How to Find the Right Products for Your Hair Type

It's not unusual for a client to come into the salon and ask for a haircut just like mine. I'd certainly love to give it to them, but it's not always possible. It depends on their hair texture. I can, however, give them a great look to go with their individual hair texture and face shape, along with the right hair products for their hair. How do you know what products go with your hair type or texture? Here's how to tell.

Fine Hair Types
My hair is fine and very straight. Fine hair is quite delicate, like silk, and each individual strand feels 'skinny.' Fine hair has less protein than thicker hair, which helps it lighten faster in the sun but means it doesn't hold curls for very long. Without the right hair products, it just looks flat and droopy. But what I really want for my head is hair that is shiny and has lots of volume that lasts all day. Pantene has a brand new line of hair products for people with hair just like mine. It's called "Fine Hair Solutions." There are volumizing shampoos and conditioners, hair-treatment products to moisturize and repair fine, damaged hair and styling products that provide all-day volume and hold. The styling products include root lifter, gel, mousse and, of course, hairspray. All of the Fine Hair Solutions are lightweight products that will not weigh the hair down and give volume that holds all day.

Medium to Thick Hair
Medium to thick hair absorbs much more moisture than fine hair, which can cause it to frizz. Thick hair can be coarse and can feel a bit wiry. Each individual strand is 'fatter' than fine hair. It can be a little bit stubborn at times, but once curled, it holds a good bit better than fine hair. Medium-Thick Solutions by Pantene includes products which keep hair smooth and provide great hold. The treatments include a professional-strength damage repair, a silkening detangler and a product for intensive restoration. Styling products include mousse, gel, straightening cream and hairspray. There are also shampoos and conditioners specifically for medium to thick hair that smooth, strengthen or moisturize.

Curly Hair
Curly hair tends to have a mind of its own, sometimes being very curly and sometimes being frizzy. It has much more body than straight hair. Long hair that is curly tends to be straighter at the roots due to the weight of the hair pulling on the curls. Straightening curly hair often with a flat iron or other heated styling tool can be very damaging and cause breakage or split ends. To help, Pantene created the Curly Hair Series, which provides touchable curls with lots of shine. The shampoo and conditioner come in a moisturizing variety as well as a straightening variety. There is mousse, spray gel and gel specifically for curly hair, as well as a very necessary straightening cream and heat-protecting spray for those using a flat iron.

Color-Treated Hair
Pantene created an additional hair product line for the client with color-treated hair. Hair that is colored must be treated gently to keep the color from fading away. There are three options for color-treated hair: Color Preserve, Color Preserve Volume, which adds volume to color treated hair, and Color Preserve Smooth, which helps to fight frizz in color-treated hair. It also comes in three color varieties -- blond, brunette and highlighted -- to help keep your color fresh.

Pantene offers so many varieties of hair care products- there's something for everyone. To get the right products for your hair, just visit www.pantene.com and click on "Personal Consultation." The step-by-step directions will walk you through a series of questions to help you discover exactly what products you should be using on your hair. After answering about eight questions, the Pantene will tell you what your hair texture is and recommend products just for you based on your answers to those questions. You can then shop for products or even request a free sample of Pantene product.