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There are too many haircare products on the market. Or at least, it feels that way when you're sorting through 18 different kinds of pomade—do I need a light-medium hold or a medium-light hold?—in an attempt to find the right one for the mop on top of your head. Everyone wants that tousled, Chalamet-esque look, but how to achieve it? Everyone's hair is different, meaning we need products for longer, or shorter, or wavier, or whatever-er hair. And that, friends, is confusing AF.
So, from serums to salt sprays and everything in between, we've compiled a comprehensive list of all the things you might need to style things up with healthier hair than ever. Some of these options might be new to you. Others might be familiar favorites. But all of them are effective, easy to use, and available to enjoy right now.
Frederick Benjamin's lightweight styling cream offers a grease-free way to lock moisture in place while cooling your scalp and providing a light to medium hold.
For dry, dull, or damaged hair, it pays to give it attention during every step of the styling process. Conditioning, for example, needn't stay within the shower. A light leave-in conditioner makes certain your hair is getting hydrated all day long.
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Speaking of curly hair: Verb's curl cream is super lightweight and helps to masterfully eliminate frizz, all without feeling too heavy.
If you're on the fence about committing to anything called a "serum," Kiehl's makes a bang-up hair clay with a matte finish and a medium to long-lasting hold. (No judgement, guy. Just putting it out there.)
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Ouai Air Dry Foam
Mousse isn't exactly famous for being the best product for frizzy hair. Enter Ouai's take, a product so light it won't weigh your lustrous waves down. In fact, it wouldn't even think of it. Apply Ouai's air dry foam to damp hair and let it dry naturally. (It's as simple as that. Really.)
Dude, you totally need to try a hair mask. What is a hair mask, you say? Allow me to elaborate. A hair mask is essentially a deep conditioner you apply after shampooing to make your hair feel softer and look shinier. Leave it in for five minutes and then wash it out. Aren't you happy you asked?
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American Crew's Fiber is a longstanding fan favorite, giving you high hold with a matte finish. It's ideal for a textured, messy look on guys with shorter styles, and should be applied to clean, dry hair.
Or, for all-day hold, Jack Black's Clay Pomade is an infallible savior for all hair textures. It's firm without being greasy, and still allows your hair to look like hair and not a rubbery, greased-up mess. Plus, it's oh-so easy to apply.
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Hair mist is the oft-overlooked cherry on top of your haircare routine. Especially in hot summer months, adding a spritz of this delicious-smelling perfume gives you all-day freshness. You'll welcome the breeze.
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For summer, this is your secret weapon. It's a lightweight mist that maintains frizz, and protects your hair from the elements from rain to wind.
Haircare tools are tragically overlooked when it comes to a grooming regimen, but if you're going to get one, let it be this one. This massaging brush promotes hair growth with just a few minutes of use per day, and it feels damn good.
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This strengthening spray is versatile AF. It promotes hair growth and volume, holds hair after styling, and makes it super soft.
Procapil and caffeine are the two main ingredients of this scalp treatment, meaning thicker, longer hair is just around the corner. If you're concerned about hair thinning, don't let this one sell out before you snag it.
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It's not good to wash your hair every day—shampoo dries it out, stripping away the natural oils that also keep it healthy. As an alternative, use a dry shampoo in between washes to absorb excess oil at the root of your hair. Not only will it keep your hair from feeling greasy, it will also add a little volume.
Pro tip: Don't opt for a drugstore gel (if you can avoid it) unless you want your hair cemented to your head. There are lots of lighter-grade gels out there—including this one!—that don't suffocate your follicles but still provide maximum hold and high shine when applied to towel-dried hair.
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Hair Rules' (heh) styling cream is a lightweight mist that works to keep all hair textures smooth and frizz-free through a distinctive hydrating, texture-control complex.
Clay isn't all that different from fiber—you'll get plenty of texture and a medium hold. Apply it to clean, dry hair and then style away. But be warned that while it's more matte than fiber, it's also less malleable, making it a little harder to refresh during the day.
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This clay-wax hybrid combines the silky, matte texture that a clay provides with the high, malleable hold of a wax. It's basically a Frankenstein of a hair product that can tame even the unruliest of manes. Apply a nickel-sized amount to dry hair for a textured, semi-matte look, or to wet hair if you prefer a little more sheen.
Sachajuan's Ocean Mist spray is the easiest styler out there. Spray it in damp or dry hair, and the salt acts like a dry shampoo to absorb grease, leaving only a little much-needed shine. The result is a devil-may-care textured look that you usually only get from a day at the beach. Perfect for medium and longer styles.