Things You'll Need:
- Hair
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Step 1
You must first understand what condition your hair is in. Ponder these hair questions: Have you dyed it recently? Is your hair chemically processed? Do you have excessive damage or split ends? Choosing the right products depends mostly on you hair type.
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Step 2
Determine the desired style you want for your hair. This all begins with the shampoo and conditioner. There are many types of hair, and luckily there are many shampoos and conditioners designed for those hair types.
Moisturizing brands include Kerastase, Mixed Chicks, Pantene and Sunsilk.
These types of shampoos and conditioners are designed for DRY hair only. Those with combination dry/oily scalps that use these will end up with clogged pores. The moisturizing enzymes in these shampoos, and especially conditioners, were designed to compensate for the moisture you can't naturally produce. Proper use of these products will result in more balanced and well-hydrated hair. Hair is thirsty, and even though it's dead it still absorbs what goes into it.
Clarifying brands include Garnier, Suave and Neutrogena.
These types of products are the opposite, they are designed to cleanse the hair. Because these types of shampoos and conditioners usually strip hair of essential ingredients while cleansing, they should not be used on extremely dry heads.
Curl-enhancing brands include Mixed Chicks, Bed Head and BioSilk.
Apply curl-enhancing shampoos and conditioners to curly hair ONLY. This is a case where it really must be stressed to read the descriptions carefully. Using curl-enhancing shampoos and conditioners regularly when you don't have curly hair is a great way to ruin your hair's natural pattern. Curly-haired men and women, however, will benefit from these products because they will be receiving specialized moisturizers and hydration designed for their hair type. Curly hair needs moisture to remain healthy, period.
Color-protecting brands include Pantene and Garnier.
These shampoos and conditioners greatly benefit color-treated hair because they protect the color while enhancing shine and moisture. Color treatments, especially frequent color treatments, damage hair and cause breakage. Regular-strength conditioners won't always be able to replenish moisture and save the hair follicles like ones designed specifically for color-treated tresses.
Brands for chemically processed hair repair include Mixed Chicks, Pantene and Mane 'N Tail.
These shampoos and conditioners are most definitely only for use by those with chemically treated hair (coloring, perms, texturizers, etc.). One reason why these are only for that specific hair type is the amount of protein in the product. When hair is stripped of protein and moisture, it becomes brittle, which is why these types of products are helpful. Should someone with healthy hair use them, they risk an unhealthy amount of protein exposure, which makes hair hard and unmanageable. Definitely not a desired effect. -
Step 3
Once you have the shampoos and conditioners sorted out, you can move on to styling products. Always be aware of what is most manageable and healthy for your hair. A style that involves a lot of heat may look nice, but is it feasible every day?
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Step 4
Curly locks should get a gel to create a good everyday style. Be certain that the bottle says "flexible hold" or something similar so you won't end up with crunchy strands. Curly hair should also regularly get a leave-in conditioner to retain moisture.
Brands for curly manes: Mixed Chicks, Garnier, Kerastase, John Frieda. -
Step 5
Dry hair requires heavy-duty moisture and repair. Odds are that if the hair is dry, it's also damaged. So styling products to protect hair from heat, sun and breakage are key.
Brands for dry locks: Pantene, Kerastase, Infusium 23. -
Step 6
Oily/ combination hair is often the easiest to maintain. Congratulations! Daily wear-and-tear isn't as much of a problem for you as it is for other heads. Go for a heat-protection product for heat styling and mouse for effortless everyday styles.
Brands for combination/oily tresses: Sunsilk, Tres Semme, Garnier. -
Step 7
Finally, with chemically processed and color-treated manes, you will need to be very kind to your hair. Because growth will be slow, heat and pulling is ill advised. Moisture, moisture and more moisture is all you should be thinking about. Try creams and oils to infuse in moisture, and keep the styling simple unless you have a special occasion.
Brands for chemically processed/color-treated locks: Kerastase, Garnier, Pantene.
