Thick hair is always adored. It can accommodate almost every hairstyle in the book. People with thick hair also don’t seem to have problems with volume. Plus, it is deemed a little less fragile than thin hair. This doesn’t mean that people with thick hair can play it safe. Having all that crowning glory requires a lot of upkeep. And, there’s one major caveat: dry hair.
What Causes Dry Hair?
The outer layer of the hair is called the cuticle. It shines when it’s healthy. The hair experiences less tangling, too. On the other hand, a damaged cuticle results in dry, rough, and dull hair. Lack of moisture results in dryness, but there are several common culprits for damage:
- Frequent washing: Shampoo strips the hair of its natural oils that are essential in protecting the cuticle. They are also your body’s way of moisturizing the hair.
- Using products with harsh ingredients: Sometimes, hair care products are filled with a bunch of chemicals that sound gibberish, and they’re not always great for the hair.
- Heat from styling and tools: Hair straighteners and curling irons tend to be too hot. This makes the hair vulnerable, and without proper treatment, this can lead to damage.
How Can You Prevent Dry Hair?
The good news is there are a lot of ways to remedy dry & dull hair. A plethora of hair care products is designed to moisturize the hair from the cuticle to the scalp. It’s also important to create habits that prevent drying out the hair. In taking care of thick hair, there are things that you should do sparingly, daily, and weekly. These hair care tips can help prevent and treat dry hair:
- Know When to Shampoo Your Hair
People with thick hair can survive with less frequent washes before the oiliness shows. There’s no one-size-fits-all number when it comes to how often you can wash your hair. Factors such as the environment, sweat, dirt, hair type, and oiliness contribute to how often you should see bubbles on your hair.
For starters, consider using shampoo every other day. If you think your hair can go one more day without washing, you can skip, too. When things get itchy and uncomfortable, the bottle of shampoo is your friend. After all, figuring out how to take care of your body has a lot to do with listening to it.
- Use Conditioner Every day
Conditioner is as crucial to your hair as moisturizer is to your skin. Because shampoo can be harsh, applying conditioner replenishes moisture. As a result, detangling and styling become a breeze. It also strengthens the hair by protecting the cuticle. Too much damage leads to hair breakage, and it takes on damage every time you go out. A conditioner can help reverse the damage.
- Set a Weekly Schedule for Hair Treatment
Protecting the outer layer of the hair can only do so much. This is why adding a hair treatment to your routine is essential. Hair treatments penetrate the hair to repair damage and strengthen it. Keratin treatment, scalp treatment, hot oil, and hair spa are examples of hair treatments, which a professional can do at a salon. You can also do it on your own at home by buying hair treatment over the counter.
Having hair treatment at least once a week should suffice. Think about it as part of your self-care checklist. In this one day of pampering yourself, consider leaving the treatment on your hair for 20 minutes. Then, you can do the rest of your self-care activities with a shower cap on.
- Check the Kitchen for Home Remedies
Let’s face it: thick hair takes up way too much product. One way to save a little money on taking care of your hair is to dig into your pantry.
The kitchen is home to natural and sustainable alternatives to hair treatments. You can make DIY hair masks out of oils, fruits, and even beer. Here are some of the ingredients that contain vitamins, protein, and minerals are beneficial for the hair that you may already have in your kitchen:
- Natural oils. Coconut oil, almond oil, castor oil, jojoba oil, and corn oil contain Vitamin E and antioxidants—these aid in retaining moisture in the cuticle.
- The protein in beer smoothens and shines the hair. To use it without the smell, spray a few drops of beer on wet hair after shampooing and let it dry on its own.
- Egg and mayonnaise. Both ingredients are rich in protein. You can mix them with water, olive oil, or water.
The Takeaway
Managing thick hair is not an easy feat, especially when it’s dry. However, you can prevent that from happening by adjusting the frequency of washing and using a conditioner every day. Hair treatments, whether in the salon or DIY, penetrate the hair layers easier, so consider doing that, too.
About the Author
Lisa is a content marketing specialist for L’Oreal Paris – an everyday, luxury beauty brand that empowers women to effortlessly be their most beautiful and confident selves through its hair, skin, and makeup products. As an advocate for women’s rights and empowerment, she is passionate about beauty and fashion as a form of art and self-expression. Outside the beauty world, you can find Lisa jamming to her favorite tunes, going on an online shopping spree, or spending time with her friends.
