands, if hair is very fine then perhaps texturizing spray would be better than having to add too much styling cream.

11. Sea Salt Sprays.

Another popular product for texture, beach waves tousled look Volume Matt look. Best used for casual styles. As the strands have become very dry from having hair style, so when seeking hydration, it is always preferable to use styling products with moisturizing conditions over texturizing sprays

12. Heat Protector.

Is a vital styling product if blow-dryer or heated styling equipment like flat irons, crimpers and straighteners and hot brushes are commonly used. Too much heat may damage your hair; the American Academy of Dermatology advise not to apply too much heat on the hair. Limits possible heat exposure, use with caution the heat, lower temperature settings should be used if possible.

There are many types of heat protectants and can be sprayed, creamed, apply serum or found as leave in conditioning treatments. Always remember to check product guidelines. Just because the heated appliance is being used does not make it completely safe to use.

13. Hair Serum.

Provides hair a Glossiness smoothness frizz control Flyaway control Softness. Useful after blow-drying the hair or straightening. Apply a small amount from the mid-lengths down through to the ends, rather than applying to all the hair.

14. Hair Oil.

Provides hair with softness and shine. Effective with dry-looking hair frizzy ends and thick rough hair as well as being good as a finishing agent; it works well with a number of DryEnds protecting products. Oil is not always a heat protector – a specific heat protective styling appliance must be used.

Product Buying Guide for Your Hair Type

Narrowing down the options is simpler when you focus on a particular type of hair.

• For fine and easy-to-weigh-down types of hair, opt for
• Lightweight mousse
• Root-lifting spray
• Volumizing hairspray
• Lightweight texturizing hair spray
• Light hairspray
• Lightweight styling cream
• Avoid using a large quantity of
• Thick wax
• Heavy pomade
• Thick oil
• Rich cream

Best for: Volume with a soft finish. A mousse is generally easy to use to begin with for fine hair.

Voluminous Styles: For Fine Hair: Your Essential Styling Products

Best for: Volume with a soft finish. A mousse is generally easy to use to begin with for fine hair.

For Coarse and Thick Hair: Your Essential Styling Products

Thick hair generally needs controlling elements.

• Styling cream
• Strong-hold gel
• Wax
• Pomade
• Clay
• Smoothing cream
• Strong hairspray

An extremely sleek look or textured coils can dictate the type of styling product suitable for your hair type. Pomades and creams might be beneficial to get a sleek style while waxes or clays could be better for textured hair.

WAVY HAIR: Necessary Styling Products

If you have wavy hair, use appropriate products to bring out and shape your waves instead of them going flat:

• Curl cream
• Lightweight mousse
• Wave-enhancing cream
• Sea salt spray
• Light gel
• Styling cream

Excess amounts of heavyweight products are not advisable as they will result in flattened curls.

Straight hair essential styling product.

Do you have straight hair and want volume, texture, hold and definition? Here’s what might help:

• Mousse
• Texturizing hair spray
• Styling cream
• Wax
• Clay
• Pomade
• Hairspray

Using light formulas will likely be appropriate if your hair is ultra fine and straight.

For Long Hair – A Selection of Must-Have styling products

*leave-in conditioner

Heat protectant for extremely fine hair which is straight you would probably want to focus on lightweight formulations.

Long Hair – Basic Styling Products:

•  Leave-in conditioner
•  Heat protector
• Styling cream
• Lightweight hair serum
• Hair oil
• Mousse
• Lightweight hairspray

This is often down to not conditioning and treating the hair with the utmost care due to its nature.

Curly Hair: styling necessity

• Curl cream
• Leave-in conditioner
• Curl gel
• Lightweight mousse
• Curl-defining cream
• Styling foam
• Finishing hair oil

According to American Academy of Dermatology, leave-in conditioning products can assist in preventing frizz and make hair more manageable during and styling after heat damage, or if hair is dry, frizzy, or long.

