Your favourite hair goo

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Angie is co-founder of YLF and its resident fashion stylist.

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Your favourite hair goo

— by Angie

on June 16, 2010

There is a fantastic variety of hair product. This makes sense, given that there are products suited to all hair types and hair styles. Short straight hair, for example, requires completely different product to long curly hair. Add in the variables of colour treatment, climate and budget and a multi-billion-dollar industry of hair care products is born (I’m extrapolating from a market research report in 2005 that put the hair care market at $7.6 billion in the US alone).

I have short, straight, razer-cut, hair and I like the texture to look extra piece-y and choppy. So after a wash and quick blow dry I apply a small helping of my favourite hair goo. I use Alterna’s Caviar Radiant Smoothing Lotion. It’s NON-STICKY, which is extremely important to me. I cannot tolerate sticky hair goo — it makes me feel like I need to shower and wash my hair.

It’s pricey, but Alterna lotion goes a long way. It brings out the rough edges of the razer cut and also adds a healthy shine to my hair. I’ve been using it since cutting my hair short again and will have an apoplexy if they discontinue the product. I’ve tried other brands and nothing yields the same good results.

Have you found a brand of hair goo that works for you? I’m sure others would enjoy hearing about your preference as it might help them to make better product choices. Hair stylists in particular, please weigh in with your professional opinions.

Grooming

35 comments · Add a comment

Cricket

Since I have naturally curly hair, I have tried many hair gels. Since going a bit more natural in my hair products, I now avoid sulfates and dimethicones.

My favorite is a homemade flax seed gel. I boil whole flax seeds in water for 10 minutes, then strain and cool. It must be refrigerated since there are no preservatives and I make it once a week or so.

June 16, 2010 at 3:08 pm

Shireen

I have naturally curly hair as well, but for straightening I have a neat little trick. I use a product by Curl Junkie called Aloe Fix Gel and comb it through damp hair. Then I straighten as usual. I find that it really seals my hair shaft to keep out humidity so I don’t get frizzy during the day. No other product I’ve tried keeps frizz at bay as well as this.

June 16, 2010 at 3:20 pm

Maya

Veteran

My hair is like a sponge. It stays wet for a minimum of five hours after I take a shower, if I let it air dry. It will grab onto anything that passes by and cling to it through the next several shampoos. I have tried many, many types of goo from drugstore brands to Bumble and Bumble, and all of them were a fail. Now that my hair is longer and not as textured, it doesn’t matter. I just need some lightweight mousse for hold and a little Aveda Hair Potion at the roots for volume. But it was frustrating when I had a razor cut bob.

June 16, 2010 at 3:28 pm

Carolyn

Non sticky is very important to me too. I have fine straight hair, highlights and low lights. The bleach gives body but i still use Artec Texture Line Aero Mousse. It was off the market for about 2 years and I checked suppliers almost monthly. Last month Ulta had it on sale and bought multiple cans! Years ago I had to toss a whole can at the airport- I still mourn over that one!

June 16, 2010 at 3:40 pm

taylor

Veteran

WOW, there is a lotion,potion, goo, spray, pomade gel, mouse,paste and product for every hair type, texture, color treated hair in the world.
I am all over the board with products both at home and in the salon:)

I tell my clients to use up what they have at home first if it works well for them before they move into a new product or product line. Keep it simple and uncomplicated:) I like anything that adds texture to short cuts…makes them come alive and shine. The trick is finding the right one. Mousse seems to be universally the same (to me anyway) hairspray,shampoo’s, conditioners and the~ finishing products~ seem to require the homework to get right:)

Price is another complication…some things are worth the extra money, other products not so much:) But if it works for you, it is worth any price for great looking hair:)

June 16, 2010 at 3:49 pm

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

I absolutely despise hair goo with an implacable fury that knows no bounds! It has no place in my daily hair-care regime and gets used a couple of times a year at the very most. When I do have to use something, I turn to John Master’s styling gell. It’s light, largely organic, effective in small amounts and does help me to style my hair at times when I need extra body.

