Types of Texturizing Hair Products

Whether your hair has tight curls or just a hint of waviness, texturizing hair products are a great way to add volume, body, and texture to your hair. But just because a product is labeled as "texturizing" doesn't mean it will do what you want it to. 

Different types of texturizing products behave differently from one another, so it's important to know the distinctions between products. Read on to learn about the various types of texturizing hair products available, what they do, and which ones are right for you.

Sprays

One of the easiest ways to add to your hair's natural texture is with a texturizing spray. Texturizing sprays are popular because they're easy to use and can be used on all types of hair. They can be used on fine, pin-straight hair to add texture and variety to a dull hair-do, on tightly coiled curls to separate and add definition to individual curls, and on all hair types in between. 

Texturizing Spray vs. Hair Spray: What's the Difference?

Many people get hair spray and texturizing sprays confused, but they're not the same thing. Texturizing sprays add subtle volume and texture to preserve any given hairstyle, while hair spray just freezes it in place. As a result, hair spray often leaves behind a sticky and crunchy texture. 

On the other hand, texturizing sprays are lighter and don't add any significant weight to your hair or leave any greasy residue. They create a more effortless and natural appearance on all hair types compared to hair spray, which is why many people are making the switch.

Salt Sprays

Salt sprays are best for people who already have wavy or curly hair because it acts as an enhancer to their natural waves. People with very thin and straight hair are less likely to see dramatic results, but small differences may still be seen. 

All-Natural Texturizing Salt Spray

If natural ingredients are a priority for you, try Kavella's Salty Sugar Texture Spray. This spray uses all-natural ingredients, including aloe vera extract, Epsom and sea salts, organic, raw coconut sugar, and hydrolyzed rice protein to give you that bouncy, beachy look while also increasing softness, shine, and strength. 

And the light, refreshing orange and lime scent keeps the beach vibes going all day.

Wax Sprays

Wax sprays are a middle ground between salt sprays and hair sprays. They offer more hold than salt sprays, but they are also heavier. However, they are not as heavy as most hair sprays. Additionally, like salt sprays, they do not leave behind the same crunchy texture as hair sprays.

Creams

Texturizing hair creams, sometimes called styling creams, are great for minimizing frizz and adding moisture to coarse or curly hair. Most creams are not meant to hold styled hair in place, but they can be used in your hair care regimen to make it easier to control and manage very thick hair. 

However, if you suffer from an excessively oily scalp, creams may not be the right texturizing product for you since they typically contain oil-based ingredients. 

Like all hair care products, not all hair creams are created equally. They come in several different viscosities, ranging from light, lotion-like creams to heavier, more dense creams. Below, we discuss how the viscosity of a styling cream affects how it is used.

Light Styling Cream

Lightweight styling creams have a creamy, relatively thin texture and can be easily spread across your palms. They tend to focus more on moisturizing and adding body to blowouts rather than holding hair in place. 

When shopping for a salon styling cream, look for products that use natural ingredients that won't irritate the skin. Ideally, your styling cream should have an aloe vera base since it's extremely gentle on the skin and contains several vitamins, minerals, and amino acids that your hair needs in order to stay healthy. 

You should also look for creams that contain oils with very high smoke points, such as avocado, sunflower, and camellia oil. This will help protect your hair from heat damage during styling.

Best Organic Styling Cream

For a lightweight curl cream that won't weigh down your luscious locks, you can't go wrong with the Kavella Defining Cream. The secret ingredients are the organic tapioca starch, which soaks up excess moisture, oils to hold your curls in place longer, and hydrolyzed rice protein, which has been proven to increase volume.  

This pH-balanced curl cream is just as good at enhancing blowouts as it is at enhancing curls. Just run a pea-sized dollop through your damp hair before blow-drying it for best results. 

Heavier Curl Defining Cream

Thicker creams tend to have more of a whipped texture and provide much more hold than thinner creams. It is for this reason that they are typically used sparingly on dry hair to put the finishing touches on a hairstyle. They add texture and volume where it's needed rather than being applied root to end. 

Vegan Curl Defining Wax Cream

Most hair waxes use beeswax to give your hair hold. And although beeswax is considered natural, it is not vegan. For a vegan styling wax, consider the Medium Hold Wax Cream from Kavella. This wax forgoes beeswax for a vegan-friendly alternative called olive wax, which is derived from olive oil. 

The high content of linoleic acid in the sunflower oil used in this wax also makes it excellent at smoothing down and strengthening hair, while the shea and cocoa butter maximize moisturization.

Gels

The thought of hair gel probably gives you flashbacks to middle school, when you were surrounded by boys with greasy, gelled-back hair or spiky hair caked with gel that crunched at the slightest touch. But thankfully, not all hair gel is like that. 

Like creams, gels can be found in various viscosities, ranging from thin and pourable to thick and more gel-like in the traditional sense. Pourable gels tend to be better at moisturizing, while thicker gels typically provide a stronger hold. 

How to Choose the Right Hair Gel

When shopping for a hair gel, look for humectants, such as vegetable glycerin and panthenol, also known as ProVitamin B5, on the ingredient label. Humectants attract water into the hair shaft and aid in minimizing moisture loss, meaning your hair stays softer, smoother, and hydrated for a longer time. 

