How to Use Hair Styling Products: A Complete Guide

The right styling product can turn a good haircut into a great hairstyle — adding volume, shine, texture or hold exactly where you need it. But with creams, waxes, clays, gels, powders and sprays to choose from, it's easy to end up with the wrong product or too much of it. This guide explains what each type does, which hair it suits and how to use it.

Quick answer: Choose styling products by the result you want: volume (powder, thickening cream), smoothness and frizz control (anti-frizz cream, serum, glossing spray), texture and definition (wax, clay), structure (gel) or hold (hairspray). Apply stylers to damp hair before drying or to dry hair to finish, start with a small amount and build up.

Styling Products Explained

Anti-frizz and smoothing creams

Nourishing creams applied to damp hair before blow-drying to control frizz and add a soft, glossy finish. 101 Anti Frizz Smoothening Hair Styling Cream gives all-day frizz control and is great for coarse, chemically treated, damaged, dry or naturally frizzy hair.

Finishing creams

Lightweight creams that add shine, soft hold and definition. 101 Create Finishing Cream creates smooth blow-dries, adds lightweight hold for style memory and helps protect against thermal damage.

Glossing sprays

Fine mists that add shine and tame flyaways. 101 Create Glossing Spray primes, smooths and shines — spray 2–4 pumps from about 30 cm onto the mid-lengths and ends of damp or dry hair.

Volume powders

Texturising powders that lift the roots instantly. 101 Create Volume Powder adds body and natural-looking texture to fine or flat hair and extra grip for updos.

Waxes

Flexible products for texture and piece-y definition. 101 Create Aqua Wax gives medium, flexible hold with buildable control and a non-flaking finish.

Clays

Mouldable products with a matte or semi-matte finish. 101 Create Play Tech Clay Cream gives moldable texture with a semi-matte, non-sticky, non-greasy finish on short or long hair.

Gels

Strong, structured hold for sleek or sculpted styles. 101 Create Firm Hold Sculpting Gel locks in styles without buildup or flaking and adds shine.

Hairsprays

The finishing step that sets your style. 101 Create Flex Soft Hold Spray gives touchable, flexible hold; 101 Create Extra Strong Hold Hairspray gives maximum hold plus humidity and frizz control. See How to Use Hairspray Correctly.

Which Product for Which Result?

• More volume: 20 Volumizing Boost Thickening Cream before drying + 101 Volume Powder at the roots. See How to Add Volume to Thin Hair.
• Smooth, frizz-free blow-dry: 101 Anti Frizz Cream or Finishing Cream before drying + Glossing Spray to finish.
• Textured, piece-y look: 101 Aqua Wax or Play Tech Clay on dry hair.
• Sleek, structured style: 101 Firm Hold Sculpting Gel.
• Defined curls: 69 Pro Active Soufflé Hair Cream on wet hair. See Best Hair Care Routine for Curly Hair.
• Long-lasting hold: finish with Extra Strong Hold Hairspray.

How to Apply Styling Products

1. Start with clean, conditioned hair. Styling products work best on a good base.
2. Prep on damp hair. Creams, anti-frizz products and thickening creams go on towel-dried hair before blow-drying.
3. Protect before heat. Use a heat-protecting serum such as 700 Keratin & Kale Hair Serum or a finishing cream that protects against thermal damage.
4. Style. Blow-dry, curl, straighten or air-dry.
5. Texture and define on dry hair. Warm wax or clay between your palms and work in small amounts.
6. Finish. Glossing spray for shine, hairspray for hold.

Common Styling Mistakes

• Using too much product — start small and build up
• Applying wax or clay to wet hair
• Skipping heat protection
• Spraying hairspray too close to the hair
• Layering heavy products on fine hair
• Not washing product out properly, leading to buildup

More in Hair Styling Mistakes That Cause Damage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which styling product is best for beginners?

A finishing cream or anti-frizz cream is the easiest place to start — it adds smoothness and shine with soft hold and is hard to overdo.

Can I mix styling products?

Yes. A typical combination is a cream before drying and a wax, clay or spray to finish. Use small amounts of each.

Are styling products bad for hair?

Used correctly and washed out regularly, quality styling products shouldn't harm hair. Heat without protection causes far more damage.

What's the difference between wax and clay?

Wax usually gives a more flexible hold with some shine; clay gives a more matte, textured finish. See Hair Wax vs Clay vs Gel.

Shop the 101 Create Range

Explore the full 101 Create styling collection — creams, sprays, powder, wax, clay and gel for every look.

Related Guides

• How to Make Hair Shiny
• Hair Wax vs Clay vs Gel
• How to Use Hairspray Correctly
• How to Add Volume to Thin Hair
• How to Control Frizzy Hair
• Festive Hair Care
• Wedding Season Hair Care

Shop: 101 Anti Frizz Cream · 101 Volume Powder · 101 Aqua Wax · 101 Create range