June 16, 2010 at 4:20 pm

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I use Bed Head Manipulator. It works for my short, straight cut.

June 16, 2010 at 4:28 pm

Mellllls

I use garnier mousse. A hair stylist once told me to use mousse so I do. I have no branch loyalty though and to be honest I’m pretty clueless about styling my hair.

June 16, 2010 at 5:16 pm

emt

I have very short hair too & am pretty much with Michelle on this. I like the piecy look, but hair goos trap my body heat (no matter what the season). Anyone who’s post-menopausal knows that is not a good thing! If I use anything it’s a light spritze of leave-in conditioner. Otherwise I’m the one with the red face & sweaty head, shedding as many layers as is presentable.

June 16, 2010 at 5:37 pm

Kristine

Veteran

I use Redken Curl Force spray gel. I have curly/wavy hair and even though I’ve tried practically everything, spray gel has always worked the best for me. I’m fairly new to using salon brands and only started using them regularly in the last couple of years. I’d like to find a drugstore alternative but it’s tricky to find one that doesn’t leave build up or come out crunchy.

June 16, 2010 at 5:39 pm

Sarah

Veteran

I have thick, wavy hair that I either scrunch with curl-enhancing product to curl or blow dry to straighten. I was just introduced to a new curl product that I’m absolutely in love with. It’s called Deva Curl and it makes big wavy curls with no stickiness.

June 16, 2010 at 5:48 pm

londonkiwi (now back in NZ)

Veteran

hmmm, what haven’t I used! I have really thick, curly hair (that curls completely differently on either side of my head), but instead of being coarse it is actually quite fine. Oh yeah, my scalp is also pretty sensitive and because I am so fair, I have to take the possibility of sun burn into account – especially when I lived in New Zealand where the burn time in summer can be around 8 minutes. At the moment I have no colour on my hair, so at least I don’t have to take that into account!

I really like the Kerastase range for shampoo and conditioners andhrough trial and error I have worked out that it is better for me to invest my money at this stage of the hair care process than at the styling end, where I have found the Frizz Ease range well priced and just as effective as more expensive lines.

June 16, 2010 at 5:48 pm

florida

Veteran

Still haven’t found a product that tames my hair–extra long, super thick, coarse, and wavy–oh, and color-treated, which only exacerbates all of those things that I just mentioned.

June 16, 2010 at 7:44 pm

Dusty

(website)

Active Member

I’ve been using Regis Designline Curl Lock Cream (yeah, my hair is completely straight, but that’s what the stylist used when she cut it) when I want to emphasize the razored layers. It actually makes my hair stay where I put it (which is a miracle). I use it for my son’s hair when he wants it spiky.

I’m also liking Suave’s Sleek Styling Cream (anti frizz) when I don’t want to mess with my hair. It does a decent job of controlling the frizzy bits on top of my head. The best thing, for me, though, is I put it on my daughter’s fine, wavy hair after her bath and it keeps it from becoming the tangled mess it usually is.

June 16, 2010 at 8:09 pm

Meg

I have a pixie cut. For my normal everyday styling, I put some plain aloe vera gel (the kind you can add to drinks) in the palm of my hand, add about a tablespoon of kosher salt, mix it a bit and apply. If I need more, I add more, until it’s all through my hair. Then I blowdry. It adds a nice texture and some volume too with a nice slight hold without being sticky or greasy at all.

I haven’t tried it yet, but there’s a recipe for something similar but it uses some agar agar prepared and mixed with the aloe to make a stronger holding gel.

June 16, 2010 at 9:41 pm

Active Member

I recently got my hair cut short, and I’m also a fan of Alterna. I use their hemp seed styling mud. It’s totally non-sticky, adds great shine, and doesn’t weight down my fine hair. I love it.

June 16, 2010 at 10:36 pm

Scarlet

Veteran

I have thick, wavy, coarse hair with a mid to long style. I like Kerastase Oleo Relax as an anti-frizz product. It is lighter and spreads better than any other I have used. I would like to try Angie’s Alterna suggestion to add a little piece-iness to my razor-cut hair and I would like to try Redken Rewind 06 as well. My goal is something that feels good in the hair and doesn’t make my face or back break out in the summer heat.

