Every great hairstyle starts with the right products and tools. It can be almost impossible to achieve the perfect updo or long curly braids if you don’t have the right foundation. However, not every retailer understands the ins and outs of what goes into the ideal hair care routine. After all, there’s a massive range of items out there, each with their own specific benefits.
In this article, we hope to demystify some of the questions around these products and introduce the top 15 or so items every woman needs in her hair care arsenal.
Table of Contents
15 hair care and styling products and tools women need
1. Shampoo
2. Hair oils and serums
3. Hair wax/pomades
4. Conditioners
5. Dry shampoo
6. Heat protectant sprays
7. Hair mousse
8. Hairspray
9. Sea salt sprays
10. Curl enhancing creams
11. Hairdryers
12. Flat and curling irons
13. Hair rollers
14. Scalp massager
15. Hair clips and ties
Final words
15 Hair care and styling products and tools for women
1. Shampoo
Shampoos are a hair care staple because of their one simple job: cleansing the hair. But shampoos are not a one-size-fits-all product, offering everything from volumizing to clarifying. Here’s a quick look at some of the most popular types:
- Clarifying shampoo: Best used when there’s too much product buildup on the hair that regular shampoo won’t remove. Clarifying shampoo does this by roughing the cuticles and cleaning the hair at the root.
- Smoothing shampoo: Some shampoos use silicone or oil to smooth and straighten hair. By first coating the hair, users can use straighteners to get near-magical results.
- Sulfate and alcohol-free shampoo: While sulfate-based shampoos are great for cleaning away dirt and oil, they can leave hair extremely dry. For this reason, organic shampoos, which don’t tend to strip hair of its natural moisture, can be a better choice.
- Volumizing shampoo: Instead of roughing up the cuticles, volumizing shampoos open them up to make them look thicker. The best varieties shouldn’t weigh the hair down but have lightweight formulas that rinse off easily.
- Shampoo for colored hair: Those with dyed hair should use shampoo that helps to maintain the color. For this, shampoos with a pH level between 4.5 and 5.5 work best.
2. Hair oils and serums
Hair oils, from argan to baobab and coconut oil, are great for controlling frizz, encouraging growth, and adding shine to make hair look more polished and luxe.
Consumers with dry hair are the target buyers for this product, helping them to hydrate, strengthen, and detangle strands – all problems consumers with dry hair deal with.
3. Hair wax/pomades
Hair wax or pomade is the perfect product for adding texture to hair and giving it extra hold for more intricate hairstyles. Hair wax can also be mixed with oil to attain extra gloss and hold after styling it into shape.
4. Conditioners
Unlike shampoos, hair conditioners have multiple purposes: to smoothen, hydrate, and anti-frizz the user’s hair. And why there are different types of conditioners out there, here are the top three:
- Rinse-out conditioners: The most common variety of conditioners, they are applied and then rinsed after a few minutes. Usually, they help moisturize the hair after shampooing.
- Leave-in conditioners: These products take a different approach, being applied once the user is out of the shower. Their lightweight quality means that they can be left in throughout the day for a silky, glossy hairstyle. Additionally, these conditioners are perfect for detangling and smoothing.
- Hair masks and deep conditioners: If consumers want to repair dry and damaged hair, these conditioners may be the perfect choice. They contain waxes, oils, and emulsifiers that address the hair’s moisture issues from the root.
5. Dry shampoo
For women on the go, dry shampoo can be the perfect to wash without the use of water. Dry shampoo comes in powder or spray form, but that doesn’t stop it from tackling excess oil and providing extra lift.
6. Heat protectant sprays
Styling hair with hot tools constantly has drawbacks, which is where heat protectant sprays come in. They’re one of the best ways to protect hair from heat damage from curling irons or hair straighteners without leaving residue on the user’s hair.
7. Hair mousse
Women who like voluminous hair can never go wrong with hair mousse. These products offer amazing lift and pizzazz, making hairstyles feel and look fuller than usual. Mousses come in a range of different hold levels, perfect for everything from styling to volumizing, depending on the finish consumers want. In addition, women with naturally curly hair can use hair mousse to get more defined curls.
8. Hairsprays
No hair product comes close to the level of versatility as hairspray. It can be used for almost everything, from providing holds to setting styles, taming frizz, adding texture and getting volume, and much more. As with mousse, remember to offer different hold levels, like strong hold for updos and flexible holds for more natural movement.
9. Sea salt sprays
Sea salt sprays help give fine hair a beachy, gritty look and texture that mimics the look of having just spent a day by the seaside. Consumers with coarse hair may want to use oil-based sea salt sprays to get a better shine and gloss.
10. Curl enhancing creams
People with curly hair will appreciate this product, which helps transform straight hair into a nest of curls or enhance natural rings. Consumers can also use them to tame frizz, making these creams multi-purpose.
11. Hairdryers
A high-quality hairdryer helps to quickly prepare hair after washing with shampoo or rinse-out conditioners. Offer models with multiple heat settings, ionic technology, and cool-shot buttons. This will improve experience, reducing frizz and boosting shine.
12. Flat and curling irons
Women who want straight and sleek or curly hair should look into purchasing a flat iron or curling iron, respectively. Whatever style the user is looking for, a tool with adjustable heat settings will provide the best experience.
13. Hair rollers
Not all consumers want to use hot tools to style their hair, even with heat protectant sprays. Thankfully, they can use hair rollers instead, especially if they want to add volume. Hair rollers offer a heat-free way to enhance curls in various styles, from loose waves to tight, curly tresses.
14. Scalp massager
The scalp also needs some love, especially after routine washes. A scalp massager performs the same function as rubbing with your fingers, except with a much greater effect, stimulating blood flow, enhancing scalp health, and promoting hair growth.
15. Hair clips and ties
Consumers who love to style their hair will want to invest in clips and ties. These help section and keep the hair, making styling easier. Make sure to stock no-snag, gentle options, which reduce the chance of hair breakages and damage.
Final words
To achieve that incredible, commercial-like hair, it’s likely you’ll need to invest in some products and a solid hair care routine. Consumers who care about how their hair looks are always searching for hair products, like shampoos and high-quality styling tools, that bolster their hair-product arsenal. This article covers the basics of what’s needed in general hair care routines and provides a good jumping-off point for the hair and styling items you should be looking to stock in 2025.
