In case you hadn’t noticed, the hair product industry has a massive number of choices. Besides your favorite shampoo and conditioner, what else do you really need in your hair care regimen? Are there products that will truly give you the gorgeous, healthy mane and the flattering style you’re hoping for? And how do you choose from the overwhelming menu of options?
At Vakkar Salon, we help our clients with the answer to this question. In our experience, we have seen three products get fantastic results for nearly every hair type. Full disclosure: Our stylists love the Davines brand, which you can find at our Salon. We also carry many other brands that perform just as well. Using one, two, or all three of these formulas can really up your game.
1. Hair Serum
Just as face serums have become an essential part of skin care routines, hair serums are at the top of our list of favorite hair products. Serums are great for bringing dull, lackluster hair back to life. They nourish and hydrate the inside of the hair shaft called the cortex, while protecting the outer cuticle. This means healthy, more manageable hair that can stand up to damaging environmental factors like sun, humidity, cold weather, and pollution.
Vakkar’s Pick: Davines OI Oil
At Vakkar Salon, we get great results with the Davines OI product line. Davines OI Oil, while labeled a hair oil, actually works like a multi-functional serum. It’s particularly great for coarse or dry hair. We love that it helps rebuild and protect the fibers of the hair.
As an added bonus, serums in general help control frizz and tangles. OI Oil manages to do this without weighing hair down. Best of all, it provides hair with incredible softness and a luminous shine.
2. Heat Protectant for Hair
Blow dryers, curling irons, and straightening tools all help us get the styles we’re trying to achieve. Heated hair tools evaporate the water molecules that are naturally present in the hair shaft’s inner cortex. This process allows the hair to be coaxed into curls or controlled to lie straight.
But over time, our hair pays the price for all of this heat manipulation. Keratin, which is a natural protein found in hair, starts to break down and the outer cuticle of the hair strands crack. All of that excess heat damages hair, affecting its strength and structure.
To reduce the damage done by hot tools, we recommend using a heat protectant for your hair. All hair can benefit, but it is particularly important for colored hair. After a lot of blow drying and curling or straightening, chemically treated hair can often feel like straw and be susceptible to breakage. Protectants can seal the cuticle to preserve some of the moisture within the strand.
Vakkar’s Pick: Davines OI All in One Milk
OI All in One Milk is a leave-in spray used before blow drying or any other thermal styling. It’s lightweight and won’t feel sticky. In addition to shielding the hair from the use of hot styling tools, it hydrates, detangles, and controls frizz, too—thus the name “all in one.” We also love the softness and shine it provides.
In addition to using a heat protectant there are some other things you can do when you notice your hair looking dry and “overheated.” Try skipping the heat for a day or two. Let your hair dry naturally if you can, to give the hair a rest. And try a style that works with your natural waves or curls rather than straightening, or wear it straight instead of creating curls you don’t have. If your ends are looking dry and brittle, schedule a trim with your stylist.
3. Hair Setting Product/Finishing Product
Finally, we recommend a quality setting or finishing product. These are usually in the form of a gel, mousse, or glaze. Their job is to add structure, lift, and definition to achieve the style you want—whether that is a mass of curls or something sleek and straight. The best products lock in moisture and protect the style from humidity so the style lasts all day.
Our clients’ biggest complaint about a lot of setting products is that they feel sticky and heavy. They often think mousse in particular is too gluey and difficult to apply without ending up with a big glob in one spot. People with fine hair in particular have a difficult time finding a product that is light enough not to weigh their hair down. The right products won’t give you “helmet head” or make your hair feel stiff and crunchy.
Vakkar’s Pick: Davines This is an Oil Non Oil
We agree—the name is confusing—but we love this product for getting your hair to do what you want it to! This is an Oil Non Oil dispenses as a thin glaze. It’s slightly sticky at first, but dries completely once it’s on the hair. It leaves no residue, just a soft, flexible hold with great staying power. Along with natural looking texture, it also controls frizziness making hair look smooth, bouncy, and incredibly shiny.
Do I Need All 3 Hair Products? How Do I Choose?
As you may have noticed, these products all overlap a bit with the things they do for your hair. For example, they all offer some protection to the hair strand and keep the frizzies away. Depending on the goals for your hair, you might only need one product, and most people don’t need all three every day. Serums, for example, might only be necessary once a week or so.
Stylists typically make product recommendations based on the answers to the following questions:
- Is the hair dry or oily?
- Is it course or fine?
- Is it damaged?
- Does the desired hairstyle follow the hair’s natural tendencies, or is it more complex?
- Does the style require a lot of hot tools?
- Is it summer or winter? (The effects of air conditioning vs. dry forced heat are quite different)
But finding the best hair product for you is not as simple as just answering these questions. It is definitely not a “one size fits all” situation, and what works for your friend might not work for you. Plus, adjusting the amount of product used and how it’s applied can make a big difference.
This is why we suggest a consultation with an expert. Once the stylists at Vakkar Salon see and feel your hair, they will be able to put together the right combination of products for your unique needs. And they’ll explain how to apply them properly to get the gorgeous, lived in hair you’re hoping for.
Find Your New Favorite Hair Product at Vakkar Salon
Unless you’re a unicorn who was born with hair that falls fabulously into place every day, you’re going to need some help in creating your favorite style. The best way to decide what products will make your hair its best is to see for yourself what works. You may need to experiment with several products before finding the best one for you.
Our three product recommendations are a good place to start, whether from Davines or another well-respected brand. You can stop in any time for these and many other products at Vakkar Salon. Better yet, book an appointment to see what our expert stylists think. Your hair will thank you for it!
