Alternating Hair Products

Alternating hair products is something that can make a huge difference in how hair responds or behaves. The use of the same hair products whether it be for washing, conditioning or styling can make hair unresponsive. For one thing there is a build up created and for another the hair gets used to it.

That's right, hair gets used to hair products even professional hair products and organic hair products. It's sort of like the body getting used to a workout and not responding to it after awhile, so you need to change it up.

This is one reason why hair tends to style easier and look great after a salon visit it's not just the hair cut, it is, in part, the hair products that the hair stylist used.

It is amazing how a new shampoo or styling aid can totally make hair respond favorably. It took me a while as a hairstylist to figure this out, but when I did I was so excited. I began to alternate every hair product that I use on my hair.

That was over 25 years ago and I am still doing it and also advising my clients to do so as well. I don't care if they buy their hair products from me or where they get them as long as they alternate. This way their hair looks good all the time and is a good reflection on me and my work, then as a result I get more business.

You might be thinking that it would cost a small fortune to buy so many hair products at once. Well, you don't have to get them all at once just get one a week or whatever you can afford. You might also be wondering how many alternates.

Personally I have 3 brands of everything this includes: shampoo, gel, mousse and hair spray. I do not use conditioner my hair is very short and doesn't need it. However, if my hair were medium to long I would have 3 conditioners as well.

Every now and then I get rid of one of the 3 hair products and replace it with another then rotate the list coming back to the others again at some point.I almost never use the same hair product twice in a row the only exception is hair spray.

This is because the hair is dry, not wet, as it is with all the other products and doesn't penetrate into the hair, but instead stays on the surface.

To select new hair products ask your stylist, family, friends and co-workers what products they recommend and use. Don't be afraid to alternate with drugstore brands unless you have very damaged or chemically treated hair. In this case, use only professional hair products to keep the hair healthy and for best results.

Below are some favorite hair products that are on my list that get rotated back in on a regular basis. If you need a few alternates go ahead and check them out.

Keep in mind that unless a person has oily hair or works a job that gets their hair really dirty then it's best to shampoo the hair only 2-3 times a week. This makes hair easier to style and helps conserve product as well. A couple of other reasons to shampoo more often is sweat from workouts or hot humid weather.

That said; let's get on with some professional hair products and a few that are considered drugstore brands, but nevertheless are good alternates. As a hairstylist I come across many wonderful brands of hair products and try to use as many of them as I can to find out how good they really are, so I can pass it on.

There are certain salon hair products that are very popular and the reason they're popular is that they are excellent products. If you haven't used them then you need to add them to your list and they are: Paul Mitchell, Matrix, Sebastian, Kenra, Tigi, Back to Basics, Crew, Redken, Nexxus, KMS, Aveda and Pureology.

As far as drugstore brands go these brands have always been good alternates for me as well as my clients and they are: Herbal Essences, ION, Tresemme, Giovanni, Aussie, Garnier Fructis, Biosilk, John Freida, Infusium and Pantene.

Be sure to read carefully when you buy hair products, so that it is indeed the correct one for your need and hair texture. For example, if hair is chemically treated the bottle should state for color treated or chemically treated hair.

When shopping online for hair product alternates read reviews and you will be better informed before you buy. This way you can hopefully end up with hair products that do exactly what you expect them to do and not waste money.

There's nothing worse than using a hair product only to find out that it is awful. Then let it sit around for months, because you don't want to throw it away.

Alternating hair products is one of the best ways to prevent bad hair days and it's also nice to have a variety when it comes to hair care and styling.

Articles of interest:

Why Use a Clarifying Shampoo

Natural Hair Styling Products