To make any hairstyle or hair more perfect, it is important to know and know when to use each of the capillaries. The function of the finishers is to help give the hair a final effect, whether by creating volume, defining curls, fixing hairstyles or helping to make the hair more organized.
Spray, mousse and gel are the best known, however, there is also a great variety among them, some even having more than one purpose. According to Regina Valente, hair stylist at Studio Über in São Paulo, the finishers can be used for many different functions. "They help to untangle the strands, to define and, as the name implies, to finish the hairstyles", summarizes.
Leave-in is among the most commonly used finishers. "Rinse-free hairs are preferred among women and men who use them for the purpose of straightening hair or curling hair," explains Rhafael Trindade, The Spa's hair stylist. Fixative spray, ointment, silicone, among others others are also cited by Regina as the most popular.
How to use each type of hair straightener
Knowing how to use each type of finisher can help you make your hair look better. In addition, many of the products have more than one purpose, and knowing them helps to make products more functional and versatile. For this, with the help of the hair stylist, below is a list of the main finishers, their functions and how to use them.
Mousse
Function: The mousse shapes the hair into the hairstyle, helping to tame the strands when making the brush or babyliss. The product also helps to add volume for both those who want to do a hairstyle and for those who want to define the curls.
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How to use: This cosmetic should be used while the hair is damp. To define curls, apply and then knead the hair with your hands and let it dry naturally or dry with a diffuser. To help with volume, use it before the brush, applying through the middle hair to the ends.
Gel
Function: One of the most traditional finishers, the gel is responsible for fixing hairstyles and leaving the hair in place. ? Gel is one of the oldest products, and even today you can make use of it with a multitude of hairstyling models, from the neatly tidy back, even to the sides to make a wet mohawk, or dry ?, explains Regina. There are several types of gel, which may have products with strong, medium or weak fixation.
How to use: When the hair is clean, the gel fixation is better. Apply the product to your fingertips and spread on both hands to distribute evenly over the strands. The hair must be still damp for a better effect of the product. After spreading the product through the hair, model it until it looks the way you want. Remembering that the gel has a hard finish and, after drying, your hair will not be malleable.
Fixative Spray
Function: The fixing spray is ideal for keeping the hairstyle firm and neat for a long time. There is also variety in attachment: light, medium and strong. "The stronger, the harder the hair will become and the firmer the hairstyle will be," says Regina. If you have thin hair, you can choose from one of three fixings. For those with thicker hair, the ideal is to give preference to medium or strong fixers. If the hairstyle is loose, the tip is to prefer lighter fixers. You can also use the fixative spray to eliminate frizz and to make your hair fuller. Most fasteners do not damage the wires.
How to use: Unlike gel, fixative spray should be applied to dry hair. How to use it depends on the desired effect. To fix hairstyles and eliminate frizz, it is best to apply it when the hairstyle is finished. Use a comb to finish it if necessary. To fix the babyliss or flat iron, you can either apply it before or after using the tools. Applying before will result in a fuller hair. The only tip is to wait for the spray to dry on your hair before using the curling iron or babyliss. If you use spray fixer just to finish babyliss or flat iron and want a more natural effect, give preference to lighter fixers and spray only a small amount on your hair.
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Volume spray
Function: As the name implies, volume spray is meant to give hair volume. ? The result depends on the texture of the hair, but it is possible to achieve from a light volume to a wavy ?, details Regina. According to Rhafael, the volume spray can help even the finest hair to have the "Brigitte Bardot" effect.The product also adds volume to the roots for hairstyles and a messier effect on babyliss, as well as leaving hair fuller.
How to use: Ideal for volume spray is to apply to hair still wet. Spray the product all over the hair, if the expected effect is voluminous hair from root to tip. For just bulky roots, apply only to the hair root. The way you dry the wires will also interfere with the result. If you want a hair with volume, but with natural and messy effect, let it dry naturally. If you want to create volume but disciplined hair, make a brush. For massive waves, finish the hairstyle with babyliss.
