Hair products can be very expensive and because women believe beautiful hair is a vital part of their overall look, they are willing to spend that extra amount of money for the best products. In addition, there seem to be a number of products available promising the solution to your exact hair problems. But, I’m sure many of you have been very disappointed after trying the miracle product and not getting the promised results. This MAY be because you are buying the wrong products for your hair types and not necessarily that the product doesn’t work.

But how do you know if you are buying the right products for your hair type and whether these hair products will solve your hair problems? Well, realistically you actually can’t know for sure before testing the product, but you can increase the chance of buying the right products by taking the following into consideration next time you’re in the hair products aisle:

Know your hair type
A good place to start when trying to establish the right hair products for you is to determine what kind of hair you have. Is it fine or thick? Is it straight or curly? Is it colour treated or relaxed/ permed? Having this information on hand will mean you’ve won half the battle with regards to finding the right products for your hair.

Products made specifically for your hair type will help you achieve the look you want. Curly hair is drier than straight hair, and so needs products with more moisturising and conditioning properties. You’ll be more likely to find a product that is effective if you take this into consideration. So, for example, if you have curly hair but want to straighten your hair, use products made for curly hair to help you achieve this. These products will give your curly hair the extra conditioning it needs to behave the way you want it to behave, which in this case is to become straighter.

Price doesn’t equal quality
Things become a bit tricky when you try to compare the effectiveness of a product and the price. A number of consumer reports have been released in which it has been found that pricey shampoos were no better than cheaper ones
Some people simply enjoy the luxury of being able to buy an expensive celebrity endorsed brand however, but don’t feel as if you’re compromising on the beauty of your hair if all you can afford is on the cheap side of the aisle.

Figure out the root cause of your hair problems
If you need a new product because your hair is suddenly breaking; falling out; or is drier than usual, then you may need to look out for the root cause of this. Changes in your life such as a new diet, pregnancy, stress, illness or medication could be reason why you’re failing to find a product that’s effective on your newly troublesome hair. Eliminating these possible causes will help you establish whether it is your hair products or the changes in your life that are negatively affecting your hair.

Active ingredients
Another crucial part of finding the right hair products for your hair is the ingredients, especially the active ingredients. Most good hair product brands will clearly state what the active ingredient is.
Let’s take a closer look at some of these popular active ingredients and what they can do for your hair:

• Silicones: These are a group of synthetic compounds and are great emollients, softeners and protectors. If you have thin hair and want to thicken it, silicone products will help you achieve this as they coat your hair and give it a look of being fuller without being greasy. Silicones are also good for those with thick and frizzy hair. They help to smooth out your hair and protect it from frizz causing humidity.
• Protein: Products containing proteins are good for dry or brittle hair, and also hair suffering from split-ends. They have a binding and coating capacity that helps to smooth out split ends. This is why keratin-rich hair products are good for damaged hair in need of repair.
• Lanolin: This is a substance that is similar to wax, and it coats around the hair to protect it from drying out and breakage. This is a product to look out for if you want to prevent frizz, prevent breakage and to keep hair moisturised.
• Laminates: These give your hair high gloss and shine. If you have dull hair, look out for this ingredient, especially in styling products. Too much laminate can give you greasy hair, so these products should be used sparingly.
• Vitamins: As far as Philip Kingsley, ‘the hair doctor‘, and his team of experts know, vitamins cannot be absorbed by hair. Brands claiming to have vitamins in their products may only be saying so as a marketing gimmick. The best way to have your hair absorb vitamins is to eat food containing them. Vitamins can help smooth out and coat the hair shaft, thus giving you a fuller and frizz free head of hair.
• Anti-Statics: These help your hair to neutralise its natural electric charge when in contact with the environment. This will help to prevent frizz.

These are just some of the active ingredients you need to look out for when looking for the right hair products for your hair. Usually the first 5 ingredients on the ingredients list matter the most and it’s through them that you should be able to determine if you’re getting the right ingredients for your hair type and hair needs.
Hopefully this information will help you choose the right products for your hair type and hair care needs that will work effectively.

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Article by Sharon Kariwo