Layer Your Hair Products Like a Pro

Walking out of the salon with bouncy, shiny, perfectly styled hair feels like you’re on top of the world—until your first home shampoo and styling bring you back down to earth. Most of us assume that hairstylists work some sort of alchemy that we can’t repeat, but there’s good news. You can do some of it at home, and for the health of your hair, you should! Leonor Greyl’s National Educator, Kat Savano, gave us some tips on layering products to achieve salon-like results at home and keep your hair at its best between visits.

Savano explains that these rituals help hairdressers, as well. “The most important step for us is that our clients maintain their hair at home and protect their color, keratin, or natural hair. It’s critical to buffer the hair fiber from environmental factors like sun, wind, pollution, or chlorine and salt in summer. You need something in the hair fiber that will prevent the absorption of elements you don’t want.”

Layering products also mimics what hairdressers do in the salon. “We use more than one product to make your hair healthier and easier to style the way you want—and layering products helps styles last longer.”

The basics—how to layer hair products

Getting that salon feel involves three steps, each with a product that supports your hair differently. After shampooing, the first is to strengthen, repair, and detangle, using products that contain protein and moisture. These products offer thermal protection for heat styling and natural UV filters.

Products that smooth, add shine and control, or add volume (depending on your hair type) come second. The third set of products is for finishing— thermal styling protection and hold.

Savano says, “It matters what order you layer your products. The routine is the same for all types of hair—only the products differ, depending on your particular hair type.”

For fine hair, layering to protect and volumize

Once hair is clean, Savano’s favorite first product for fine hair is Condition Naturelle, a heat protector and volumizer. Follow that with Mousse au Lotus Volumatrice for maximum volume and Voluforme for hot roller or curling iron protection and hold.

Layering on medium to thick hair for a smooth blowout

Preparing medium to thick hair for a blowout begins with Lait Luminescence, to add weight, smooth out hair, protect from heat, and detangle. Savano then layers a couple of pumps of Serum de Soie Sublimateur blended with either Mousse au Lotus Volumatrice or Gel à l’Hibiscus. If you are seeking volume, use the mousse, and for more control and a flatter look, mix in the gel. Use Voluforme for flat-ironing or beach waves. Also, Savano says, “A pearl size of Éclat Naturel before beach waves is amazing for shine and hold, and great for dry hair.”

Maximizing curly hair’s beauty by layering

Savano starts curly-hair layers with Lait Luminescence for detangling and hair protection; it adds a bit of weight and moisture to control frizz. Then mix Gel à l’Hibiscus with Eclat Naturel as curl-defining cream, adding texture and shine while smoothing and controlling frizz. Savano loves Tonique Hydratant to rehydrate and add collagen and moisture, whether you air dry or diffuse. “It’s like Evian for the curls.” She also points out that you can mist Tonique Hydratant on your locks throughout the day, helping to restyle and rehydrate.

At-home hair masks for all hair types

Another way to think about layering is to do your at-home pre-shampoo treatment on dry hair, similar to what you might get in a salon. As a first step, massage in a scalp oil that fits your scalp’s needs (Régénerescence Naturelle for purifying and invigorating, or Huile Apaisante for soothing). Savano follows this by brushing L’Huile de Leonor Greyl through the mid-strands and ends and then layering the appropriate mask for your hair type–Masque Fleurs de Jasmin for fine and dry hair, or Masque à l’Orchidée for thick, dry, or frizzy hair—directly over the oil. Leave on for 20 minutes, then shampoo out.

Days when you’re short on time

On days when you need to get out of the house quickly, a layering ritual might not fit into your schedule. Savano suggests using a leave-in conditioner like Lait Luminescence on those days and then layering on either Serum de Soie Sublimateur or Èclat Naturel to add shine and control. Whether you have time to style or not, you’re starting your busy day with shiny, healthy, protected hair.

None of this will completely replace what your hairstylist can do—salon visits will always be something to look forward to on the calendar. But with the proper layering ritual, you’ll walk out your front door each day with hair that looks like you brought the salon home.

Products mentioned in this post