Hair Products

Basic Hair Products: Shampoos and Conditioners

Shampoos and conditioners are used by virtually everyone, even those who hate to fuss with their hair. There are many types of shampoos and conditioners available on today's market. Some questions you may want to consider when deciding in the right ones are:

• Do you have color treated hair? Special shampoos and conditioners can help hydrate and prolong the life of your color.
• Do you have very dry or coarse hair? You may need extra conditioning in the shampoos and conditioners you use.
• Do you have dandruff or dry scalp? A medicated shampoo or shampoo/conditioner combination might be what you are looking for.
• Do you use many styling products? You may need a clarifying shampoo, at least on occasion, to rid your hair of build-up.
• Do you have thin hair? You may want a volumizing shampoo and a conditioner that won't weigh your hair down.
• Do you have thinning hair? Some shampoos and conditioners are designed for those with thinning hair.

The right shampoos and conditioners help to make your hair look and feel its best. Many over-the-counter shampoos can be too drying, so you may want to consider salon products if it can be worked into your budget.

Deep Conditioners and Hot Oil Treatments

Even using a daily conditioner may not counteract the stress from weather, environment, and styling. Weekly deep conditioning or hot oil treatments as part of your hair care can assist hair in regaining and retaining the moisture it needs to be healthy.

Styling Agents

Most people use at least one or two styling agents in their hair. The most common hair products for styling include:

• Gel or spray gel: helps to hold styles. Works well with short hair and wet looks. Also can be used prior to other styling agents for more hold and texture.
• Hair spray or spritz: Available in a range of strengths, from flexible to very stiff. Can be used in a variety of ways from scrunching and shaping styles and to finishing sprays. Available in pump and aerosol varieties.
• Mousse or foam: Helps hold styles, but doesn't give as much hold as gel or most hair sprays. May also add volume.
• Wax or Pomade: A thick styling agent great for longer hold and more definitive styles.
• Volumizers: Often in spray or gel form, volumizers add body to fine or thin hair.

Shining and Smoothing Hair Products

A variety of smoothing and shining agents are available for healthy, attractive hair.

Leave-in conditioners, applied after shampooing and conditioning, are available in creams and sprays to help hydrate and nourish hair. An added benefit is that leave-in conditioners help make hair ultra-easy to comb through and prevent breakage.

Anti-frizz agents help to smooth and nourish unruly or frizzy hair. Curl boosting creams and products can define curls and help stop frizz as well. If straight is your style, straightening lotions will make hair straighter and can add softness and shine. Instant shining serums or sprays make hair appear glossier.

An addition or alternative to shining and smoothing hair products are natural substances used as conditioners or rinses to bring out the natural shine in your hair. The acids, oils, or proteins in products like cider vinegar, strawberries, mayonnaise, lemon juice, olive oil, some herbs, and eggs can boost hair strength and shine naturally.

Hair Coloring

Hair coloring products are available in permanent, semi-permanent, and temporary. Temporary and semi-permanent hair colorings will have lesser chemical effect on your hair, but the color results will begin to fade from your first shampoo. They are often a good choice if you aren’t sure you want to color your hair or are interested in a short-term change.

Heat and UV Protection

If you frequently use heat styling appliances like a blow dryer or curling iron, you should consider a heat protecting product for your hair. Many of these make hair shinier and easier to style as well. Read carefully, however, as some also add volume, which you may want to avoid if you have thick or curly hair.

Many of today's hair products include UV protection. It is important to have some type of UV protection for your hair to keep it looking great. As recent decades have come to show, the sun can be extremely damaging. A good hair product with UV protectant will not only make your hair look great, but protect it as well.