I’m growing out a short haircut and currently set it with rollers and heat the rollers a bit with the hair dryer and then let them sit awhile before brushing it out and spraying the 'do. However, my fine limp hair needs some sort of treatment to help it stand up and maintain the set longer.
Back in ancient times, there was a preparation called “setting lotion” that we used in this situation. However, here were some of the products I noted in a recent trip to the drugstore:
Mousse
Gel
Mud
Wax
Bedhead
Frizz reducer
Frizz enhancer
Straighten 'er out
Spikey stuff
Dirt
Crud
Crap
Putty
Gark
Loogies
Okay, I made up a few of those. So what happened to plain old setting lotion? Has it transmogrified into mud or bedhead or something? What am I supposed to use nowadays? I’m so confused.
I am not by any means an expert, but I did get some Wella setting lotion at a beauty supply shop.
In fact I was thinking about a GQ thread about it because it wasn’t until after I’d bought it that I noticed a sticker on the bottle that says “not permitted for sale in California”. What? if they won’t allow it in a whole state should I really be using it so near my brain?
Bedhead is a brand name and I think you can get mud and wax and loogies as well as disproportionately expensive styling appliances from them.
tried to edit to add, but clicked wrong or something:
Of the things you listed gel is most likely the best for the method you described, but I’d stay away from any super-hold, mega-hold, ultra-hold, etc.
The reason I went hunting for the setting lotion is that in order to arrive at the shape I want for my hair I had to use a lot of gel and it looked wet, or as if my hair had been made of papier maché. If I brushed it out to break the wet look of the gel, it wouldn’t hold.
Get thee to a Sally Beauty Supply. If it exists, they will have it, and it will cost you way less bucks than name brand product. I’m pretty sure I’ve seen it there, but I’m in CO and CA has some weird laws on some things.
In response to title–sorry, can’t do that, I don’t get it myself–but have been pondering the issue.
I presently OWN the following:
Mousse (Herbal Essence)
Curl enhancing gel (Herbal Essence)
Curl Accelerant (Catwalk)
Curl something or other(Catwalk)
Spray-in Gel (Herbal Essence)
Hairspray(Herbal Essence)
And some sort of de-frizzing product (Garnier Fructis)
One of the Catwalk products is a spray, the other is something which feels kinda soapy on my hands but which is supposed to really make my hair curly, and stay that way. I think the hairspray helps hold curls in place once I get them–keeps the volume in my hair. The Spray Gel I have because I couldn’t tell from the bottles whether hairspray or gel was what I needed. The mousse I have from before I got my hair cut–but I think I tend to overdo it when I use the mousse. The de-frizz stuff I’ve had for a while, and hardly ever use.
I’ve noticed that they still sell “setting lotion” in the “ethnic hair products” section of some grocery and drug stores. If that doesn’t work, go to Sally Beauty Supply; they have it there.