How Do I Care for Dry Thick Hair?

When you have dry thick hair, the instructions on most bottles of shampoo and conditioner may not always apply to you. Dry thick hair often requires more time and gentler care than does other types of hair. Thicker, dryer hair often requires more hair product than does thin hair or oily hair, and it is more likely to show damage from repeated heat styling. To prevent further damage and dryness, when showering, wash hair gently with lukewarm filtered water and rinse thoroughly, and do not rub your head when drying with a towel.

Thick hair requires more hair product than average or thin hair. While the instructions on the bottle may claim that you need a dime-sized dollop to moisturize your hair, if you have a thick head of thirsty hair to moisturize, the standard amount will not be enough. To avoid wasting product, it may be necessary to measure out hair product in multiple doses to ensure that you get enough product without using too much.

Sometimes, dry hair is a result of the environment, and sometimes it can be caused by something inside the body. Vitamins that increase hair growth and health can improve the brittle and dry appearance of this type of hair. Thick hair with a chronic dry appearance can benefit from deep conditioning treatments and styling products that minimize the dry appearance of hair. Trim regularly to keep damaged ends from weighing down healthy hair.

When dry thick hair is curly, it can be even harder to deal with than straight or wavy dry thick hair. The twists and turns in curls reveal every split end along the way, while the damaged parts of straight hair tend to tuck in and hide themselves. Shampoos, conditioners, and styling products made to minimize frizzy hairs and flyaways can help give curly hair a healthier appearance.

Even with a hair dryer, it can take a long time to dry thick hair. When allotting time for your beauty routine, make sure you give yourself enough time to dry your hair gently so you do not damage it during styling. Allowing it to partially air dry before treating it with heat can reduce the damaging exposure time your hair receives from the hair dryer.

Brushing hair with a shine brush, ideally one made from natural fibers, can help distribute the oils from the scalp to the dryer hair that is closer to the ends of the strands. This process also removes strands of hair that are too damaged to withstand brushing, which improves the overall appearance of hair over time. Using this type of brush involves a multitude of long, gentle strokes that carefully smooth the natural oils throughout the rest of your hair.