What Order Should I Use My Hair Products In?
Let’s be honest: hair care can start to feel like skincare real quick—especially when you’ve collected a few different products and suddenly have no idea what order to use them in. Shampoo? Oil? Leave-in? Is mousse before or after serum? And where does heat protectant even go?
No need to overthink it. Here's a simple breakdown to help you get the most out of your products, without turning your routine into a full-time job.
Shampoo
Start fresh. Your shampoo clears away buildup, oil, and environmental gunk so everything else you use can actually do its job. If you’re doing a scalp detox or clarifying treatment, this is where it goes.
Tip: Focus shampoo at your roots—your scalp is the priority here.
Condition
Conditioner softens, hydrates, and balances things back out after cleansing. Concentrate it on your mid and ends, where your hair tends to be drier.
If your hair’s feeling extra dry or in need of some love, swap in a mask once a week for deeper moisture and repair. Use these weekly or biweekly depending on your hair’s needs—usually right after shampoo and before or instead of your conditioner.
Bonus: Comb your conditioner or mask through with your fingers or a wide-tooth comb for even distribution.
Leave-In Conditioner or Detangler
Right out of the shower—on towel-dried hair—apply your leave-in conditioner or detangling spray.
This helps with moisture, smoothness, and manageability, and it sets the stage for anything you layer on next.
Think of it as your base layer. You can find this step in spray or cream form, and some styling products even include light conditioning built in.
Some can be used on both wet and dry hair, so check your product label if you’re refreshing between washes.
Heat Protectant
Never skip this step if you’re blow-drying, flat-ironing, or curling. Heat protectants come in sprays, creams, and sometimes they’re built into other styling products like mousse or blow-dry primers. Make sure you’re using something that offers thermal protection before applying heat. Most formulas can be used on damp hair before blow-drying, and some are also safe to apply lightly on dry hair before flat ironing or curling.
When in doubt, a lightweight heat protected spray is always a good choice.
Styling Products
This is where your styling support comes in. Choose based on your hair goals:
Creams add moisture, softness, and smoothness
Mousses boost volume and provide lightweight hold
Gels and spray gels offer definition and control, great for curls or sleek styles
Curl products like curl creams define texture and help fight frizz
Apply from mid-length to ends unless you’re using something for root lift. Use your hands to scrunch, smooth, or comb through with a comb for even application.
Finishing Products
Once your hair is dry and styled, finish with a little something extra if you want:
Serum for shine and softness
Oil for polish and moisture
Texture spray or dry styling products for an effortless, lived-in look
Hairspray to lock everything in, add hold, or tame flyaways
Less is more here. A few drops or a quick spritz is usually all you need.
Keep It Simple
You don’t need to use everything every day. Think of your hair routine in layers—cleansing, conditioning, prepping, styling, and finishing. The products you use will shift depending on what your hair needs that day, and that’s okay.
Still not sure which products are best for you? I’m always happy to help during your appointment. Sometimes, the right routine just needs a little adjusting to work with your hair, not against it.
