You are in a hurry and you need a shampoo. So you went to the shop to grab one, only to get lost among masses of hair products. All of them meet specific hair type needs. But which shampoo should YOU pick up?
Or an even worse scenario. Say your boss invited you to join her for a coffee and of all possible topics she chats about nourishing her hair (which is, by the way, gorgeous). You nodded and smiled but when she asked what hair products you use, all she got was an empty gaze.
Don’t let that happen. Your hair deserves for you to learn the basics, at least, and so does your boss.
Ready to get started then?
All hair products fit into one of two categories. They either work to nurture your hair or to style it.
Nourishing hair products
Shampoo
Believe it or not there are no less than 10 different shampoo categories. So you need to learn what your hair type is, for example if it’s oily or not, or if it’s damaged. That way you’ll be able to identify which shampoo your hair will benefit from the most.
Everyday shampoo – is a mild shampoo for women in the habit of washing their hair daily.
Deep cleaning shampoo – as the name suggests this is a specially designed shampoo to deeply clean the build-up in your hair caused by too many hair products. You should only use it once every now and then.
Volumizing shampoo – if your hair is too thin and lifeless, this is the kind you want.
Oily hair shampoo – if your hair is greasy and can’t hold your hairstyle, you should go with this one.
Shampoos for colour-treated hair – help your hair dye last longer.
Dry and damaged hair shampoo – These contain less cleanser and more conditioner.
Medicated shampoos – you can buy them in pharmacies and use them when you have scalp or hair problem, such as dandruff, instead of just for washing your hair.
Dry shampoos – come in a spray can, or as a powder and work wonders for hair. Especially oily hair. And if you need your hair clean and beautiful in the blink of an eye? Yep. That’s why dry shampoo rocks. It’s like magic.
2-in-1 shampoo – Shampoo and conditioner mixed in one bottle. It contains little cleanser but will moisturise your hair generously. If you use 2-in-1 shampoo too often though, or your hair is oily, it can cause a build-up, so be careful.
Alcohol and sulphate free shampoos – These are all natural, some even organic. They are great for cleaning your hair without drying it out, but they are often pricey.
Hair conditioner
The main purpose of this product is to smoothen and moisturise your hair. Fight the frizz. The most common type is a rinse-out conditioner. First, you shampoo your hair and rinse it. Then apply the hair conditioner and wait for a couple of minutes before you wash it out again. You don’t have to rinse leave-in conditioner, as the name suggests. That’s why this kind is lighter and easier on your hair.
Deep conditioner or a hair mask is for occasional use only and works best on dry and damaged hair. You should leave it in your hair for at least 30 minutes. Botox treatments are the most effective and the most popular deep nourishing treatments on the market.
Hair Oils
If you pass by a woman whose hair amazes you because it’s so smooth, silky and lustre, you can bet she is using hair oils or serums. There are various types (argan oil, olive, coconut oil etc.) and each is suitable for a particular hair type. The key for all of them however is not to rub it them your scalp if your hair is oily, and the vice versa.
Heat protection products
Blow-dryers, hair straighteners and curling irons all develop high temperatures and can damage your hair. Heat protection products come in spray cans or as creams. They leave no residue.
Hairstyling products
Hairspray is the king of hairstyling. Ladies mostly use it either to add volume to their hair, by spraying the roots or to strengthen and hold their fabulous hairstyles.
Hair mousse is perfect for making your hair lively and perky. It comes in different levels of hold so you can use it both to hold your hairdo and to lift your hair up.
Hair wax is a creamy, sticky substance created to hold different and/or even crazy hairstyles in place. It adds natural-looking texture and you can also mix it up with some oil to get a more glossy, wet look.
Keratin treatment is an excellent solution for busy women with frizzy hair. It will straighten your hair, even if it’s curly, smooth it down and make it shine. It will shorten blow-drying time and the best of all, the effect can last between two and four months.
Sea salt spray
Oddly enough it’s just salt and water, but it can do miracles with your hairstyle. You know that sexy, relaxed look your hair gets after sunbathing and swimming in the sea all day? Well, sea salt spray is the way to get that look anytime.
Wait. Don’t panic. You don’t have to spend a fortune just to chat with your boss about the hair products you use.
You can either talk to your hairstylist and ask him or her to tell you more about your hair and which products you need. Or, you can first examine your hair, when it’s dry and with no products in it. And then do your own Internet research to find which products are an absolute necessity for your hair type and which ones you can safely ignore.