I don't know about you, but I've got an entire drawer dedicated to hair products in my bathroom. Now, more often than not, I'm not using more than one or two over the course of a week. But it's nice to know they're there, right? As the season change, so does my hair, and I like to be prepared for just about anything when it comes to my luscious locks. So imagine my horror when I found out I've been using my products all wrong. And I'm not alone. There's a good chance you've got hair products you're using incorrectly.
From new comers to the product lineup like dry shampoo, to good old standards like mousse, you're probably using at least a few of your hair products wrong. And to find out which products are misused the most, I spoke with stylist Anthony King.
"Products can be tricky," King says. "Reading the label doesn't always do your hair justice." Luckily, with his years of expertise, King knows the best product practices for hair across the board. "Each head of hair is different," King says. "So not all the rules apply, but with product there are general rules of thumb that you'll want to follow." Before you touch that can of hair cream, read through these quick fixes for product application to keep your head a happy place for hair.
1
Dry Shampoo
For best results, use King says you should use dry shampoo before you need it. "Dry shampoo is meant to absorb excess oil from your hair," King says. "If you apply it the night before, it helps the process overnight, and you wake up with hair that's ready to go." Although you can use it in a pinch, but it works best if you think ahead.
Try: Amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo, $20, Amazon
2
Hairspray
I have a love/hate relationship with hairspray, so I felt a little bit better when King told me I wasn't alone. "Most hairsprays are designed to be applied a foot away from the scalp," King says. (Yes, a foot!) "When you apply too closely, it makes your hair sticky, or crunchy." Applying from a distance helps your hair keep it's hold, but still leaves it bouncy and touchable.
Try: Nexxus Finishing Hairspray, $12, Amazon
3
Sea Salt Spray
"Use sea salt spray when your hair is almost completely dry, not when it's wet," King says. Additionally, he recommends keeping the application light, or you can wind up with salty, tangly hair.
Try: Davines This is a Sea Salt Spray, $24.50, Amazon
4
Mousse
Once upon a time, mousse was the only hair product I owned. And it did me wrong so, so often. "For the best volume, use mousse only on your roots," King says. "Too much product of any kind, especially mousse, can we the ends of your hair down and counteract what you're trying to do."
Try: Kenra Extra Volume Mousse, $11, Amazon
5
Hair Cream
"Keep hair cream away from your roots," King says. "Start small when working with cream, and start working it in from the ends of your hair." Additionally, overuse of hair cream can leave hair looking greasy, so King recommends keeping it to a minimum.
6
Texturizing Spray
Texturizing spray isn't just for texture. "Use texturizing spray before you style your hair," says King. "It'll help keep your hair in place." Another added benefit of texturizing spray? It's great for livening up second day hair.
Try: Oribe Texturizing Hairspray, $44, Amazon
7
Heat Protector
"People miss so much of their hair with heat protector," King says. "Make sure you're spraying your entire head of hair, and then brushing it through to make sure you get an even application." King recommends heat protector before you blow-dry, curl, or flat iron.
Try: ArtNaturals Thermal Heat Protector, $13, Amazon
8
Root-Lifter
"Root lifting serum can be applied throughout your hair to give it more body," King says. King recommends starting with a small amount, like all product, combing through hair to get an even distribution, and then blow drying.
Try: DoTerra Root Lifting Serum, $32, Amazon
9
Shine Enhancer
"Too much shine product is not a good thing," King says. "Use shine enhancer, especially oils, at the ends of your hair. Using at the root of your hair will just make your hair appear oily." King says to work from the ends up to the mid-section of your hair, and go no further. As with the rest of the products listed, misuse of shine enhancer can take your hair down a notch rather than elevating it to it's full potential.
Try: Rusk Shine Serum, $14, Amazon
Happy shopping! FYI, Romper may receive a portion of sales from products purchased from this article, which were added independently from Romper's sales and editorial departments after publication.
