For short, styled hair - Styling Product 101

Shape, Feb, 2002

Before you style your locks, use this guide to figure out which product you should be using.

For short, styled hair, use gel on wet hair to give volume and hold; molding paste on dry hair for texture, hold and a matte finish; styling lotion before or after drying to increase texture and get movable hold (go easy and avoid roots, though, since too much will make hair greasy-looking) or wax for pieciness and a noncrispy strong hold. Product picks: Rusk Being strong Gel ($18; 800-USE-RUSK), Bumble and bumble SumoTech molding compound ($18; bumbleandbumble.com), L'Oreal Studio Line FX Toss styling Lotion ($3.49; at drugstores) and clinique Shaping wax ($14.50; clinique.com).