Glow spray
Function: Shine Spray is a silicone spray that serves to remove the opacity of hair, as defined by Regina. It can be used for both those with dull hair and for turning hair back after fixing spray. The shine spray also helps protect against moisture by preventing hair from frizzing throughout the day. The product also nourishes, moisturizes, disciplines, eliminates odors and brings softness to the hair.
How to use: apply the product after finishing the hairstyle, be it a brush, a babyliss or something more elaborate. The tip is to avoid applying at the root so that the hair does not look oily. Another tip is not to overdo the amount of the product because, instead of leaving the hair shiny, it will look oily.
Saline spray
Function: For those who like the look that seawater leaves on their hair, saline spray is the missing product. "Saline is the newest spray style, it provides that look of when the hair comes out of the sea and dries out, it is a kind of dry greasiness, styling loose strands," says Rhafael. For Regina, saline spray also has the purpose of making hair thicker, giving volume to the hair. "The hair gets stripped waves, as if it had left the beach, allows an elaborate look and stripped at the same time," stresses the hair stylist.
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How to use: There are two ways to use saline spray. You can choose to apply it before you dry your hair, it helps the hair to dry out more clean, with waves and the way it looks out of the sea. Spread the product through the hair and knead the strands so that they gain texture. Another option is to apply the spray after dry hair. To make it look stripped, in this case, you need to make a babyliss.
Ointment
Function: The ointment has a very similar purpose to the gel, however, its difference is that it does not leave the hair looking wet. Rhafael explains that the ointment has a gelatinous consistency and is not as fixed as gel. ? The ointments are creamier and stickier and have better fixation for more precise hairstyles ?, explains Regina.
How to use: The application of this product is simple, just spread the ointment on the part of the hair you want to model, remembering its fixation feature for precise hairstyles such as tufts. As the ointment has oil in its composition, it is very important to wash the strands to remove all the product from the hair after use.
Wax
Function: wax can be compared in its purpose with ointment. For Rhafael, the difference between the two is their degree of fixation. "Waxes are drier and firmer," sums up the hair stylist. The waxes should be used to finish more classic hairstyles, as Regina teaches. They are easy to apply on short hair, to change the hairstyle throughout the day. Waxes are best suited for everyday use because they have a lighter texture, no oil and do not harden the hair ?, points the hair stylist.
How to use: apply the product on the hair and model as you wish. Because it is malleable and does not make your hair stiff, you can change your hairstyle throughout the day.
Read also: How to make babyliss: learn step by step with tips from hairdressers
Texturing Powder
Function: Another product that helps to curl and give volume to the hair is the texturizing powder. Ideal for creating volume at the root, creating all-round hair or a single-rooted hairstyle. ? The powder is great to give volume to the root of the hair and also assist in the hairstyles of those who have very straight and volumeless hair, because it incorporates the hair leaving them with a thicker texture ?, teaches Regina. The texturizing powder can also be used by those with short hair, helping to style it, as detailed by Rhafael.
How to use: The texturizing powder should be used on dry and clean hair. Apply to the root, massaging it to create the volume. Although most powders are white, it will not be apparent in the hair. The product makes the wire a little stiff and only comes out with the wash.
Curl Activator
Function: For those who want to have hair with defined curls, the curl activator is a necessary finisher. ? The proposal of the curl activator is to shape and revive the curls, eliminate frizz and control the volume ?, details Regina. This product is specific for women who already have at least wavy hair.For those who want to create curls and give volume to straight hair, the most suitable product is saline spray.
How to use: apply the curl activator to still wet hair. It is important that the product is spread throughout the entire hair. Scrunch the locks so that the curls begin to set. To dry your hair, the best way to keep curls is to use a diffuser.
Leave in
Function: Leave-in has several purposes, but the main one is to make the hair silky and help in detangling. Other purposes of the product are to decrease frizz and make hair less bulky. It works as a non-rinse cream and helps to define hair shapes.