Coily Hair: Essential Styling Products

• Leave-in conditioner
• Curl cream
• Styling butter
• Gel
• Edge control
• Light oil
• Curl defining products

Well for hair that has tightly packed hair, hair tends to be very fragile. You need to maintain softness, condition and moisture very highly as African American hair (coils) are most prone to breakage.They recommended conditioning your hair often and conditioning after every shampoo. Also minimize heat styling and extremely tight styles.

Oily Hair: Essential Styling Products

To prevent your scalp from getting clogged and build up with hair styling product, use non-greasy hair styling product from our selection of top recommendations.
Best for: keeping oiliness at bay without weighing your hair down.

• Gel (water-based)
• Styling mousse
• Texturizing spray
• Dry shampoo powder-absorbing excess oil from roots
• In highly greasy hair stay away from wax and gel grease.

Frizzy Hair: Product Information for Your Hairstyle

Many things can cause frizz: including dryness, environmental conditions, and even the nature of your hair. Fortunately, a solution exists.

• Smoothing serum
• Anti-frizz hair cream
• Leave-in conditioner
• Curl Cream
• Gel
• Hair oil
• Humidity-resistant hairspray

A 2023 roundup by a beauty editor noted that anti-frizz products should match hair’s texture; lighter formula should be preferred for fine hair and richer for thick texture.

Shine Finish: Essential Styling Products

Create glossy, polished styles with:

• Pomade
• Shine serum
• Hair Oil
• Glossing spray
• Smoothing cream
• Use caution and take sparingly for use on fine hair.

Volumizing your hair: Important styling products mousse it’s a light product;

It can help give you more volume. However, its lasting power isn’t ideal for achieving high volume.

• Volumizing foam
• Texturizing hair spray
• Dry texturizing hair spray
• Volumizing spray
• Lightweight styling cream
• Use a small dab the size of a dime at the roots with wet hair.

Hold Styling: Top styling Products

To get firm hold that can manage and tame all types of unruly hair.

• Firm pastes
• Strong hairspray
• Gel
• Strong pomade
• Strong hold gel
• Styling Clay

Not good to do maximum hold on day-to-day hairstyle. Daily and casual hairstyle will ask for ‘medium hold’ and ‘flexible hold’.

Matte Finish Styling Products: Your Best Choice

If you dislike shiny or greasy looking hair, and you desire a natural, almost rough finish to your hair. Matte products are for you. Those styling clays and matte finish products styling paste or creams will not reveal much shine like some traditional shine gels.

• Matte styling Clay
• Matte Styling Paste
• Styling Paste
• Dry styling cream
• Texturizing hair spray
• Sea salt hair spray

Products that dry as they hold are most helpful for a matte style.

Heat Styling; Must-Have Styling Products

• Ensuring your strands are safe from heat is vital when using any heating element.
• Ensure your products all claim to be heat-protectants before buying and using.
• Leave in conditioning serum protects & conditions hair strands.
• Heat protectant spray prevents thermal damage.
• Styling mousse or cream; added while styling.
• Finishing Serum to finish after styling.

Choose a Product for Your Hair Type – the 5- Step Approach:

1. Identify Your Hair Texture.

• What texture type is your hair?
• Straight, Wavy, Curly or Coily?
• What thickness is your hair?
• Fine, Medium, or thick/coarse hair?

2. Ask Yourself, “What is My Goal”. What do you require-

Volume, hold, texture, definition, or shine-Knowing this can effectively target the products you use for styling.

3. Choose Product Weight Based on Hair Type.

Light hair may do better with a lightweight product while you may be permitted to use a heavy formulation on coarse or thick hair. If your hair looks flat, you may simply be using too much or using too heavy of a product for your hair type.

4. What is the Finish-.

You are looking for something matte, natural or shiny; and you may discover that a matte styling creme may best for one that would like a natural or rugged finish while a pomade will work appropriately for a high sheen.

5. Start Small!!

When attempting to add styling product to your hair you always want to add a small amount to start. You can always add to the hair however you can rarely take away.

Hair Styling Product Hold Guide

Hold Level	Best For
Very light	Natural movement
Light	Fine hair and soft styles
Medium	Everyday styling
Strong	Structured hairstyles
Extra strong	Long-lasting formal styles

Your ideal hold depends on your hairstyle.

