Products to create Texture and Grit in the hair

Sea Salt Spray: Alfaparf Style Stories Salt Spray Alternative: Fudge Urban Salt Spray

I love to spray salt spray onto the roots and mid lengths to take the silkiness out of the hair and add texture. It acts like a mousse but I feel it’s easier to work with the hair afterwards and you can blowdry it into wet or dry hair. I would usually spray 1-2 pumps per section. Don’t be afraid to layer it if the hair is not holding the volume as you blowdry.

• Dry Texture spray: Alfaparf Dry Texture Shampoo Alternative: Morrocanoil Dry Texture Spray

You can’t beat a good texture spray before braiding, upstyling or I sometimes use before crimping. It’s so much easier to pinch out texture once you have sprayed with texture spray. This texture spray has a chalky consistency, I personally would stay away from wet texture sprays. Spray at least 30cm out from the head to avoid white residue on the hair. I spray into the hair when dry before/after curling.

PRO TIP: If the hair is already very dry or coarse, very little/no texture spray is needed.

• Texturizing Powder: Alfaparf Vintage Powder (with pump top) Alternative KYK Magic Dust

Texturizing powder is brilliant at holding volume at the root or giving extra fullness and hold before pinching out your braids. I add texturizing powder to the root area before backcombing, it holds the volume brilliantly. It can be quite gritty so use it sparingly on fine hair otherwise it will be hard to mould the hair afterwards. I like to spray texturizing powder on top of my braids before I pinch and pull out texture to help the texture to hold if the hair is very slippy. I also love using texturizing powder to give an airy feel to my face framing. I pump once or twice into the root before backcombing.

• Strong Hold Hairspray Alternative: Silhouette Strong Hold Hairspray -Schwarzkopf

It is important to spray hairspray as you go to hold texture and ridges in the hair. Hold 30cm away from the hair to avoid wetting the hair or if spraying closer to the hair I usually follow up with a comb or fingers over the area to avoid the hair looking like there is something sitting on top of it.

Products to avoid for texture: 

Heavy oils-they will weigh down the hair. If the hair is very coarse and needs taming, Tame Wild Cream by Osis is lightweight and will tame frizz without weighing it down. Liquid Hairsprays are fantastic for smooth clean styles but for textured styles it kills the texture and makes the hair very polished looking.