If you’re anything like me, your bathroom cabinet might be overflowing with hair products—some that you swear by, others that you bought on impulse and never touched again. But how many products do you actually need? More importantly, what do they all do, and in what order should you use them?
Let’s break it down and simplify your routine!
The 3 Essential Hair Product Categories
Most hair products fall into three main categories—and while some can overlap, this guide will help you understand how to use them effectively.
1. Prep Products: The Foundation of Your Routine
You should apply a prep product to wet hair before anything else. These products are designed to protect your hair from heat, enhance your final style, or both.
✅ Best for: Strengthening, detangling, heat protection, and boosting volume
📌 Common Prep Products:
- Leave-in conditioners (like Aveda’s nutriplenish™ leave-in conditioner for hydration)
- Blow dry accelerators (to cut down drying time)
- Thickening sprays or mousses (for volume and fullness)
- Volume sprays (for lift at the roots)
💡 Pro Tip: No matter what style you’re going for, a heat protectant is a must. Try Aveda’s heat relief™ thermal protector & conditioning mist to keep your hair safe from damage.
2. Styling Aids: The Real Game-Changers
Styling products manipulate your hair’s texture, whether you want to smooth, texturize, or add hold. These should be applied before blow drying or air drying to ensure even distribution.
✅ Best for: Controlling frizz, adding texture, and improving hold
📌 Common Styling Aids:
- Mousses & gels (for definition and volume)
- Blow dry sprays (for long-lasting style and protection)
- Serums (like Aveda’s smooth infusion™ style-prep smoother to keep hair sleek)
- Texture sprays (for effortless, tousled hair)
- Hair smoothing creams (to reduce frizz and add shine)
💡 Pro Tip: If you have curly or wavy hair, Aveda’s be curly™ curl enhancer is a must for defining and maintaining natural curl patterns.
3. Finishing Products: The Final Touch
These are the last step in your routine, applied after your hair is dry to perfect your style. They can enhance texture, lock in your look, or give your hair that effortlessly "piecey" finish.
✅ Best for: Locking in style, reducing frizz, adding hold
📌 Common Finishing Products:
- Hairsprays (for hold and longevity)
- Texture sprays (for volume and movement)
- Smoothing serums (to tame flyaways and add shine)
- Pomades & clays (for short hair definition)
- Texture creams (for separation and soft styling)
💡 Pro Tip: Want long-lasting volume and texture? Aveda’s air control™ light hold hair spray is a stylist favorite for flexible, weightless hold.
So, How Many Products Do You Really Need?
You don’t need to use everything at once—but a well-balanced routine includes at least one product from each category.
✨ At a minimum, try this three-step approach:
1️⃣ Prep product (heat protectant or leave-in conditioner)
2️⃣ Styling aid (mousse, cream, or serum based on your hair type)
3️⃣ Finishing product (light hairspray or texture spray for hold)
Want to find the best products for your hair type? Ask your stylist at Zandi K—we love helping our clients create customized hair routines that actually work!
💇♀️ Book an appointment with Amber today and get expert guidance on what your hair really needs!
