Grooming

Best Products for your Hair Type

February 14, 2023 by Jack

Discovering the best haircut that suits your face shape, lifestyle, and texture is vital for helping you feel well-coiffed and confident, but without the right products, your style won’t be able to shine. But considering there’s an extensive array of products on the market, you may ask yourself, “what products should I use on my hair?” Don’t stress — we’ve got you. We’re here to clear up any confusion about determining your hair type and nailing which products you need to achieve the perfect look based on your hair type. 

What is My Hair Type? 

First things first, you have to understand what your hair type is before diving into product choices. While a seasoned stylist can steer you in the right direction, it’s always a good idea to understand your hair type — especially since it’s likely to change over time. 

Love a good statistic? Us, too. Studies have found that genetic factors significantly determine hair texture and thickness due to gene variances. Other influences include hormones, some medications, dietary choices, health issues, styling habits (from heat tools to chemical relaxers to color), and stress — no doubt the pandemic put all of us to the test with that one. 

One easy peasy way to tell the difference between thick and thin hair is to pluck a strand (or remove one from your comb or brush) and lay it on a flat surface next to a sewing thread. For accuracy, try to find a color similar to your hair. If your natural hair appears thinner, there’s your answer. If it’s thicker, your hair is more coarse and/or dense. If it’s similar to the thread, then your strands fall in the medium category. Its texture is coarser if your hair strand doesn’t form a straight line.

How your hair holds also plays a role in your hair type. Thinner hair is more difficult to retain a shape that goes the distance. On the flip side, thick, coarse hair can be challenging to style. The good news is there’s no such thing as a bad hair type. The secret is understanding yours and which accompanying products you need to up your styling game. What hair products should I use, you ask? Keep reading. Knowledge is power, gentleman. 

Straight and Thin

Stick-thin hair has pros and cons, but that’s no reason to be discouraged. The right cut and products can be a complete game-changer for lifeless locks. Also, the bonus is that there are many different flattering styles to choose from. Straight and thin hair typically lacks volume, so that should be the primary focus when selecting the right styling products. Also, you don’t want to weigh your hair down with thick, heavy formulas. 

Hair Products for Straight Hair

• Start with a volumizing shampoo such as our True Volume Thickening Shampoo. This sulfate-free shampoo removes oils, dirt, and product buildup while helping hair look and feel thicker. A bodybuilding blend of botanicals and a proprietary thickening complex called Expansion Technology helps hair follicles look healthy and full.
•  Go easy on the conditioner, as it tends to weigh down thin, straight hair. If your hair needs a moisture boost, apply the product to the ends only. Alternatively, you can use a lighter, leave-in spray formula. 

•  To give your hair some texture and definition, our alcohol-free Body Building Hair Gel delivers flexible, natural-looking hold and control without the crunch, buildup, or flaking. Unlike other hair gels, this formula dries completely and leaves no sticky residue that can weigh thin hair down — it also rinses clean.
• Finishing products like volumizing hair powders and dry shampoo can work wonders for giving limp locks a voluminous boost.  

Straight and Thick

While thick hair is desirable, it can also look heavy, be challenging to style, and be prone to frizziness, so it’s vital to choose products that help control your mane while making it look healthy and lustrous. Pro tip: Talk to your stylist about taking weight off your hair without compromising the length. The right cut can make it easier to manage the thickness while adding movement. 

Hair Products for Straight and Thick Hair

• Because you may need more time styling your thick hair, shorten your shower time with our Double Header Shampoo + Conditioner. This creamy, sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner in one gently yet effectively removes oil and product buildup while lightly conditioning, detangling, and soothing the scalp. It effectively improves the overall appearance of the hair, leaving it stronger, shinier, and tangle-free. 

•  You can’t go wrong with a classic pomade if your straight and thick hair is shorter. It’s the ultimate styling product to help you perfect short to medium styles such as combovers, side parts, quiffs, and pompadours. 

• Jack Black offers a Wax Pomade that provides a lightweight, pliable hold and a natural shine finish and a Clay Pomade with buildable control and a strong, natural-looking hold with a matte finish. Other popular pomades on the market include oil-based (best for dry hair) and water-based — easier to wash out but tend to leave the hair a bit crunchier. Fiber-based pomades are strong and pliable and are best for adding volume to the hair. They’re perfect for messy looks, but remember that they don’t provide any shine.

