A vast line of hair care and styling products and brands for curly and straight hair are available to choose from, yet it's not that simple to find one that's perfect for you. That's because a single shampoo, conditioner, or leave-in treatment cannot meet all the needs of your hair. Things can get a bit frustrating if you're someone who has naturally thick curly and frizzy hair.

Perhaps your beauty cabinet is lined with different products you blend together to get the perfect combination for your hair. How many times have you ended up with clumpy or crunchy instead of soft, supple strands? There's a secret to a hair cocktail. At Canvas Beauty, we feel it's necessary to explain how to whip up a nutritious cocktail using some of our customers' favorites.

What Is Hair Cocktailing?

Hair cocktailing refers to mixing and matching two or more hair care products to achieve the desired result. This allows you to simultaneously address different curly hair types as well as needs, such as dryness, frizziness, limpness, and breakage.

Product cocktailing is dubbed a game changer, but it's not a new technique. However, the process is more than just dabbing this curl cream and that frizz control oil. The secret to great results is selecting and combining hair nourishment and styling products that complement each other.

It's important to note that cocktailing hair products is different from a technique called layering. To layer, you apply one product on top of another. 

Benefits of Hair Cocktailing

Personalizing hair care using cocktailing methods provides multiple benefits, including the following:

• Softer hair
• Increased elasticity
• Increased follicle regeneration
• Smoother strands
• Healthier scalp
• Reduction in hair loss
• Collagen stimulation and hair growth
• Regulated cellular metabolism
• UV protection

What Products Should You Cocktail

Healthier, softer and shinier hair starts with hair products that nourish every strand of your locks from scalp to ends. Feel free to mix and match products of your choice. We've made it easy for you to create a new hair care routine and maximize hair health by pairing the following products that are made for each other.

Canvas Blossom Serum 2.0 + Full Bloom Amplifying Shampoo + Full Bloom Amplifying Conditioner

Also known as A Queen's Starter Set, this trio of hair cocktailing products create the perfect cocktail for scalp health and hair growth. Begin the hair therapy session by applying Blossom Serum 2.0 from scalp to ends before shampooing. Clean and condition your hair to minimize hair loss with the Full Bloom Amplifying Shampoo and Full Bloom Amplifying Conditioner. Finish styling by mixing a curl defining mousse and leave-in conditioner for soft, lightweight curls.

Canvas Full Bloom Leave-In Conditioner Mist + Leave-In Conditioner Creme de la Creme

Better known as the Leave-In Conditioner Duo, these two products are paired to achieve stunning results. The Leave-In Conditioner Mist is made of high-quality ingredients designed to detangle curly hair, tame frizz, and add shine without a greasy look. The Leave-In Conditioner Cream moisturizes and revitalizes dry hair, revealing softer strands. Simply apply to damp hair and allow it to air dry. Results can last for weeks!

Hair 2 Go Awakening Halo Curl Defining Mousse + Curl Defining Cream + Curl Defining Gel Sealer

Take advantage of this set of three fabulous products we call the Hair 2 Go Styling Bundle. This hair styling kit takes the guesswork out of getting the right products for your cocktail. Apply the Curl Defining Mousse to pop your curls without weighing them down. The Curl Defining Creme is infused with natural ingredients that help reduce fizziness and add curl definition. Don't forget to lock in moisture and hold curls in place with the Curl Defining Gel Sealer. Your hair is ready to go!

Grab these products online before they are sold out. Besides, you'll save yourself time pacing the aisles of your local beauty store!

How to Cocktail Your Curly Hair Products

There's an art to cocktailing shampoos, conditioners, serums, volumizing mousses, curl defining creams, and sheen oils for women with curly, coiled, or kinky hair types. Here's a general guide to pairing products for curl hydration, definition, and stimulating growth.

1. Curl Hydration Cocktail

Curly girls know their hair sucks moisture very quickly, which is why having the perfect combination of shampooing and styling products is necessary for keeping those tresses happy. Consider mixing a moisturizing shampoo with a deep conditioner like Full Bloom Infinitely Deep Conditioner at least twice a month. Deep conditioning allows moisture to penetrate deeper into the hair shaft. To refresh curls, spritz a leave-in conditioner mist before gently massaging a leave-in curl hydrating cream into hair.

