Hair styling essentials: Understanding gel, wax, and mousse
Siddhartha Jana
Hair gel, wax, and mousse are the most common hair styling products.
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Hair gel is water-based, providing a stiff hold and shiny finish, making it ideal for structured hairstyles like spikes or slicked-back looks.
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Hair wax is oil-based, offering a pliable hold with a matte finish, making it suitable for flexible, textured styles that can be easily restyled.
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Hair mousse is foam-based, designed to add volume with a light to medium hold and a natural finish, perfect for flat or lifeless hair.
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While hair wax is thicker and easier to apply, hair gel has a stronger hold but results in a wet finish, leading to differences in texture between the two products.
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Prolonged use of hair styling products can cause dryness, weaken hair follicles, and contribute to premature greying and hair fall.
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Hair gels are considered the most damaging to hair health due to their high alcohol content, which can dry out and weaken hair.
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Hair wax can also be damaging, as it may cause buildup that clogs pores and weighs down hair, while mousse is typically less harmful but can still lead to dryness with frequent use.