A loose beach wave doesn’t require the same hold as a wedding updo.

Hair Styling Product Finish Guide

Finish	Products to Consider
Matte	Clay, paste, texture spray
Natural	Mousse, styling cream, light paste
Glossy	Pomade, serum, shine spray
Wet look	Strong gel, glossy pomade
Soft shine	Hair oil, serum, cream

Applying Hair Styling Products Correctly

• It is a common issue for customers to claim that best styling products fail to perform up to expectations.
• Begin with an Appropriate Head of Hair or Shampoo Hair Appropriately.
• Some items are great for damp hair, while others must be applied to dry locks, and will never offer great assistance when applied too early.
• Follow any instructions available with the styling item.
• Don’t Use an Excess of Product
• Start out with small amount.
• Certain focused formulas may use a pea-sized quantity applied from hair.
• Long and thick locks may want more than that quantity.
• Warm the Product Up
• Rub the item of hair styling between the palms to spread the product evenly prior to applying for wax, paste, styling clay, and pomades.
• Don’t Blanket the Head
• While some products need to be evenly distributed, it’s best not to apply styling products blindly throughout hair and scalp.
• Most styling products must have their focus placed on the hair, never directly to the scalp except in unique scenarios.
• Finish with the Right Styling Product.
• Only use finishing product like: Hair spray, serum, oil spray etc. If necessary. Excessive amounts can be difficult to remove.

How to Layer Hair Styling Products

A general routine can look something like:

Leave-in conditioner, heat protectant mousse styling cream/gel Finishing product.
However, products differ, and the application sequence will likely need alteration.
Styling recommendations from Vogue India say that how you layer styling products directly affects their ability to perform, and also how combinations function as a team for products such as conditioning elements, mousse, heat protection spray and finishers.

Voluminous blowout example

1. Leave-in conditioner
2. Heat protectant
3. Volumizing mousse
4. Blow-dry
5. Light hairspray

Defined curls example

1. Leave-in conditioner
2. Curl cream
3. Curl gel
4. Scrunch
5. Air-dry/diffuse

Sleek style example

1. Lightweight leave-in
2. Heat protectant
3. Smoothing cream
4. Blow-dry
5. Serum
6. Light hairspray

Common Hair Styling Mistakes

Overloading the Hair with Styling Products

More doesn’t mean better styling.
This could result in: Grease on your locks. Flat hair. Stiff locks. Product building. Flaking.

Over-Applying Heavy Products onto Fine Hair

Fine locks may be easily weighed down by excess product, or product that wasn’t formulated with their thickness in mind.
Apply sparingly with these products, or opt for a light formulation.

Applying Products Exclusively to the Ends of Hair.

Based on how you’re styling hair, an all-ends application may not secure.
Apply products focusing on the roots to add volume. Curl treatments need distribution from mid-lengths down. Apply finishing oils and serums on lengths and ends of locks.

Using Heat with No Protection

Excessive heat may compromise the look and feel of your hair.
The AAD recommends that you consider limited application of heat whenever possible, and to use the lowest possible heat setting combined with heat-protective styling product.

Dragging hair too tight

Styling isn’t only for adding looks, it’s a part of how your style is held; therefore it’s important to always pull back on how tightly hair is styled by ponytails, braids and buns as repeated pull and wear can lead to hair loss tied to traction alopecia.

Are styling products capable of damaging my hair?

• Styling products in and of themselves are not necessarily bad.
• Too many styles using the wrong items consistently and too much styling and manipulation along with repeated heat usage. Tightly styling hairstyles regularly and washing/applying product without thorough cleaning can lead to hair trouble.
• Some hair products are able to give the scalp a rash and cause acne around the hairline.
• Oils and conditioning products that hair stylists apply to locks are able to seep onto the skin and acne cosmetica will manifest itself to those with it.
• You must seek the advice of a medical professional regarding hair care and styling if you continue to experience unexplainable loss and breakage; or other hair issues you’ve never seen before.

How often is it normal to style hair with styling products?

