In hair care, using a good hair lotion is essential but often overlooked. Hair lotion can perform many functions; it can even serve as the base for the many multitasking products that stylists and their clients love—perfume, for one. In the world of hair care, a good lotion can mean the difference between coping and thriving. Yet for all that, the latter is so modestly priced it has the critical edge over its competitors.

A hair lotion is a lightweight, sometimes creamy, product meant to moisturize and nourish the hair. Unlike a heavier cream or oil, hair lotions are easily absorbed into the hair, making them suitable for various hair types. Hair lotion might contain everything from the most basic of ingredients to a more complex mixture to achieve its primary function, which is to replenish the hair's moisture. Environmental exposure can dry the hair and make it susceptible to breakage. It's a kind of miracle if something can penetrate that outer layer of the hair, which is designed to keep stuff out, to replace the moisture that's been lost. I found several hair lotions that list aloe vera right out front as one of their primary ingredients. Glycerin, also a key ingredient, has been described as the ultimate hair lotion "in a can."

There are several types of hair lotions, each formulated to solve a particular hair problem. The first major type is the moisturizing lotion, designed for dry or damaged hair—a condition often remedied with rich emollients that restore moisture and shine. The second major kind is the lightweight lotion, suitable for fine or oily hair that needs as much hydration as its drier counterparts but is too weighty for the sleek hairstyles desired by some. Then there are the ingredient-specific lotions, which flank the first two types and are aimed at solving particular hair problems. For instance, protien is a main component of the kind of lotion that a person whose hair is breaking or coming out in handfuls should use, and there are certainly lotions that contain UV filters, which are vital in a world where sun damage is as likely to happen to a person's hair as to his or her skin.

To ensure hair lotion delivers its full impact, it's important to apply it correctly. The ideal time for this is just after the hair has been washed and conditioned—in this post-cleansing state that tends toward dampness. This is when the hair is most ready to absorb the lotion's beneficial components. To start, dispense a small amount into the palms of your hands and rub them together. Then, apply the lotion to the lengths and ends of the hair, working it in evenly. Even for those with hair that tends toward the coarse side (like mine), it's important not to overdo it—oversaturation leads to greasiness—but also to apply enough that it's apparent the lotion is there, as these strands are the ones that desperately need moisture. If you want to really secure the lotion's hold on your hair's moisture balance, layer a leave-in conditioner atop the lotion.

Using a regular hair lotion can yield a number of benefits. To begin with, regular application can lead to really big dividends in texture. Your hair tends to be smoother, and what I call 'fool's gold'—light reflecting in a way that suggests healthy hair—is more likely to happen. And 'fool's gold' doesn't even begin to cover what really is gold when it comes to hair lotion: the ability of a quality product to shield your hair from the hazards of hot styling tools, like blow dryers, flatirons, and curling wands. These tools are used to alter the shape of your hair from its natural state to what we take as an ideal. Hair, like our skin, is a cellular structure designed to have a certain look and perform certain functions. Whether we're talking about hair's tensile strength, curl, smoothness, or whatever, hair is engineered to do the stuff it does. On its own. Without heat.

To sum up, anyone wanting to keep their hair healthy and attractive should use hair lotion. It is, by far, the most effective way to hydrate your hair, and it also offers tons of other benefits that we could fit into an entire article. The basic recipe for hair lotion involves water, an emollient (which could be oil or butter), a humectant (which attracts moisture to the hair), and possibly a few optional extras. The method for applying hair lotion isn’t super tricky—it isn’t curling your hair with a flatiron or blowing it dry with a round brush.