When it comes to beauty (and hair especially) we're strong believers in broadening our horizons. Sometimes, to achieve and maintain great hair, a girl needs to explore other product avenues, even if it means leaving our comfort zone of tried-and-true hair products. Now, we've all seen and heard about products like spray wax, pomades and gel. But what do they do and what are they good for? To help you gain a better understanding of these items that could prove to be game-changers for your hair, we've come up with a guide of the non-hairspray gems that are ideal for your hair type.


For Curly, Coarse Hair ...

Wavy and coarse hair can be prone to frizz so products that keep your strands tame are a must. That being said, gel can be a curly-haired girl's BFF as it is typically water-soluble and able to give hair fullness and texture while keeping it under control. Apply some gel to wet strands and dry the hair with a diffuser. See if you don't have lovely rich buoyant curls!

Super straight locks sometimes could use a little lift. Give those bland strands a natural-looking boost with a lightweight product that adds body and fullness. Spray wax is a great ally in the battle for volume. After styling your hair, spray a light mist over your hair and lightly fluff it with your fingers to give it a lovely bedhead look!

You ladies with feather-like locks need to be wary of products that will weigh down your hair. Enlist the help of a lightweight product like pomade that is able to control flyaways without making your locks heavy and greasy-looking. It's also a great way to add a little texture to limp locks. Just rub a little into damp or dry locks to add some body or volume.

Lightweight creams or pomades are great for keeping control of thick, heavy manes. The last thing you need is more weight, so try a texturizing cream or smoothing pomade. Add a dab to dry, styled hair for lightweight hold that won't feel like you're carrying the weight of the world on your, er, head.

Parched strands need to be addressed all day long so picking a multitasking product that styles and nurtures at the same time is key. Try applying some hair wax to your dry tips after styling to keep them textured, shiny and moisturized throughout the day.

Which of these non-hairsprays is your hair's new BFF? Sound off in the comments below!