• If your thick hair is accompanied by frizziness, our Sleek Finish Texture Cream is a versatile, lightweight cream that provides long-lasting, flexible control and superior anti-frizz benefits. It gives hair a controlled, sleek finish without stiffness or greasiness. 

Wavy

Pros have a specific way of categorizing wavy hair types. Type 2 is considered naturally wavy and can be fine, thin, or slightly coarse. Type 2B has a medium thickness and leans towards the frizzier side. Type 2C is thickest and coarsest of all wavy hair types.

Each type comes with its own set of challenges, including frizziness and the tendency to look messy if not styled properly. For this reason, wavy hair also requires regular cuts. Pro tip: To prevent damage, try to let your hair dry naturally. If you’re short on time, gently towel dry your hair and use your blow-dryer on a cool setting until your hair is 50 percent dry. 

Hair Products for Wavy Hair

• Opt for a hydrating shampoo and conditioner such as our Nourishing Hair and Scalp Conditioner, a deeply moisturizing, rich treatment that leaves hair and scalp healthy and hydrated. Both products are essential for sealing the cuticle and preventing breakage and dryness.

• Lay off volumizing products like mousse. Instead, reach for products that provide hold and control, such as hair clays and pastes. Alternatively, our Sleek Finish Texture Cream is a versatile, lightweight cream that provides long-lasting, flexible control and superior anti-frizz benefits.     

• Extra thirsty hair can benefit from a few drops of Jack Black MP 10 Nourishing Oil, a versatile, nourishing treatment that can be used as a conditioning, styling, or finishing tool. In combination with Plum Seed, Olive Fruit, and Jojoba Oil, Argan Oil smooths hair, improves shine, and reduces frizz.

Coarse and Curly

Coarse and curly hair tends to be dry (lacking natural oils), frizzy and damaged. But before we talk product, let’s dive into a few pro tips. In this case, skip chemical treatments like dying and bleaching and lay off heat tools like the blow dryer. Also, avoid roughly towel drying your air, as this action only amps up the frizz factor. 

A dedicated haircare routine is the secret to keeping coarse, curly hair looking healthy and hydrated. Pro tip: Use a wide-toothed comb and your fingers as styling tools instead of a bristle brush to prevent a poufy, frizzy appearance.

Hair Products for Coarse and Curly Hair

• Many shampoos strip the hair of natural oils, which only exacerbates the challenges associated with coarse and curly hair. Look for a moisturizing, sulfate-free formula for dry, damaged, curly hair. 

• You can’t get enough moisture, so a daily leave-in conditioner will help seal in moisture, smooth the hair cuticle, encourage shine, and battle frizz, all of which will leave your hair looking healthier and on-point. 

• Pro tip: Let your hair dry naturally, and apply an anti-frizz product to repel humidity. Our Sleek Finish Texture provides long-lasting, flexible control and superior anti-frizz benefits. It gives hair a controlled, sleek finish without stiffness or greasiness and is ideal for dry-to-normal coarse, thick, or wavy hair. 

Balding and Thinning

Feeling like your hair becomes thinner with each trip you take around the sun? You’re not alone. More than 80 percent of men experience significant hair loss during their lifetime. While age is the front-running reason, other factors include physical and emotional stress, heredity, hormonal changes, and certain medical conditions. 

The simplest option is to go the confident route with a buzz cut or shave off all of your hair completely. Add a little personality with a well-groomed beard — we’ve got you covered when it comes to the best products to keep it looking fierce.

Hair Products for Balding and Thinning Hair

• If you’re still at the beginning to mid stages of thinning hair, lather up with a volumizing shampoo such as our True Volume Thickening Shampoo. This sulfate-free shampoo removes oils, dirt, and product buildup while helping hair look and feel thicker. A bodybuilding blend of botanicals and a proprietary thickening complex called Expansion Technology help existing hair follicles look healthy and full.

• Make an appointment with a dermatologist to chat about FDA-approved medication to help treat male pattern baldness. 

• Keep things lightweight in both the conditioning and styling departments. Think Body Building Hair Gel, texturizing powders, and dry shampoo. 

There’s no such thing as a bad hair type. As long as you have the right stylist to guide you in the direction of the perfect cut (check out our guide to the best styles of 2023!) and the best hair care products to amp up your look, you can’t go wrong. May you never have to question, “what does my hair need?” again.