Serums, mousses, waxes, putties, paste... walking into the haircare aisle can be a mind-boggling experience. Fortunately, if you know exactly what each product can do for your locks and which is best for your hair and desired style, it’s all too easy.
1. Serum
Hair serums are generally made with silicone but can contain other nourishing ingredients too. They’re generally used to help smooth down frizz and give your hair a silky texture, making it easier to detangle. If you’ve got frizz-prone hair and would like to smooth down the hair cuticles to give it a glossy look while making it easier to manage, you should consider using a serum. You can apply it directly to any fly-away frizz or run it through your lengths before you blow-dry for an even sleeker look. Just be careful not to get it near your roots as too much can make your hair look greasy.
We like: Charles Worthington Brilliant Shine Salon Finish Finishing Touch Polish, Fantasia Olive Moisturising Shine Serum.
2. Hairspray
Another hairstyling product in a can, hairspray was invented back in 1899 when two American inventors patented the aerosol can. Essentially, it’s a mild form of gel in that it is used to hold your style in place. To use it, apply it to your hair only once you’ve created the style you want, like an updo, for instance. Giving it a good misting with a bit of hairspray will ensure your new do keeps on looking picture perfect throughout the day while adding a healthy-looking shine.
We like: Lee Stafford Hold Tight Hairspray, L’Oréal Elnett Satin Hairspray, TRESemme Salon Finish Firm Hold Hairspray, L’Oréal Studio Line Silk & Gloss Fixing Hairspray.
3. Gel
Hair gel is used to “stiffen up” your hair and hold it in a particular style. It’s particularly effective for very short hair and the result has a lot more hold than hairspray. Unlike mousse which coats each strand of hair, gel causes the strands to stick together. They’ll keep the style until you wash it out. Some very mild gels, however, can simply be brushed out.
We like: VO5 Mega Hold Styling Gel, L’Oréal Studio Line Fix &, Style Hair Gel.
4. Wax and putty
Hair wax and putty (also referred to as clay or paste) work in a similar way to hair gel in that they coat the hair and then cause it to stick together. If you’ve got very short hair, you can use these products to create spiky-looking hairstyles. What makes wax, putty and clay a little different to gel, however, is that they’re “mouldable”. This means that instead of causing your hair to go stiff and stay that way until you wash it, you can rework your style throughout the day, pushing and pulling it any which way you like.
We like: Lee Stafford As Rough As You Like Clay, VO5 Extreme Style ReWork Fibre Putty.
5. Mousse
Hair mousse is a French invention that comes in an aerosol can. A few pumps produce a light foam that can be applied to wet hair before blow-drying. As it coats each individual hair strand, it can help create a bit more volume while adding shine to your locks. Also, if your mousse contains a bit of hair-smoothing silicone, it can help to control frizz. If, however, you apply mousse to your hair, give it a bit of a shake and then let it airdry, it’ll give your hair a slightly “crispy” texture.
We like: John Frieda Full Repair Root Lift Foam, TRESemme Salon Finish Volume and Lift Mousse, L’Oréal Studio Line Silk & Gloss Fixing Mousse.