Leah LOVES hair. So much so, she dedicated an entire website to it! One of the founders of Hair Everyday and Chief Editor, Leah enjoys reviewing all the hair products and showcasing the best. She believes her most underrated articles are her hair care tips!
Here are some of my top coarse hair tips. These tips will let you know how to make coarse hair soft and silky. I’ve also included info about why your hair is becoming coarse and wiry.
I have started loving my wiry coarse hair only recently. But unfortunately for a long time, I wished I had soft, fine hair textures.
All that changed when I realized that my coarse hair wasn’t really the problem. It was the fact that I didn’t know how to take care of it properly.
See, even if you have fine, soft hair it can still look terrible if you’re using the wrong products and hair care routines.
So today I thought I’ll share some of my coarse hair tips to help my fellow coarse-haired brethren manage their locks well.
But before we get to my guide on how to make coarse hair soft and silky, let’s first clarify on what exactly is coarse hair as there’s much confusion about it.
Related: How To Soften Coarse African American Hair
Related: Best Shampoos For Coarse Hair
So What Exactly Is Coarse Hair?….
A lot of people confuse having coarse hair for having frizzy hair. However these are not the same.
Coarse hair is a type of hair where the circumference of the strands are greater than usual, making it “thicker”.
And if you’re wondering, “but isn’t thick hair a good thing we should strive after?”, let me clarify that thick hair doesn’t mean that your strands are thick.
Whenever people mention “thick hair” they are talking about how much more hair density they have. Or in layman’s terms, how much more individual hair strands they have on their scalp.
Yes, coarse hair can be rather rough as the thickness of the hair shaft makes it slower to absorb moisture or oil from the scalp.
And more circumference and surface area means this hair type also needs a lot more sebum to get naturally soft.
Coarse hair is often seen in people of African or Asian descent. However your hair can become coarse over time due to things like steroid use, hypothyroidism, iron and calcium deficiencies, etc.
Coarse Hair Tips
So now that we know what coarse hair is and why it’s caused, let’s get down to talking about some coarse hair care tips.
Deep Condition Your Hair At Least Once A Week
Coarse hair is usually manageable. The problems arise when it becomes dry and rough due to its texture.
This type of hair is naturally thick so the moisture takes time to penetrate the hair shaft. Also, the sebum produced in the scalp finds it difficult to coat the larger circumference of the strand.
So it is very important that you deep condition coarse hair to prevent it from becoming too dry and frizzy.
This can be achieved by using a deep conditioning hair mask before you take a shower. I usually use a hair mask at least once a week for my curly coarse hair.
The Hydrating Argan Oil Hair Mask and Deep Conditioner By Arvazallia is actually one of my favorites for this purpose as the lightweight argan oil seeps into hair strands pretty quickly.
Since my hair is curly and also to speeden up the absorption of moisture I use a thermal cap to supply heat to my hair and open up the hair cuticles.
Avoid All Hair Products With Alcohol In Them
As I’ve explained in the point above, coarse hair is more prone to dryness due to its thick circumference. So avoid using products that can further dry out coarse hair.
Alcohol is one such ingredient that is often found in hair care products but can cause dryness in the long run. It removes moisture from the hair, contributing to frizz.
So if you see the ingredients label list ethyl alcohol at the back of the shampoo, conditioner or hair cream, put it back on the shelf.
However, certain alcohols such as stearyl alcohol and cetearyl alcohol are actually emollients that preserve moisture content in your hair shaft. So products containing these two ingredients are okay to use.
Try Detangling Hair In The Shower
I know what some of you are thinking. Comb wet hair? In the shower? The horror!
But actually certain hair types, including coarse hair, benefit from being detangled in the shower when it’s wet and conditioned.
I use a wide tangle teezer hair brush to remove the knots and tangles from my coarse hair after I’ve applied a generous amount of conditioner.
See, the conditioner not just nourishes your hair here, but it also acts as a lubricant providing “slip” to help the comb untangle hair faster.
