Caring for Thick Hair

You have naturally thick hair — lucky you! But keeping it looking great isn't always easy. For tips and techniques that'll help your locks look fantastic, read on.

you’ve got a head full of thick hair — congratulations! You’re likely the envy of your fine-haired friends. But thick hair isn’t maintenance free. Those luscious locks can be prone to frizz without proper care. These tips and techniques for caring for thick hair will help you keep that mane full, shiny, and free of frizz.

Keep it clean. Shampoo regularly, but not every day. Two or three times a week should be plenty for thick hair. If your hair is prone to frizziness, try a cold-water rinse after you rinse out the shampoo. Shampoos designed for dry hair can also help keep frizz at bay, especially in thick, curly hair.

Stay in condition. When you shower, rinse your hair with warm water and condition it. Try a leave-in conditioner periodically and a deep conditioner once a week or so.

Pick your product. There are lots of gels, pomades, and mousses that can help control the frizz that can plague thick hair. Experiment to find one you like, or ask your stylist what he or she recommends. When you apply it, rub it between your hands a bit to make it easier to distribute through your hair, and apply first thing after your shower, when your hair is still quite wet.

The right way to dry. Towel dry your thick hair by patting, not rubbing, from the scalp to the ends. Air-drying is best, but thick hair can take a long time to dry. Try washing and conditioning your hair in the early evening so it has time to air-dry while you’re home. Then put it in braids or a ponytail overnight. If gel or mousse leaves your hair looking slick, scrunch your hair with a towel or an old T-shirt to loosen your locks without adding frizz. If you choose to blow-dry, dry your hair until it’s damp, not bone-dry, and use a diffuser.
Steer clear of brushes. Brushing your hair will likely lead to frizziness. Use a wide-toothed comb instead.

Beat back dryness. Thick hair can be prone to dryness, since it’s harder for the scalp’s natural oils to travel down the strands. To keep dryness to a minimum, avoid these drying products, treatments, and exposures:

• Harsh or frequent shampooing
• Heated styling tools such as blow-dryers, curling irons, and straightening irons
• Styling products that contain alcohol
• Coloring or perming your hair
• Sun and wind
• Chlorine

Get protection. You can’t always avoid exposure, but you can minimize its effects. Use conditioner with sunscreen, and protect your hair from dryness and tangles with a hat or scarf on windy days.

Trim on time. If thick hair gets dry, it can be prone to split ends. Trim them regularly to keep them under control.

Talk to your stylist. Thick hair can cover your face and overwhelm your appearance. A stylist with experience cutting thick hair can suggest flattering looks and cuts that require minimal blow-drying and maintenance.

With the right style and hair-care routine, you’ll be proud to show off your thick, full, gorgeous locks.

Caring for Fine Hair

Fine hair can be flat and dull, but you don't have to live with unattractive locks. A full, vibrant style is within reach. Read on to learn how to pump up the volume.

Fine hair can be frustrating. While it seems like everywhere you look you see full, luscious locks, your own seem cursed — limp, flat and lifeless. But fine hair can be vibrant and attractive. Here’s how to make it shine.

First, realize there’s a difference between fine hair and thin hair. With fine hair, each individual strand is thin. There many be many strands per square inch, though. Thin hair means the spaces between hairs are bigger. Of course, it’s possible to have both fine and thinning hair.

To make baby-fine hair look its best, the right cut is key. Talk to your stylist about the most attractive cuts for your hair type and the shape of your face.

• Bobs work well for lots of fine-haired folks; vary the length depending on the shape of your face. You can also try a modified bob, with uneven ends instead of a blunt edge.
• Bangs often work well for people with fine hair.
• Try a short, tapered cut — the angles can add volume.
• If you want a longer look, try layers. You can likely go shoulder-length or a bit longer — any more and you’ll lose the fullness. Having the ends notched in an irregular edge can lighten them and add a bit of volume.
• For longer cuts, have your hair angled so it’s longer in the front and shorter in the back. This cut will help give your style more shape.
• Try styles you push behind your ears, which will make your hair appear fuller.
• Pull long hair into a high ponytail or bun while you sleep and let it down in the morning for more body.
• Braid your hair before bed and in the morning you’ll have waves that can last all day.

Short hair styles will need regular trims to maintain their shape. But longer styles should get trimmed frequently as well, to keep their appearance up and clean up split ends.

To maintain your flattering cut, there are a slew of shampoos, conditioners and styling products on the market designed for caring for fine hair. Wash your hair every two or three days, and use conditioner only on the ends so you’re not weighing down your hair. Fine hair can be oily, as the oils produced at your scalp can easily work their way down the fine, straight strands. Use products designed for oily hair if you’re seeing greasy strands.

Mousse or gel can add volume — apply the product to your roots, then blow-dry your hair upside down for maximum volume. Spraying your roots with hairspray will also add long-lasting fullness.

Your stylist can help with treatments that can add volume to fine hair.

• Colored highlights add depth to your hair visually, and can also increase your hair’s texture.
• Perms aren’t the horrors you remember from the 80s. Talk to your stylist about how a perm might add body to your hair.