This answer is up to you and you alone!
It relies heavily on: Product, texture, scalp condition, usage, Washing hair, using heat, buildup potential.
Using lighter styling items could possibly be a daily style option, but waxes, clay, or Pomades might call for more specific treatment, which of course is what you would use to prevent a buildup.

How to prevent hair styling product buildup

If hair ever feels:

• Heavy
• Sticky
• Dull
• Greasy

Cannot be worked/ Styled with out the correct product applied/used
Excess Product. Wash more often or in more specific products.
Products don’t mean more benefit if you keep adding hair styling treatment without washing your hair for several weeks at a time.
Products aren’t meant to coat your entire scalp, unless they are treatment gels or creams. They should only be on your hair.
Don’t overlap styling products if you do not need to do so.

Good product choices for any kind of styling purpose

Voluminous Style

Mousse +Root lifting spray+ Light Hairspray
Ideal if you are starting out with the wrong hair texture: Fine hair will struggle even with these.

Curl Styling Products.

Leave-in condition+Curl Cream+Gel

Ideal for curly or coarse hair textures that are accustomed to defining each strand independently.

Sleek Style

Heat protector+Smoothing cream+Serum+Hairspray

Great for hair textures with tendency to fray or curl without additional management.

Texture Styling Products.

Texture Spray+ clay/paste+ flexible hair spray
Ideal forshort hair textures that don’t need long hold.

Frizz control products

Leave-in conditioner+ styling cream+ serum

Perfect for dry, coarse, or frizzy hair.

Good styling items for men

Clay, Wax, Paste

If your hair is short textured

Gel, Strong styling cream, Pomade

Slicked back style

Light paste, Styling cream, Mousse

Hair that naturally looksgood everyday

Curl cream, Gel, Leave-in conditioner

Curly hair

Textured Spray, Mousse, Light paste

Fine hair

Good hair styling items for women

Blow Dry

Heat protector+ Styling Mousse+ Volumizing Sprays+ Lightweight spray that is Flexible in finish

Curled Locks

Leave-in conditioners+ Gel+Curl cream+ Lightweight oil

Sleek hairstyle

Smoothing cream+ Serum+Hairspray+ Heat protector

Beach Waves

Sea Salt spray+ lightweight styling cream+ texture spray

Updo

Hair gel+ Edge control+ Spray + pomade

Wedding style or party or formally style

For specific event occasions and the necessity for long hold. A helpful system to include; 1) heat protector. 2) Styling mousse/ cream. 3) Styling element used. 4) finishing serum 5) Hair Spray. Hairspray formulated to resist humidity is a good idea during the season.
Don’t go over the limit. Too much is bad to your looks also it will affect hair in a bad way like greasy locks that don’t do themselves.

What 5 essentials are required in your styling collection

If you have few things to style, your styling product range will require just five items; Heat protectant, styling product like mousse, wax or curl cream, finishing product such as a spray, oil or serum, and lastly hairspray for long lasting styles and some conditioning product.
How to update your collection depends on the customer at hand as styling looks can be extremely different from each individual person.

Choosing Hair Styling Products: What to Look For and What to Avoid

Don’t just believe what’s written on the side of hair styling product packaging, look at the ingredients used, and think about your hair. Here’s what you might find in different products and their function:

• Conditioning agents help soften your hair.
• Film forming polymers create hold and form to your styles.
• Silicones often provide slip and shine to hair.
• Humectants affect the way your hair responds to moisture.
• Oils and butters improve softness and shine of the hair.
• Ingredients to protect from heat: use a product for heat styling if styling with a heated tool.
• No ingredient itself is ‘good’ or ‘bad’: it all depends upon the overall construction of the product as well as formulation concentration and the way your hair responds.

Natural vs. Synthetic Hair Styling Products: What’s the Difference?

Are Expensive Hair Styling Products Better?

Not always. Better textures, smells, easy of application, specific ingredients, and gorgeous packaging can certainly come in the high end products; they do not insure better product. Your fine hair may absolutely sing with a inexpensive mousse while a luxury styling cream may weigh it down to extinction. The ultimate product for you is one which gives your hair the body, the finish, and the easy of manipulation that you desire, leaving hair non-sticky and without any damage.

