Guy’s Guide to Styling Products

Whether you are taming your hair, making it look wild or just taking care of it from day to day, styling products can help. And no, they're not just for girls!

Adam Lambert shows that spikes don't need to be crunchy or stiff
Courtesy of The Hairstyler

David Beckham's fauxhawk is a combination of a good haircut and a light hold gel
Courtesy of The The Hairstyler

Actor Bradley Cooper styles his waves with gel or mousse
Courtesy of The The Hairstyler

Bradley Cooper with a softly styled look created with styling creme or light hold gel to tame his curls and lock his style in place
Courtesy of The Hairstyler

Taylor Lautner's signature crunchy styled look. His firm hold styling products always have a little shine as well.
Courtesy of The Hairstyler

Zac Effron with a firm hold hairstyle using firm gel or pomade
Courtesy of The Hairstyler

Zac Effron's hair lightly styled with creme, creating a softer look
Courtesy of The Hairstyler

There are two kinds of products -- ones that keep hair in place when they style and ones that keep hair flexible. If you want a girl running her fingers through your hair, stick with the flexible kind. Check them out from lightest to heaviest:

Cream

Styling cream is very light. It can control flyaways, smooth down frizzy hair, lightly condition hair and add shine. Read directions on the bottle, as some creams can be applied to dry hair and others should be applied to towel-dried or damp hair. Cream is the lightest product you can use in your hair, and will leave it soft and manageable. Don't use too much or hair can appear limp or greasy.

Gel

Hair gels are usually water-based and can provide light or firm hold. If you have thinner hair, you need lighter hold gel. For thicker or curlier hair that is harder to tame, use one that's labeled firm hold. Since gels are water-based, once your hair dries, you can re-activate it and fix your style by wetting your hands and running them through your hair later. A couple of notes of caution: cheap gels can flake off when they dry, so go for trusted brands you've heard of before. And using a lot of gel can make your hair crunchy and hard when it dries, so check your hair after it dries to make sure you've achieved the look you were going for.

Hair Spray

Hair spray locks styles in place. Not usually used for guys' hair, you can use it to set a spiky style, hold bangs in place and generally keep hair from moving once you style it. If you're not using a hair spray specifically made for guys, it could make you smell like someone's Nana, so check the scent before you apply!

Mud

Mud is  a firm hold gel. Great for "bed head" styles, it's also used to give texture to short, disheveled styles and for adding separation to long styles. It can turn side-swept Bieber-style bangs into Adam Lambert spikes in seconds.

Pomade

Pomade is super-thick and waxy. When used correctly, it gives a wet, shiny look to your style. Not recommended for thin hair, it can make it limp and heavy. David Beckham probably uses pomade for his faux-hawk. To use, take some pomade in your hand and rub your hands together to warm and soften the gel. Then work it through your damp or dry hair to instantly set your style. Wash pomade out before heading to bed as it can clog your pores and weigh down your hair.

What you could use styling products for

• Tame curls
• Define curls
• Spike hair
• Add shine
• Add volume and thickness
• Hold style
• Tame stray hairs and flyaway hairs

Have Your Say

Are you a guy who uses styling products? Do you love them, fear them or hate them? Let us know and have your say in the comments below. We'd love to hear from you guys!