Are You Using Too Much Hair Product?
It’s the eternal styling question: “How much hair product should I use?” Like how many angels can dance on the head of a pin, you may think that there’s no real answer to this—but readers, we’re here to tell you that there definitely is. Getting overzealous with application is just begging for a bad hair day—and too much of certain good things can actually do the opposite of what you want them to! Here’s exactly how much of every product you need to use in your lovely locks.
Oils.
We’re all for beauty oils, but hair oil should be applied with extreme caution—you can’t just watch how much you’re applying, but also where you’re putting it. The last thing you want is for your roots to look dirty, and applying too much oil will get you in a tough-to-treat situation. Dry shampoo can’t soak up over-applied hair oil, and certain shampoos won’t even get it all out. So be so, so careful.
No matter how much hair you have, you only need a few drops of oil. If applying it on dry strands, focus your oils towards the end and don’t soak your tips in the formula. Rub the product between your hands and then work it through the hair. On wet hair, you can be a little more generous, working it through mid-shaft to ends and letting it soak in for a few minutes before rinsing it out.
Hairspray.
Schwarzkopf celebrity hairstylist Richard Collins told us that hairspray is the number one most overused product ever. Instead of spraying your entire head of messy curls, spray the areas you want to set. Collins recommends setting the front of your hair (i.e. the pieces that frame your face) with the product—not drenching your entire head.
Why? Well, products like hairspray can actually weigh your hair down and make your curls drop to the ground. This is most pronounced in people with thin or fine hair—which sucks, because they’re the ones more likely to have issues getting their hair to hold a style in the first place.
If you do have finer hair, Collins suggest spray sections and not your entire head. You should never wet your hair with hairspray and you should never apply it too closely to the roots, especially if you’re going for trendy messy curls. We tend to apply our hairspray a good 10 inches away.
We’ve had great luck with products like the ever-so-light Living Proof Flex Shaping Hairspray ($24, livingproof.com) and Schwarzkopf Styliste Ultime Crystal Shine and Hold Hairspray ($7, walmart.com) for a heavier hold and a shiny finish.
Powders
They’re probably not as popular as sprays, but hair powders work wonders on creating grip, volume, and texture in your hair. The good thing about powders is that you can actually see how much you’re applying, unlike clear, liquid products. But according to Collins, a little goes a long way. Otherwise, he says that your hair can look chalky. When using a product like Schwarzkopf Styliste Ultime Biotin+ Volume and Texture Magic Volume Powder ($7, walmart.com), to create volume, he recommends tapping a small around at the root—only a tiny bit of product comes out at a time, so you won’t over do it.
On top of that, we’ve found that you have to work powder through your hair, by either brushing it in or rubbing it between your hands and the hair. You don’t want sections of your hair to look white and chalky—unless you’re Marie Antoinette, this is not the look.
More From Daily Makeover: How to Save Money on Hair Care
