How To Soften Coarse Hair?

If your hair is coarse, you may be eager for some advice on how best to care for it so that it feels softer and less scratchy. Keep on reading!

What is coarse hair?

Hair thickness refers to density, or the number of strands on your head, while coarse hair refers to the width of the circumference of each strand. Thick hair can be straight, wavy, curly, kinky, and everything in between, but the defining feature of coarse hair is the diameter of the strands. The strands of coarse hair are the widest, making them the strongest hair type. While this is great for volume and hair growth, coarse hair tends to be dry, brittle, frizzy, and prone to breakage.
If you don't know what kind of hair you have, a good way to find out is to roll a strand of hair between your fingers. If the strand feels thick between your fingertips, you may have coarse hair. Another way to identify if you have coarse hair is to compare the thickness of a hair to the thickness of a sewing thread. If the strands are thicker than the sewing thread, you have coarse hair.

How to wash and take care of coarse hair?

In general, coarse hair tends to be dry. Fortunately, there are countless easy ways to rehydrate your hair.

1. Find the right product

One of the most important things about taking care of coarse hair is choosing the right hair products for your hair texture, and when it comes to products, look for those that are specifically for coarse hair, as these will have moisturizing properties that penetrate the outer layer of the hair shaft. Firstly, is the shampoo. If you have coarse hair, wash it with a moisturizing shampoo to inject moisture into your dry strands and help maintain the integrity of your dry hair. As for the conditioner, apply it to the ends of your hair and then up. If your scalp is prone to oil, do not apply conditioner all the way to your scalp.

2. Try to limit the amount of heat you use on your hair

As you know, too much heat can cause hair breakage, which most often results in thick, frizzy hair. When you use heat, be sure to use a heat protectant spray or serum, and turn down the heat of the tool as much as possible. Hot tools tend to dry out the ends of your coarse hair, as the heat evaporates the grease from your hair. When you use heat on your coarse hair, make sure to apply oil or a light serum to the ends to prevent prolonged damage and frizzy ends.

3. Apply a deeply moisturizing hair mask to your hair once a week

Hair masks have moisturizing oils that are heavy enough to effectively saturate your coarse hair, and light enough so that the oil can penetrate the shaft of your coarse hair. So your best bet is to use a deeply moisturizing hair mask on your coarse hair once a week, but not too often, as buildup can start to occur.

4. Keep your hair tips fresh and healthy

Trimming the ends of your coarse hair every 6-8 weeks is a great way to make sure your split ends don't move at your hairline. If it is possible, you can look for a stylist who has experience with coarse hair, as they will be more aware of the types of products used on your hair and how best to trim your coarse hair.

5. Sleep on silk pillowcases

Sleeping on silk will protect your coarse hair, already dry hair from frizz, tangles, and damage. Silk pillowcases provide a frictionless surface and are gentler on your coarse hair than cotton ones. Silk also absorbs less moisture, which means it can help your coarse hair retain its natural oil and shine.

6. Hot oil treatment once a week

Adding regular hot oil treatments to your coarse hair care routine can help nourish and soften rough strands. This type of care uses plant-based essential oils such as coconut, almond, or olive oil to seal the cuticle of the hair, reduce frizziness and dryness, and leave the hair silky and smooth. Follow these steps for DIY hot oil treatment.

Conclusion

Coarse hair can be bittersweet because it tends to have a lot of volumes, but sometimes it can be difficult to manage. If you have coarse hair, try the 6 methods I mentioned above.