Hair Styling Products
After you have cleansed and nourished your locks, style and seal your look with a styling product.  Sounds easy, but it never quite is. There are hundreds of products out there, and you never know how any particular one will work with your hair until you try it. To help narrow down your options there is a lists of products and a brief description of how testers and reviewers have rated them. This roundup is meant to be a compilation of everything that has been given really good ratings from various places across the Web. If you find any that you feel should be mentioned, please feel free to add on.
Choosing Styling Products
First, for everyone who hates sifting through hundreds of product mentions, here is a quick pick for each type of styling product in relation to styling needs.
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Water-Based: Gel and Mousse - Mousses are best for fine, thin or curly hair because they give light weight, flexible hold.
- Gel is better for normal to dry hair since it has a strong hold. Gel can create texturized looks on short hair too.
- Gel sprays are like hair spray, but with less hold.
- Gel waxes are a gel to start, but like a wax in the end. They're good for creating a "messy" look.
- Check out John Frieda Frizz-Ease Corrective Styling Mousse.
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Pomade and Wax - These are heavy products with a light hold quotient.
- These are best for texturized looks but can also be used on dry or short hair.
- Not recommended for thin, fine or very long hair.
- Use a clarifying shampoo regularly to remove buildup.
- Check out TIGI Bed Head Manipulator Sculpting Putty.
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Alcohol-Based: Hair Spray - Strong hold for all styling needs, especially for updos.
- Quick drying sprays give even, light coverage and lock out moisture to keep hair from getting the frizzies.
- Good for most hair types.
- Can cause white flecks if you use too much.
- Check out got2b Glued Spiking Freeze Spray.
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Straightening and Smoothing Creams - Good for long, wavy, dry and curly hair since it helps add moisture to the hair.
- It's also great if you use a straightening iron.
- These can add shine and reduce fly-aways on normally straight hair but may add too much weight.
- Some hold but not much.
- Check out Frederic Fekkai Glossing Cream with Olive Oil.
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Texturizing Lotions and Creams - Used to make straight hair wavy and for creating a messy, tousled look.
- Great for taming curls and frizz when you use heat styling appliances.
- Can help moisturize and give hair medium hold.
- Check out TIGI Catwalk Curls Rock Curl Amplifier.
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Silicone Sprays and Serums - These are also known as shimmers, shines or smoothers.
- The main purpose is to give lackluster hair a shine boost and to tame mild frizz.
- Little to no holding power since these products usually only consist of silicone.
- Check out Citre Shine Color Miracle Polishing Serum.
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