Applying Hair Products
Applying Hair Products
Author: Jenna White | San Francisco Hairstylist
November 13th, 2020
November 13th, 2020
Hopefully my earlier blogs on simplifying hair products (Simplifying Hair Products I and Simplifying Hair Products II) cleared up any confusion about hair products and their ingredients. Now let's review how to apply hair products. The application technique and amount of product used have a big impact on attaining the desired results. Consider your starting point, or the state of your hair before applying products, by asking the following questions.
How wet is your hair?
The wetter your hair is, the more your product is being diluted (i.e. watered down). To combat this, and make products more concentrated, try applying them to your hair when it's partially dry. Experiment with varying degrees of dryness to find the right one for your style.
How wet is your hair?
The wetter your hair is, the more your product is being diluted (i.e. watered down). To combat this, and make products more concentrated, try applying them to your hair when it's partially dry. Experiment with varying degrees of dryness to find the right one for your style.
How much preexisting product do you have in your hair?
If you used a clarifying shampoo to wash your hair before styling, there is probably minimal to no product left in your hair. If you use a co-wash, then there is still some residue from your prior products, so you may only need some extra oils for styling. If you rinsed with just water, you can skip the oils/creams and opt for a product that holds/condenses hair.
How should I apply product to short hair?
How should I apply product to medium length and/or long hair?
What are some unconventional ways to use hair products?
- Application: The number one mistake I see in styling short hair is that the product ends up concentrated on the ends. For a better hold and style, apply the majority of the product at the root/scalp and a minimal amount on the ends.
- Amount: You should be using less product than someone with longer hair because there isn’t as much to manage. For a clean, slicked back look, opt for applying a lot of product when it's wet. If you're going for a less styled look, try applying products to partially or fully dry hair. Start with a small amount and gradually add more until you achieve the desired result.
How should I apply product to medium length and/or long hair?
- Application: Focus applying product more on your ends, and use a minimal amount around your roots/scalp area.
- Amount (for hold): Some products look like more of a liquid, and tend to have more water in them. This consistency works well for something like a mousse, because you need to distribute it throughout your hair when styling. Alternatively, something like a gel will be the opposite, usually having less water, stronger hold, and being tougher to distribute throughout the hair (which is not ideal for longer styles).
- Amount (for oils/smoothing): The longer your hair, the more weight it has. To prevent adding too much additional weight with product, focus applying creams or oils to the mid strand and/or ends.
What are some unconventional ways to use hair products?
- Using dry shampoo on wet hair. Blow dried or air dried the product in for lift and volume.
- Leveraging dry shampoo on short hair, which makes it act like a texturizing spray.
- Applying dry shampoo the night before you're style your hair (prior to it getting dirty/oily). Some dry shampoo lines don't advertise that you're supposed to apply the product before bed and touch it up in the morning.
What are some product tips to keep in mind?
- Good products matter. Look for ones that avoid harmful ingredients (ex: polymers), are cruelty free, and have a sustainability factor (economic development, environmental conservation or social justice).
- Use hairspray before and after heat styling for protection and style longevity.
- Throw away old products. Keep an eye out for the indicator shown below to understand the shelf life of each product. According to the FDA bacteria and fungi can grow overtime.