Big, Beautiful, Shiny Hair
We all want big, sexy hair that makes us look more feminine and attractive. Different hair types require different products to tame or volumize your hair, for straight or curly, long or short. The following pages will discuss shampoos, conditioners, mousses and gels and hairspray to help me the needs of all types of hair.
Shiny Hair
To make hair look shiny, you should use a moisturizing, shine-enhancing shampoo and conditioner.
You can also add a silicone-based shine spray or gel to your hair before you dry it.
Oily Hair
If you have oily hair, you should use a deep cleaning shampoo to get rid of the accumulation of grease and product. I use a lot of products on my hair so it is important to me that I can clean all this build-up out of my hair. Since my hair is color-treated, I also need a shampoo that will preserve the color, make my hair shine and not add further damage. And since my hair is very fine, I need a shampoo that will help give my hair body and bounce. See the Shampoos page for more information about the best shampoos.
We use tons of products on our hair to make it shiny, softer, to add more volume, to add curl, to straighten, to hold it in place, to style it, and on and on. Shampoo is often where we pay less attention but it is very important that you get a good shampoo that really cleans the hair without stripping it of essential oil, especially if you have color-treated hair.
Be sure to use a hydrating conditioner because even oily hair needs moisture to have that healthy shine. Conditioners restore moisture after shampooing, repair damage from hair dryers and irons, and make hair easier to comb. Many conditioners contain proteins or a similar product to strengthen hair. Some contain thermal protectors to safeguard against the heat of hair dryers, hot irons and curlers.
Dry Hair
There are many types of conditioners. You should use a moisturizing conditioner if your hair tends to get dry and frizzy. Use a volumizing conditioner if you need more body and your hair is fine. If your hair is particularly dry or damaged you should use a separate deep moisturizing conditioner to use once a week. See the Conditioners page for more information about the best conditioners.
Fine, limp hair
If you have fine, limp hair you should be careful about adding too much shine-enhancing products that can weigh your hair down. Styling products can be a fix for bad hair days. We use mousse or gel to control frizz, add texture and volume, and to help hold the style we spend so much time on with our hairdryers and flat irons.
Gels tend to provide a more textured or structured look while foamy mousses provide volume and hold with a softer, more natural look. If you are trying to get volume, apply the mousse to the roots to add lift. Drying your hair with your head upside down can also help increase body. See the Mousse and Gels page for more information about styling products.
Hold Hair Styles
What we look for most in a hairspray is that it will hold our style all day long - or even longer. But the kind of hold we want varies by the person and hair type. People with thin, fine hair do not want a hairspray that weighs their hair down. People with thicker, heavier hair want a stronger hold. Most of the time we don't want our hair to be stiff and sticky. We want it to move with us and bounce back into place. But sometimes, for an elaborate style, we do want to "freeze" it in place. Check out the Hairspray page for more information about the best hairsprays.
To make hair look shiny, you should use a moisturizing, shine-enhancing shampoo and conditioner.
You can also add a silicone-based shine spray or gel to your hair before you dry it.
Oily Hair
If you have oily hair, you should use a deep cleaning shampoo to get rid of the accumulation of grease and product. I use a lot of products on my hair so it is important to me that I can clean all this build-up out of my hair. Since my hair is color-treated, I also need a shampoo that will preserve the color, make my hair shine and not add further damage. And since my hair is very fine, I need a shampoo that will help give my hair body and bounce. See the Shampoos page for more information about the best shampoos.
We use tons of products on our hair to make it shiny, softer, to add more volume, to add curl, to straighten, to hold it in place, to style it, and on and on. Shampoo is often where we pay less attention but it is very important that you get a good shampoo that really cleans the hair without stripping it of essential oil, especially if you have color-treated hair.
Be sure to use a hydrating conditioner because even oily hair needs moisture to have that healthy shine. Conditioners restore moisture after shampooing, repair damage from hair dryers and irons, and make hair easier to comb. Many conditioners contain proteins or a similar product to strengthen hair. Some contain thermal protectors to safeguard against the heat of hair dryers, hot irons and curlers.
Dry Hair
There are many types of conditioners. You should use a moisturizing conditioner if your hair tends to get dry and frizzy. Use a volumizing conditioner if you need more body and your hair is fine. If your hair is particularly dry or damaged you should use a separate deep moisturizing conditioner to use once a week. See the Conditioners page for more information about the best conditioners.
Fine, limp hair
If you have fine, limp hair you should be careful about adding too much shine-enhancing products that can weigh your hair down. Styling products can be a fix for bad hair days. We use mousse or gel to control frizz, add texture and volume, and to help hold the style we spend so much time on with our hairdryers and flat irons.
Gels tend to provide a more textured or structured look while foamy mousses provide volume and hold with a softer, more natural look. If you are trying to get volume, apply the mousse to the roots to add lift. Drying your hair with your head upside down can also help increase body. See the Mousse and Gels page for more information about styling products.
Hold Hair Styles
What we look for most in a hairspray is that it will hold our style all day long - or even longer. But the kind of hold we want varies by the person and hair type. People with thin, fine hair do not want a hairspray that weighs their hair down. People with thicker, heavier hair want a stronger hold. Most of the time we don't want our hair to be stiff and sticky. We want it to move with us and bounce back into place. But sometimes, for an elaborate style, we do want to "freeze" it in place. Check out the Hairspray page for more information about the best hairsprays.