How to use: After the hair has been thoroughly washed, apply the leave-in to the full length, avoiding close to the root. An important note made by hair stylist Regina is that most leave-in do not have thermoactive protection and therefore, it should be avoided to use the dryer after its application or to use some thermoactive product to complement.
Be a
Function: The serum is a finisher that recovers the tips and restructures the wire. "The product helps replenish the hair fiber and seal the hair scales, leaving them less brittle and lessening frizz," says Regina. According to Rhafael, the serum also helps to give a temporary feeling of softness to the strands. ? However, the use of serum does not dispense with hair treatments ?, reinforces the hair stylist.
How to use: For effective effect, the serum should be used with already clean and dry hair. "Don't apply the serum to the root, it will make it look heavy," Regina teaches. Apply a little of the product on the hand, spread and pass the hair concentrating mainly on the ends. Ideally always use it after brush or babyliss.
Silicone
Function: Silicone has a function quite similar to that of the serum. "The cosmetic helps in the finalization of the brush, removing the goose bumps, giving shine to the wires and disguising the split ends," says Regina. In addition to its repair function, silicone can also be used to facilitate brushing. Being thermoactive, it protects the hair and helps to make the hair shinier.
How to use: Just like the serum, silicone is most often used after brush, flat iron or babyliss to repair the wires. Regina suggests using just a few drops to keep hair from getting heavy. However, it can also be used with damp hair so that its thermoactive features are utilized.
Oil
Function: As well as serum and silicone, hair oils can also be used as finishers. "There is now a very wide range of oils that can be used as finishers that are designed to shine, softness and act as a protective film for hair," says hair stylist Regina. Oils also help eliminate frizz, seal split ends and bring more moisture to all hair.
How to use: You can use the oil before the brush, flat iron or babyliss, to help protect the tips. However, unlike silicone, it has no thermoactive properties and therefore you should use another product for this purpose. Another option is to use it on dry hair, applying a small amount over the entire length of the hair, always avoiding to get in the root of the hair.
5 Videos of Beautiful Hairstyles with Finishers
To make any hairstyle more beautiful and salon finished it is important to use a finisher. Whether it is to define your curls or to better fix a super elaborate hairstyle, the finishers are essential. To let you know what the results of finishers are, here are some videos that show you how to use these products.
1. Vintage Wave with Saline Spray
Saline spray helps give volume and set the waves. When used with babyliss, it creates a clean, beachy look. In this video, vogue girl Ella Diniz teaches how to make your hair look vintage and uses saline spray to finish, texture and finish hair.
2. Two hairstyles with fixative spray and texturizing powder
The fixative spray and texturizing powder combination is great for adding volume to the root and doing hairstyles with bulky shreds. In this video, Vic Ceridono, from the blog Dia de Beauté, teaches how to make two hairstyles. The first one is well glued to the head and needs a lot of fixing spray to get the hair straight. In the second, she creates a volume hairstyle at the top of the head using texturizing powder and fixing spray to finish the hairstyle.
3. Finishing curly hair with mousse and leave-in
Two allied products of curly hair are mousse and leave-in. Both help activate the curl and make the hair more hydrated. In the video, Mariana Villanova teaches how she uses both products to define curls and give volume to the wires.
4. Curl and volume ointment
The ointment is usually used to fix and organize the hair the way you want, so it can be used to create new textures in the hair.In the video, Dani Nogueira takes the step-by-step to create more voluminous, wavy textured hair without having to use babyliss. For this, she applies ointment all over the hair and kneads to finish it and create the new texture.
5. Modern coke with fixing spray
For any hairstyle, the fixing spray is indispensable item. From simple babyliss to even the most complex hairstyles, the fixing spray is necessary to keep the strands in place and ensure that the hairstyle will last much longer. The Laque e Pó de Pogue vogue shows how to make a modern bun and uses the fixing spray to finish her hairstyle.
The finishers are indispensable products for those who want to keep their hair beautiful, healthy and with more definition. Each has a purpose, so it is important to know them and know about their potential. Whether for volume or frizz-free hair, there's a finisher that's right for your hair type and the desired result.
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