Detangling coarse hair dry might lead to damage and cause it to become frizzy and poofy too. So in this particular case, it’s completely fine to comb hair wet because the damage done by dry combing can be significantly more.
Use The Right Type Of Hair Brush For Coarse Hair
Speaking of detangling combs, coarse hair also needs a particular type of hair brush. Do not use a regular plastic brush for coarse hair as the close-spaced bristles on such brushes can increase tangles in coarse hair.
So it’s best if you choose a flat paddle brush or round brush with thick, well-spaced bristles that will move through coarse hair with ease.
I also recommend using a natural brush with nylon-tipped bristles as this will prevent frizz caused by static and also keep hair from getting damaged due to friction.
Get Your Coarse Hair Regularly Trimmed
As coarse hair is very prone to tangles, it can lead to further hair damage like split ends if you don’t trim it enough.
I’d say go for a trim at least 8-10 weeks to keep your coarse hair in check. You don’t have to cut off a lot of hair. Trimming even half an inch should be enough to keep split ends at bay.
Avoid Using Heat Styling Tools Often
I’ve previously mentioned how you should avoid alcohol-based hair products as they can make coarse hair drier.
And in the same vein, you should reduce your use of hair styling tools especially ones that use high heat on a regular basis.
The high temperature can open hair cuticles and cause frizz and damage. Actually this is true for all hair types. But since coarse hair is more prone to dryness, it can be worse for this hair type.
Invest In A Silk Pillowcase Or Bonnet
A lot of people ignore this part or simply don’t know about it. But how you treat your hair while sleeping pays a huge part in how healthy it is.
If you have coarse hair prone to dryness, it’s best to invest in a silk or satin pillowcase.
These particular fabrics have short fibers that do not tug or pull at your strands and they also aren’t super absorbent like cotton or linen so they don’t remove the natural oils from your scalp and hair.
Eat A Diet And Supplements That Help
It’s not just what you apply to your hair that helps in keeping it soft and healthy, it’s also what you eat.
So make sure you incorporate foods which contain a lot of vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acids in your diets. And if this looks hard, you can always try supplements if your physician approves.
FAQs about Coarse Hair Tips
How do I know if my hair is coarse?
The easiest way to know if your hair is coarse is to take it between your fingers and feel it’s texture. If your hair is fine and soft you’ll be barely able to feel a thing. But if you have coarse hair it’ll feel like a rough, string between your fingers.
Why does hair become coarse?
Coarse hair generally is due to genetics and some ethnicities like Africans and Asians have naturally coarse hair. Similarly if you have type 3 curls, you might also have coarser hair textures.
However it’s totally possible for your hair to go from fine to thick and coarse over time. This can be due to certain medication you take like steroids or due to hormonal imbalances in your body such as hypothyroidism.
The lack of certain nutrients in the body such as calcium or iron can also trigger this hair texture change.
What is the best hairstyle for coarse hair?
Since coarse hair already feels rough due improper distribution of scalp natural oils, you should prevent any hairstyle that requires excessive use of heat as it might dry hair out further.
Also tight hairstyles such as high up ponytails, tight buns, etc. should be avoided as it can damage coarse hair due to friction.
Which oil is best for dry coarse hair?
The reason coarse hair becomes so dry is because the hair shaft is larger and circumference and it takes longer for moisture or the scalp’s natural oils to penetrate the cortex or innermost layer of the hair.
So the best oil for dry coarse hair would be a lightweight oil that penetrates quickly and also helps add moisture to the hair. I find argan oil best suited for this purpose but you can use jojoba oil and grapeseed oil as well.
Final Thoughts About Coarse Hair Tips
Coarse hair can be unmanageable at times, but it actually is a blessing in disguise. It makes your head look so full of hair and the volume you get from coarse hair texture is amazing!
Also, it’s not something you can control sometimes. As I’ve mentioned earlier certain ethnicities are genetically predisposed to having coarse hair.
If your coarse hair is a source of bother, I hope my styling and hair care tips above have changed your mind and let you love your coarse, wiry tresses more.
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