Hair Care Routine for Thick Hair

The most common misconception about thick hair — and treating thick hair — is confusing it with your hair density. When it comes to hair care, thick hair refers to the width of a single strand of hair. For this reason, when crafting a hair care routine for thick hair, you must also take into account that you can have thin density, straight, or curly texture pattern types, or any combination of them. Here, we’re detailing how to care for thick hair types of all finishes.

As we mentioned, the thickness of your hair (thick, medium, thin) has to do with the width of your individual hair strands. While your hair’s density has to do with how many hairs you have. So, it is possible to have thick hair with thin density, or thick density with thin hair — each requiring a different care routine.

Because thick hair is, well, thicker — it generally feels stronger than most other hair types, but it can also feel stiffer and be more tedious to care for. Breaking down a hair care routine for thick hair, we’re sure these tips will leave you feeling inspired to revamp your current regimen.

Like many hair types, scalp care can completely change the way your hair looks, feels, and performs. While up until now, many scalp treatments (especially scrubs) lacked the ability to work efficiently, the SCALP.SPA SCRUB falls in its own category that works wonderfully on thick (and dense) hair types. Instead of using dissolving exfoliants like sugar or salt, the SCRUB uses perlite spheres to exfoliate and gently remove impurities from the scalp and hair follicles.

Unlike other hair types that get bogged down by oil, thick hair doesn’t need to cleanse as often. This hair type greatly benefits from natural oils, so if you shampoo too often, you might actually notice an increase in frizz and breakage. Instead, plan your wash days accordingly, and if you must wash, consider swapping one of your washes with a cleansing treatment like RE.STORE.

Thick hair can take much longer to dry. So whether you’re prepping your hair to air-dry or blow-dry, invest in a microfiber towel to blot excess moisture and detangle with caution. Anytime you brush your hair — from detangling to blow drying — do so with caution so as to not cause breakage. Adding a detangling leave-in for your hair type like UN.TANGLED and using a paddle brush or a wide-toothed comb are the best ways to prep your hair before styling.

Thick hair can sometimes have its only volume built in. But depending on your cut and texture, it can prematurely fall flat at the roots. For this reason, consider using BODY.BUILDER weightless volumising mousse at the scalp to even out your finish.

Because it takes so long to dry, thick hair often ends up being damp or damaged from heat styling. To create a healthy balance, add HEATED.DEFENSE heat protection to cut down on damage, then layer EVER.SMOOTH cut down on frizz, add smoothness, and extend the longevity of your style. Then, rough-dry your hair first to remove 80-90% of the moisture before finishing with a round brush. This will help you dry your hair without drying it out.

Trust the experts on this one, depending on your length and desired haircut, removing weight with the use of layers, thinning, and texturisation improves your finished style and manageability. For thick hair, the addition of layers within a haircut creates movement and even allows you to air-dry your hair with ease.

While the first place to begin your hair care routine for thick hair is always in the salon, the next best place is by enhancing your routine with the right products. Whether you’re looking for a few quick fixes or a care overhaul, find your perfect match here.