June 16, 2010 at 11:01 pm

yublocka

(website)

Veteran

I don’t think I’ve yet found my “magic” hair product. At the moment I use a light gel by PPS and a curl refiner by Redken. Every now and again I get tempted to try something different but it takes so long to get through one bottle that I never normally get too experimental!

June 17, 2010 at 1:12 am

rute

Veteran

I love TIGI Catwalk Curls Rock Leave-In Moisturizer because it defines curls so well and its non-sticky!

June 17, 2010 at 2:32 am

RoseandJoan

Veteran

I’m a goo-a-phobe, I hate the feel of product in my hair and have yet to find a product I can tolerate on a regular basis.

June 17, 2010 at 4:02 am

emt

Besides the heat problem (see my earlier post), too many of the products have a very distinctive and long-lasting aroma – which I find annoying (as does my husband). Especially if I’m wanting to wear cologne.

June 17, 2010 at 6:04 am

malcontent

I really like Alterna’s shampoos, but they are so expensive. I haven’t found a hair goo I like. My hair is about shoulderblade lenghth and super-thick; I can’t stand anything that makes it feel greasy.

June 17, 2010 at 6:31 am

Target-Addict

(website)

I’m with EMT: I cannot get past the aroma/smell of many hair products! There have been several Aveda and Redken products that I have instructed my hair stylist to NEVER use on me again at the salon, because I come home reeking of what to me smells like cheap men’s cologne!

I have thick, shoulder-length wavy hair which I blow dry straight. I’ve tried too many products to count, but at the moment I’m using a TINY (I mean a pea size drop or less) of Jonathan’s Green Rootine Silkening Creme, made with all-natural ingredients. In the spirit of full disclosure, this actually has a STRONG scentl – one that I’m not sure I like yet. It smells earthy, green; maybe there’s some mint and juniper in there? I’m not sure, but it’s unlike Jonathan’s other products, which usually smell pleasantly of lemongrass. I only tolerate the Green Rootine because the smell disappears quickly once you distribute it in wet hair and then blow dry. Especially in the summer months, it makes my hair smooth, shiny, pretty much frizz-free.

June 17, 2010 at 6:35 am

Joy

Veteran

I need a goo for root lifting and giving body to fine straight hair, especially to fight a stubborn cow lick in the back. I need suggestions for something that works well. The latest thing I’m trying is L’oreal TE (texture expert) mousse that the stylist used on my hair. It looked great when she did it, but I’m not impressed with my own efforts and think a gel usually works better than mousse.

June 17, 2010 at 7:04 am

Sarah

(website)

Veteran

I use whatever my stylist tells me! Which right now is:
Davines Wizard No. 3 Mattering Mousse
Davines Wizard No. 9 Fixative Spray
and
DermOrganic Leave-in Treatment (a serum for the frizzles)
I love these products and they work fantastic for my hair. A little goes a long way once you find the right stuff!

June 17, 2010 at 7:33 am

Phoebe

Veteran

We have an independent testing agency sponsored by the government here which doesn´t have to rely on ads from the industry. The results for almost all cosmetic products are always the same: almost all of the tested products are mor or less the same. Very often the most expensive products turn out to be worst and sometimes even discounter brands are tested best.
Still, people react differently to different products, so we can´t do without testing ourselves.

June 17, 2010 at 7:33 am

April

Veteran

Those of you who can’t bear hair products do not, I’m guessing, have curly hair. For curly hair, hair goo of some stripe is non-negotiable.

I am constantly looking for the right mix or products that will keep my hair from being a big bush of frizz. Many products that will do that (such as most mousses) leave hair feeling crispy-crunchy, and I don’t like that at all.

Right now am using a “sandwich” approach. Start by working some Sebastian Potion 9 through wet hair; add two big pumps of Deva Curl Arc AnGEL; follow up with a little more Potion 9 to add some sheen. It doesn’t always work since curly hair is particularly at the mercy of humidity levels. I will probably be searching for the ideal hair goo until I die.