Frequently Asked Questions About Hair Styling Products

What are the best products for fine hair?

Light mousses and volume or texturing sprays are amazing for fine hair. Heavy waxes or pomades may make fine hair appear flatter than desired.
What is the best styling product to give curls definition and hold?
A mixture of a curl cream and leave-in conditioner with gel would work well and condition your hair, giving it volume, definition and holding it in place all day – depending on what curl pattern you have, and how much hold you require, other products could be recommended instead.

Is gel bad for hair?

Not inherently but overusing or applying too much gel or formulas that are completely inappropriate for your type of hair, over-styling it, or not cleaning your hair properly afterwards, will result in extremely dry and brittle hair or product build up.

Is wax a better product to use for styling hair then gel?

Not necessarily as they are used to achieve different results – gel gives a very structured hold, whilst a wax will enable the wearer to create the very messy and textural style desired, with constant possibility of changing their hairstyle.

Is pomade a good product to apply daily?

Some lightweight washes able ones might be ok if your hair can handle it, but the heavier ones cause severe buildup.

What are the best products for frizzy hair?

Leave in conditioners, styling creams, curl creams, serums or gels can be extremely effective on frizzy hair, but you will need to get advice tailored to your type of hair and styling aim.

What is the best product to give my hair added volume?

Mousses and root lifters are excellent at giving volume. They are perfect for flat and fine hair types.

What sort of heat protector does a dermatologist advise me to use and on what settings for my hair?

While some heat protectors may be beneficial to some extent dermatologists strongly advise reducing as far as possible extreme heat treatment on hair.

Can my hair loss be contributed to the styling products I use?

While it is highly unlikely that hair loss is due to any product, constantly tying your hair back very tightly for long periods or always manipulating your hair too roughly will cause some damage and may contribute to hair loss in many cases and you should be as gentle as possible with your hair.

How much styling product should I apply?

Apply a pea sized amount when styling your hair but add to it if it is thicker and richer then fine hair.

When does product need applying wet or dry?

Fine or light gels, cream styling products or mousse styling products would need to be applied when your hair is damp, and wax/pate or clay needs to be applied on dry/damp hair or the product instructions clearly explain what method suits the specific product.

Conclusion

Don’t Use every styling product available for your hair; first figure out:

1 Type of hair (wavy, curly or straight?)
2 Nature of your hair (is your hair thin or thick, frizzy or fly away? Fine, coarse or porous? Is your hair oily, dry etc?)
3 Style needed (do you require a lot of hold and definition, softness and definition or do you require a natural softer style, will your hair be subjected to heat, do you want your hair to shine or not to shine?)
4 As soon as you can identify the 3 key factors your will get the best product for your needs. Aim to choose the simplest possible product (that answers you hair needs) rather than the trendy new product
5 Fine hair needs lightweight product and mousse to add volume and hold to fine hair.
6 Thick hair should be styled with a clay or pomade if a messy style is desired or cream and wax for a stronger hold or Pomades for a Slick back styling.
7 Smooth or straight hair will work best using products such as stylers such as a hair spray or wax.
8 Naturally frizzy hair would work best when conditioned products are used like curl definition lotion or leave in treatments or a spray-on control agent.
9 Naturally smooth/straight hair wants definition so hairsprays waxes and clays would work well. To make natural waves or curls smooth, a smoothing cream or Pomade along with the correct brush should be considered, Pomades, gels and hair spray or leave in treatments such as smoothing cream or gel serum and hair spray all give a defined style

10.For heat styled looks like blow dries or heated tools, heat protectant is key and derma’s suggest avoiding high temperatures on hair as much as possible!

In essence, there is no such thing as a “trendy” styling product; there really is just the right styling product for your hair, for your hair style, for your desire finish, and for your lifestyle!
Only use 1-2 styling products; examine their effect on your hair; only then will it be clearer what quantities you need and whether an increase of either quantity or density is beneficial rather than overloading your hair with countless styling products.