2. Curl Definition Cocktail

Achieving perfectly defined beautiful curls is easier than you think. To cocktail curly hair products, try mixing a volumizing hair mousse with a leave-in conditioner plus a curl defining cream. The mousse combats frizz and creates lighter, bouncier, gorgeous curls. Leave-in conditioners protect against moisture loss, while the defining cream adds greater definition and moisture. For best results, mix and apply a pea-sized amount of your favorite Canvas Beauty products on wet hair.

3. Hair Growth Cocktail

Healthy, growing strands start with hair serums + clarifying shampoos + deep conditioners that stimulate the hair follicles. You definitely want to select items that clean the residue off your scalp without stripping hair moisture. Clarifying shampoos help restore natural pH balance and rejuvenate curly locks.

Our Blossom Serum 2.0 is great for scalp cleansing, itchiness, brittle hair, or hair loss. It's designed for use before shampooing or as a deep conditioner to stimulate blood flow and promote hair growth. Instead of using the serum for deep conditioning, you can opt for a deep conditioner infused with aloe vera juice. Some curly gals add 1-2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil to their daily conditioner to achieve similar results.

Quick hair tips and tricks

As you attempt to blend smoothing serums, mousses, curl creams, and leave-in conditioners, keep in mind that curls are unique and are affected differently by different seasons. You may need to experiment a little to find your perfect mix for your tresses.

• Start with a small amount of a new product and work your way up from there to achieve the desired style results.
• Focus more on hair ends than the scalp. You don't want the product to build up on the scalp and cause irritation, dandruff, or damage to hair follicles.
• Mix the selected mousse, creams, and oil well in your hands, then apply to wet hair.
• Gels cocktail better with a light leave-in conditioner or curl defining cream.
• When mixing, avoid combining an oil-based product with a water-based product (Oil and water don't mix well.)

The bottom line is to carefully pick out products that complement one another and have the right mix of ingredients for your hair type.

Why Is It Important to Cocktail the Right Hair Products?

Despite previous beliefs, hair cocktailing is perfectly healthy for your hair. It's actually a really effective way to achieve soft, voluminous hair that's healthy from root to tip. However, caution must be taken to select the appropriate products.

Haircare products contain all kinds of ingredients designed for moisture, shine, volume, hair loss, or hair regrowth. Some are specially formulated for damaged hair. If you look at the product label, don't be surprised to see chemical compounds with hard-to-pronounced names like Cetyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, and Methylsulfonylmethane.

When cocktailing hair serums, shampoos, conditioners, creams, and oils from different brands, you're never sure how they may interact. You may experience stiffness, clumping, limpness, dryness, or frizziness.

To avoid these issues, hair experts and stylists recommend mixing and matching products from a trusted brand or line. Those products have been combined and tested in the lab to ensure they don't lead to hair damage or hair loss. It is also important to take note of your hair type, whether you have dry hair or thick hair or both. All of these factors will affect your hair products, and it is important to make sure they will chemically mix together well.

Hair Cocktailing Products to Avoid

Not all curly hair product lines are created equal. Beware of those that claim to be great for your hair type but actually produce unfavorable results or cause breakage. Steer clear of hair care and styling products containing active ingredients or chemicals that lead to limpness, loss of moisture, and hair loss. Try to focus on products with pure, raw ingredients and avoid these ingredients:

• Benzyl salicylate
• Formaldehyde
• Parabens
• Petrolatum
• Propylene glycol dicaprylate
• Capric triglyceride
• Butylene glycol

At Canvas Beauty, we take pride in offering products that are all-natural, organic, and free of chemicals, preservatives, or parabens. For these reasons, many of them are great to use daily or every other day. Have no fear. Our products are designed to be mixed and matched for cocktails and won't lead to heavy, sticky, clumpy hair. They are also perfect for straight, fine, curly, and color-treated tresses.

Unique Affordable Products that Make Your Hair Blossom

Customize your hair treatment and breathe new life into your curls! At Canvas Beauty, we want you to shop with confidence and that's why we have a team of beauty experts dedicated to answering any questions you have about our product lineup. Get quick answers to FAQs. What's your favorite Canvas Beauty product to cocktail? Feel free to leave us a review.