June 17, 2010 at 7:42 am

Melody

Active Member

I am ridiculous about hair products … I try alot. These days if I’m going to straighten, I smooth a little Frizz Ease Thermal on the ends of wet hair, then mist with Redken Thick spray before drying. It thickens up hair like it’s name and gives some texture to my fine hair … also works well on my daughter’s hair. This week, I picked up some spray to “scrunch” my hair when I want to go curly as the humiditiy is out of sight right now.

My all time favorite shampoo/conditioner is Redken All Soft, but it doesn’t help maintain colored hair. My fave for color treated hair is Christophe and you can only get it at CVS … I worry someday they’ll stop making/selling it.

June 17, 2010 at 7:50 am

haley

Active Member

I’ve only started exploring salon brands in the past few years, but I’ve found a few products that I’m pretty happy with. I have coarse, chin-length hair with a slight wave that’s prone to frizz. It’s normally very thick, but my hairdresser thins it out towards the ends with a combination of shears and razor. My go-to product right now is Bumble & Bumble’s Grooming Creme, which helps tame the frizz and gives my hair a little lift and hold (especially if I blow dry with it). Often, I finish up with Goldwell’s Spun Shine Weightless Polish, which gives me a slightly piecey effect without being sticky at all. If I’m going for a super-straight look, I like Bumble & Bumble Straight.

June 17, 2010 at 9:23 am

Auburn

Veteran

I’m definitely something of a product whore, although I think I’m finally settling into a routine.
I have long, very thick, naturally wavy hair. Upon my hairdresser’s suggestion, I recently gave Wen a try–have you heard of this? Their main product, and the only one I ordered, is this conditioning shampoo. Unlike traditional shampoos, it doesn’t lather (and definitely looks and feels more like a conditioner) but supposedly is way better for your hair and scalp and, over time, helps create texture and definition while mitigating frizz. I think I’ve been consuming the Kool-Aid. I’m new to it, but liking it so far. I purchased it on amazon.com so I didn’t have to buy the whole kit they push on you when you go through the website (or QVC). You have to use a TON but it has reduced my shower time (only one product, not two) noticeably. Oh, and try to ignore the hilariously tressed male models on the website and brochures.

For styling, I’m pretty loyal to Kerastase–their Oleo Relax falls into the “pricey but worth it” category, at least for me.

June 17, 2010 at 10:18 am

sonce

My only hair product: conditioner! (Another naturally curly) As long as I keep it well-conditioned and don’t straighten it, I don’t need any product. This is completely opposite to what you read in magazines about curly hair! I’ve wasted so much money on mousses, gels, etc before I found this method.

June 17, 2010 at 10:30 am

slythwolf

(website)

My hair is straight, fine, henna red and there’s a lot of it. It’s past my waist now and I intend to continue growing it. I use Burt’s Bees Color Keeper shampoo and conditioner and nothing else.

June 17, 2010 at 11:52 am

Tanya

Veteran

I have long, fine, very soft, basically baby hair that tangles like crazy. There are two styling products I use almost on daily basis: Bumble&Bumble Thickening Spray on the roots and Frederic Fekkai Glossing Cream on the ends.

June 17, 2010 at 7:09 pm

Eternal*Voyageur @ Venusian*Glow

(website)

I swear by flax seed gel. Gives me volume, softness and beach curls.
Just boil the flax with water, strain, and let cool.
Use as a leave-in conditioner after a shampoo, or as a gel to revive limp hair !
I wrote a whole post about it here:
http://eternalvoyageur.xanga.c.....-linseeds/

June 20, 2010 at 10:44 am

Vivian

Member

My favorite is Pro Naturals Moroccan Oil Hair Treatment with Heat Protector which works great with the hair and protects it from any damage, plus it reduces the frizz and leaves my hair so soft, shiny, healthy and resilient. I’m really happy with it my hair looks so much better now.

July 26, 2011 at 1:57 pm

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