Product Selection Guide for Textured Hair: Tips & Best Practices

Styling product selection is perhaps one of the most stressful parts about learning to style and maintain textured hair. In this video, I walk you through the major product categories and give you some perspective on how to manage product selection and tips for success!

Related tutorials and posts:

• Five Tips For Successful Styling Product Selection – learn my process for vetting products and tips for getting the best experience with them!
• How to Cleanse + Condition Your Natural Hair – your foundation needs to be solid before you can achieve beautiful style…watch this video to learn the best methods for cleansing and conditioning.
• Moisturizing Natural Hair – Is it dry or dull? – understanding the difference between moisture and shine and how to install moisture helps build a healthy regimen.
• How to Clean + Disinfect Your Tools – keeping your tools clean ensures you are not transferring old product, bacteria and debris to your scalp and hair.
• Wash-N-Go Like A Pro – learn tips you can use to get better wash-n-go styling results.

Category featured products (below are some products I have used on myself and others with favorable results):

• Leave-In Conditioners/Treatments – MoKnowsHair Curl Primer, TGIN Green Tea Super Moist, ApHogee Restructurizer, Aveda Brilliant Damage Control, Mizani 25 Miracle Milk
• Moisturizers/Refresher Sprays – Hydratherma Naturals Daily Moisturizing Lotion, Alikay Naturals Wake Me Up Curl Refresher, TGIN Buttercream Daily Moisturizer, Camille Rose Fresh Curl (can also be used as styling base on wet hair)
• Lotions, Creams and Butters – MoKnowsHair Curl Styling Potion (can also be used as a leave-in conditioner), Camille Rose Almond Jai Twisting Butter, Texture ID Styling Creme
• Gels – MoKnowsHair Curl Setting Gel, As I Am Curling Jelly, Camille Rose Curl Maker, Ouidad Climate Control Heat & Humidity Gel
• Puddings/Custards – MoKnowsHair Curl Smoothing Pudding, Camille Rose Aloe Whipped Butter Gel, Design Essentials Almond & Avocado Defining Creme Gel, Ouidad Curl Immersion Hi-Defining Custard
• Edge Gels – Mielle Organics Honey & Ginger Edge Gel, Design Essentials Honey & Shea Edge Tamer, Lottabody Control Me Edge Gel
• Foams/Mousse – The Doux Mousse Def, Nairobi, Design Essentials Curl Enhancing Mousse, Agadir Argan Oil Mousse, Texture ID Thermal Multi-Styling Foam
• Holding Sprays – Agadir Argan Oil Volumizing Hair Spray, Ouidad Curl Last Flexible Spray, Aveda Brilliant Medium Hold Spray
• Heat Protectants – Aveda Smooth Infusion Style Prep, Keracare 6-N-1 Thermal Wonder, Chi Total Protect
• Oil Sheens/Shine Sprays (pomades provide similar benefits with higher viscosity) – Mizani HD Shyne, Keracare Oil Sheen, Carol’s Daughter Black Vanilla Hair Sheen, Ouidad Mongongo Multi-Use Oil, Aveda Brilliant Anti-Humectant Pomade
• Oil/Silk Serums – Chi Silk Infusion, Aveda Brilliant Emollient Gloss, Agadir Argan Oil Hair Treatment, Aveda Dry Remedy Daily Moisturizing Oil (silicone-free, thinner consistency, high absorption)

NOTE: A lot of products can be used in multiple ways. This guide is meant to give you foundational information to build on. Follow the instructions on first use so you have a good sense of what the product does and then explore other ways to use the product in your routine.