Do You Know The Difference Between Cocktailing & Layering?

There is a keen concept that can make a huge difference as you style your hair; it’s the difference between mixing products and layering them. The variance between the two can make a huge difference when it comes to the outcome of your hairstyle. To get to know more, we spoke to Managing Director and Co-Founder of 18.21 Man Made – Angel del Solar, and Director of Operations & Product Development and Co-Founder David del Solar, who broke down the techniques for us.

Cocktailing is the combining two or more products together in your hand to emulsify them into a new mixture. Based on the day, temperature, dew point or occasion, you can easily change up the ratios to fit your need. Mixing products that have two (or even 3) different effects will bring elements of each to your style. If you want hold but with more shine, you can combine PASTE and CLAY. Cocktailing basically allows you to have the best of both worlds!

Layering is the process of applying one product on top of another to create a desired effect. This is done in stages and usually requires a little more effort that cocktailing. This technique, although more advanced, can allow you to achieve a multifaceted style. Layering can also be used when you want to finish your style by adding a sheen or matte quality to the end look. For instance if you want a great deal of volume and hold, in a style such as a pompadour, you’ll want to start out by using PASTE or CLAY to get the look. If you want your pompadour to be shiny instead of matte, once finished, you’ll want to layer the look with a coating of HAIRSPRAY. This can also been attributed to styles that use one product while drying hair and another after hair is dry. You may want to build PASTE into wet hair and then dry for volume, and then add CLAY throughout the style to give it a roughed up look. POMADE and HAIRSPRAY are also the perfect combination when you want to give off the look of POMADE but with an all day hold. HAIRSPRAY is a fast and easy way to increase the longevity of any style in a couple seconds. Whether the style is created with other products (or used on it’s own), it is a great tool and it’s provably the only product that can either be used on its own and as a finisher with any other styling product. Our favorite layer is in fact, SPIRITS, a product that should be used on every style!

If you’re still unsure what type of products your hair needs or which technique is right for you, be sure to check out the products in the Store, stalk 18.21 Man Made on Bangstyle for the latest hair tips and tricks, and reach out to them on Instagram @1821ManMade for answers and inspiration!