Hair Texture And Density

“The most important thing is to understand the texture type and density of your hair—that’s going to determine everything that you do,” Ehman says. Consider how much hair is on your head and how thick each strand is. If you have no clue, find a hairstylist you trust and have them determine it and suggest types of products.

If when you put your hair in a ponytail, it’s the size of a quarter or bigger, you might need a product with more hold. If it’s a smaller size, like a dime. you might need something like a volumizing mousse that can give it more body, she adds.

“Texture can play a role just because, of course, if you have more hair or if it’s longer, you do need to add more products,” Olivia says. “You want to make sure it penetrates the hairs.”

BTW, when it comes to the hair type system, the higher the number (like type 4), the tighter coil or curl, whereas, a type 2 would be looser, says Olivia. The letters (A, B, C) define how thick the strands are. A means you have finer hair, while C means you have thicker hair.

Hair Porosity

If you use bleach on your hair, it “completely destroys the porosity of your hair,” which can make your curls brittle, Ehman says. So, if you bleach your hair for color, just make sure you use a keratin-based and moisturizing curl cream.

Hair Goals

Also, consider the biggest “challenge” your hair presents. If it’s frizzy, you’ll need a product with lightweight moisture. “Everyone has a different desired outcome,” she says.

When you find a product with more hold, it’ll give you more texture, crunch, and volume. On the flip side, products with less hold will give you softer, more relaxed waves.

And think about your hair goals, and whether you want to enhance your natural wave or relax it. From there, you can determine the right type of product for you.

Ingredients

Ehman recommends looking for a product that’s natural and water-soluble. “If you don’t use a water-soluble product, what happens is you get all this buildup on your hair over time,” she says. That’s because when you shampoo, not all of that product will come out in the shower.

If you like a product but you’re not sure if it’s water-soluble, look it up online, because it probably won’t say so on the bottle. But in general, higher-quality products from brands such as Curology, Kevin Murphy, Davines, and Amica—are all water-soluble, she says.

Also, watch out for sulfates or “harsh chemicals that over time are going to break down the structure and the integrity of the hair,” Olivia adds. She also likes alcohol-free and paraben-free products.