The Hair Stylers I Use To Maintain My Relaxed Hair

One type of hair product I use regularly in my relaxed hair regimen is hair stylers. The stylers I use regularly I would call my go-to's. They consist of heat protectants and hair serums from two hair care brands that I use a lot - Mielle and TGIN.

Yes, Mielle. I know Mielle has somewhat fallen out of grace but the products I use have worked for my hair for years. Until they stop working or I stumble across something I think is better I plan to keep using them.

There is also one Gernier hair styler that I use mostly in the summer.

Keep reading to see why I use hair stylers, which ones I use, why I use them, and how I use them.

(This post includes affiliate links. If you click an affiliate link and make a purchase, I will make a small commission.)

What Are Hair Stylers?

Hair stylers are products designed to help shape, hold, or enhance the texture and appearance of your hair. They come in the form of sprays, creams, serums, or pomades.

Each type of styler has a specific purpose in a relaxed hairstyling routine. Such as protecting hair from heat, controlling frizz, adding shine, and maintaining a styled look for longer periods of time.

The hair stylers in my relaxed hair regimen

Mielle Mongongo Oil Thermal & Heat Protectant Spray

This is a staple product for me. I always use it to protect my freshly washed hair as I dry it using heat.

Since I always heat dry my hair—whether with a hooded dryer or my Shark FlexStyle dryer—using a heat protectant is non-negotiable. Heat protectants act as a shield, minimizing the damage caused by heat exposure.

This spray is part of Mielle’s Mongongo Oil line, which focuses on hydration, repair, and protection during heat styling. It claims to:

• Provide Intense Heat Defense™ and Curl Pattern Protection™
• Protect against high-heat styling
• Eliminate frizz and add shine

I apply the Mielle Mongongo Oil Thermal & Heat Protectant Spray to my wet hair after moisturizing but before drying. What I’ve noticed is that it helps my hair dry faster, feels less dried out, and looks smoother with little to no frizz—a big win in a humid climate!

A word of caution: like many Mielle products, this spray contains protein. While it’s lower on the ingredient list, it’s something to be aware of if your hair is protein-sensitive.

Mielle Mongongo Oil Pomade-to-Oil Treatment

Another product I occasionally use for heat protection is the Mielle Mongongo Oil Pomade-to-Oil Treatment. This unique styler starts as a solid pomade and transforms into a lightweight oil when emulsified between your hands.

This pomade-to-oil styler provides heat defense due to the mongongo oil, and claims to eliminate frizz and control the reversion of straightened hair.

I use this product exclusively when flat ironing my hair. After drying with the Mielle heat protectant spray, I apply the pomade-to-oil section by section as I flat iron. It leaves my hair smooth and shiny, even in humid conditions.

However, I find it less effective for blow-drying because it’s harder to distribute evenly through wet hair due to its thicker consistency. It’s much easier to apply to dry hair.

TGIN Argan Replenishing Hair & Body Serum

The TGIN Argan Replenishing Hair & Body Serum is another favorite in my relaxed hair routine. This serum claims to nourish the hair while leaving it soft, shiny, and manageable.

Although I used to apply it on both wet and dry hair, I now exclusively use it on dry hair to seal in moisture.

A little goes a long way with this lightweight serum. Even when I’ve accidentally used too much, my hair doesn’t feel greasy. Instead, it feels soft and smooth.

If your hair doesn’t react well to coconut oil, it’s a key ingredient so something to consider before trying.

TGIN Miracle RepaiRx Anti-Breakage Serum

I seem to have a thing for TGIN hair serums as this is another one that I use. I think the TGIN Miracle RepaiRx Anti-Breakage Serum is very similar to the TGIN Argan Replenishing Hair & Body Serum so I tend to use them interchangeably. I’ll use one serum one week and the other the next.

This anti-breakage serum is formulated to smooth frizz and flyaways, add hydration, and seal in moisture, this serum leaves my hair feeling soft and strong.

This serum is also lightweight, non-greasy, and effective at keeping my hair smooth and hydrated. I kinda like this one a little more than the Argan one as I feel like it gets my hair slightly smoother and shinier.

This also contains coconut oil. In fact, coconut oil is the first ingredient listed.

Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Hairspray

I don’t use hairspray a lot but when I do, this is the one I use. Back in the day when I would get my hair styled in the hair salon, the stylist would use a lot of hair spray on my hair which would weigh it down. Because of that, I try to stay away from hair sprays.

This one from Garnier doesn’t give my relaxed hair that weighed-down feel. When I do use this hair spray after I have curled my hair and mainly in the summer because it has humidity protection and shields against frizz keeping my hair looking smooth and sleek in high humidity.

Plus, when I style my hair the Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Hairspray provides 24-hour hold without making my hair feel stiff. I can use this hairspray and still have a lot of movement in my hair. Also, my curls don’t immediately fall.

What to look for in a hair styler

When searching for hair stylers for relaxed hair, here are some things I consider.

• Ingredients: I look for stylers that have some moisturizing and nourishing ingredients. These ingredients tend to be things like natural oils, vitamins, and proteins. I try to avoid products with high levels of alcohol or sulfates, which can dry out relaxed hair.
• Functionality: I look for stylers that will address the needs of my hair such as heat protection, the addition of shine, or frizz control. Another thing I look for is if the styler can have multiple uses.

Shop the hair stylers I use