Panthenol is especially beneficial in a hair gel because it can penetrate all of the way down to the hair shaft's cuticle, the innermost layer, to provide volume and strength.

Organic Hair Gel for Control 

The Kavella Styling Gel provides users with the ideal balance between hold and weightlessness. This pourable, oil-free styling gel nourishes your hair with organic aloe vera extract, bamboo extract, and panthenol without leaving behind any greasy residue. Whether you're looking for an easy way to smooth flyaway hairs or something that gives you more control over your hair, Kavella Styling Gel is a solid choice for both men and women.

Powders

It may sound strange to put powder in your hair, but using texturizing powder is a quick and easy way to create an effortlessly tousled look on short hair. The fine powder works by absorbing excess moisture and oil from your scalp without drying it out or creating a dulled, matte finish on your hair.

How to Use Texturizing Power

To apply texturizing powder, simply hold the bottle six to eight inches away from your head and spray a small amount throughout your hair, working in a circular motion. Then, work it through your hair using your fingers and style your hair however you like.

Texturizing Powder for Short Hair

For short and medium hairstyles, Kavella Teasing Powder comes in clutch. This phenomenal, all-natural powder spray uses organic tapioca starch, organic arrowroot powder, and kaolin clay to absorb excess oil and moisture that would otherwise weigh down your hair and ruin your carefully styled hair-do.

Foams

Hair foams, sometimes also called root foams, can be used to add volume, definition, and hold to hair, especially curly and wavy hair. They are lightweight and typically applied to damp hair before it's blown dry or diffused. You'll often see mousses get lumped in with foams, despite having a thicker, whipped texture, because they behave very similar to traditional foams.

How to Choose the Right Curl Foam or Texture Mousse

There is an easy litmus test you can perform on any foam or mousse to see if it's worth trying. All you have to do is read the ingredient label and look for something called "hydrolyzed rice protein." This may sound like a type of food from a science fiction show, but it's actually a powerful protein that has been scientifically proven to increase volume when added to hair products like diffuser foams.

Top Choice for Texturizing Foam

Kavella's Volumizing Mousse is a lightweight styling foam that adds volume and texture to your hair when it's used before a blow dryer or diffuser, even if you have very fine hair. 

This volumizing mousse foam has a gentle aloe vera base that provides nutrients to strengthen your hair and leaves it noticeably shinier. Hydrolyzed rice protein, ProVitamin B5, and tapioca maltodextrin are also added to the curl mousse to maximize volume.

Shampoos

Many people overlook their shampoo when looking for new ways to add volume and body to their hair. But every single step of your hair care regimen is important, and maximizing volume and body start in the shower with your shampoo and conditioner. 

The wide selection of shampoo for texture can be broken down into two main categories; volumizing shampoos and clarifying shampoos. Both are essential for your hair care regimen, and both are discussed below:

Volumizing Shampoos

Typical shampoos smooth down your hair and cause it to lay flat. Volumizing shampoos aim to add volume to your hair by using lightweight ingredients that provide lift as opposed to weighing your hair down. This makes your hair look fuller and thicker.  

Shampoos with an aloe vera base tend to be the best choice because aloe vera is renowned for its soothing and anti-inflammatory properties, which is exactly what you want for your scalp. Aloe vera is also extremely similar to keratin in its chemical composition, making it rejuvenating to the hair shaft. 

Many volumizing shampoos now add some sort of protein to add extra nutrients and enhance their abilities. You should consider a protein volume shampoo if you have very fine or brittle hair.

Try a Gentle Volumizing Shampoo

Depending on your hair type, you may want to look for a gentle shampoo for fine hair, such as Kavella's Volumizing Shampoo. This aloe-based volume shampoo uses similar ingredients to Kavella's other texturizing products, including organic tapioca starch and hydrolyzed rice protein, making it the perfect shampoo for body. 

This vegan volumizing shampoo also improves your hair's natural sheen by using bamboo extract, which is a natural source of silica. Silica not only improves sheen but also helps this voluminous shampoo actually improve your hair's strength.

Clarifying Shampoo

If you use hair products with any frequency, you should add a clarifying shampoo to your hair care regimen. Clarifying shampoos break down product buildup on your scalp and clear any clogged pores to give your hair and scalp a fresh start. You should use a clarifying shampoo at least once a week if you use hair products daily. 

Make sure to let the clarifying shampoo sit for at least two minutes before rinsing it out for the best effects. After all, it can't break down a week's worth of product in just a few seconds. 

Most Effective Clarifying Shampoo

Kavella Clarifying Shampoo can be used by both men and women to combat product buildup and produce a clean and refreshed-feeling scalp. This aloe-based clarifying shampoo utilizes natural, organic willow bark to get rid of excess oil and sebum without drying out your skin. 

Additionally, the unique blend of organic rosemary, thyme, and lavender essential oils in this shampoo delivers a heavy dose of antioxidants and antimicrobial agents to detoxify and nourish your scalp.

Conditioners

After you rinse out your volumizing shampoo, you'll want a light detangling conditioner to hydrate and moisturize your hair without weighing it down. A detangling conditioner is the absolute best thin hair conditioner because it helps to minimize breakage while you’re brushing your hair. 

A good-quality conditioner will encourage the knots to practically untangle themselves.