Hair gel, mousse or serum - what should one opt for?

(Published on 24 April 2007 in 'Women at Work' - W @ W - a supplement of the Daily Mirror, Colombo, Sri Lanka)

Gone are the days when the only mousse you had heard of – was the one your mother made as a dessert. Today’s generation are accustomed to seeing it as a hair product – in a range of horrendous florescent colours and ‘hair raising’ odours.

Well, grooming is not really my forte dahlings – so when I was asked what the difference between a hair gel and a hair mousse was I went scurrying to my friend who is an expert and a well known hair stylist. A mousse creates fullness she explained. It actually plumps the strands so your hair appears fuller. As a result a mousse is best suited for those with fine hair texture. Gels are made to slick hair down. They give control and can smooth hair. Stylists use them to give sleek looks, to taper ends or to smooth edges.

Having a perfect hair style is as important as having stylish clothes. Men and women, both attach great importance to the way their hair looks. It has become much easier to implement just about any kind of hair style as there is a wide range of styling products now available in the market. What exactly should be used depends entirely on the specific hair type and personal preferences.

YMousse
A mousse is a body-builder and is best suited for adding volume. They are used to hold fine, thin hair that needs a lift from the roots. It is best applied to dry hair. Working from the roots, the mousse is spread up through the strands away from the scalp. This can be followed by either a blow-dry or a finger-dry.

YGel
Gels are great for creating a slick, wet look. A stylist would use them to give a lasting hold to curls or to keep fringes in place. Usually gel is applied to damp hair, which is then combed through, styled and left to dry. Applying gel to the roots of dry hair will give style volume.

YWax
Wax adds gloss and definition to hair. It is best suited for naturally curly or permed hair. Wax is rubbed between the palms and then applied by running through dry hair to give a polished, groomed effect.

YSerum
Serum is a relatively new hair product. It is good for giving hair instant shine, controlling static or frizz, and protecting the hair shaft from damage. It is sprayed evenly on dry or damp hair for a glossy look. Serums are also known to work well in protecting and strengthening hair.

Many people consider using hair gel for styling, a good solution. Hair gels have been used for ages. At that time hair gel ingredients were completely different from those used now. In order to be sure that constant hair gel usage is not harmful to your hair, you need to make sure that the gel you use is of a well known brand and should contain some useful natural components. Today, certain gels have herb extracts that effectively strengthen the hair and also offer protection against everyday damage. Hair gels also contain a considerable amount of different vitamins and nutrients that are essential for promoting hair growth.

However, what one must remember is that mousse, gel and hairsprays are only mere hair styling tools. Before selecting one of these for yourself, you need to check whether your hair is cut to work in the style you want. At the end of the day a super hairstyle is always the outcome of a great haircut and not the consequence of the gel, mousse or serum that you have used.

I’m off to the parlour sweeties… time to get a new look and some well deserved attention!

Miss Know-All
miss.know.all@gmail.com