Hair Cocktails: What Products to Mix to Get Your Style
While we wish it was true, there’s no such thing as one miracle product that can successfully transform your locks into every style you desire. A successful look is often the sum of an equation of hair serums, sprays, creams, and pastes. But knowing which ones to combine requires a class in beauty product chemistry. The right mix pretty much guarantees a good hair day, but a flawed mash-up usually requires the saving grace of shampoo.
To make sure you’re acing this beauty subject, we consulted with Judy McGuinness, Senior Stylist at Mizu Salon in New York City, and compiled this lesson plan of hairstyle cocktails that will help get you the hairstyle you actually want.
Tousled Waves
Along with the help of a blow-dryer, this trendy hairstyle is the result of two products working together. Start by applying the curl cream on wet or damp hair and then dry your hair. Next, add in the texture paste to define the waves you just created, explains McGuinness, who favors the products above. You can do this after lightly curling your hair if you need a boost of definition. “The creme adds softness, and the paste adds definition and messiness,” she notes.
Sleek Braid
Learning this product mixture is easier than mastering the actual braid, but it’ll help you get one step closer to it. You’ll need to stock up on gel and shine spray to achieve this look. To begin, McGuinness says to put lots of gel into wet hair and complete your 3-strand braid. The last step is to “thoroughly” add in the shine spray.
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Voluminous Blowout
Before you start to blow-dry, have shine or moisture cream and thickening spray handy. “The thickening spray gives hold and tons of volume, and the creme makes it easier to get the brush through and adds weightless shine,” says McGuinness. We’ve got a thing for Morrocanoil’s Hydrating Styling Cream, while McGuinness recommends R + Co’s version of thickening spray.
Ballerina Bun
Your first thought might be to pull your hair up, but McGuinness explains that it’s best to begin by blowing out your hair using the styling cream. This will build up the volume. “And once you brush everything into a neat bun, mist with a medium hold [hair] spray to keep everything neat,” she says.
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Super Straight Hair
It’s more than just straightening with a heat protectant. Add in your shine and moisture cream, then blow-dry. Before flat-ironing, McGuinness says to spray in a flexible hairspray. “This will seal in the ends and add tons more shine,” she notes.
Top Knot
Your sea salt spray can be used for more than just those beachy waves. McGuinness recommends adding the spray to your roots in “day-old” hair. Gather your strands into a messy topknot using the paste to create texture. “Once the knot is done, pull and tug on some pieces with more paste to make it more undone,” says McGuinness.
