7 Practical Tips to Make Coarse Hair Softer

Coarse hair has a very distinctive texture. With the wrong kind of care, coarse hair can become maddening. It gets frizzy and dry and stubbornly refuses most efforts to style it differently. Fortunately, you can learn how to make coarse hair softer.

In this article, we’ll go over seven helpful tips to make naturally curly, coarse hair soft.

How to Make Coarse Hair Soft

The story behind coarse hair begins with the size of the hair itself. Hair strands come in all manner of different diameters, and a coarse hair texture typically means the individual strands have a large diameter.

However, strand size only tells part of the story. Thick hair often becomes rough and stiff due to a lack of moisture. Large strands need more water to retain their body, so coarse hair can quickly become dried out.

1. Hydrate

Hydration forms the basis of softening coarse hair. Getting more water into your body will put more water into your hair in short order. Adequate hydration also helps maintain healthy nerve endings near the roots, a key factor for robust hair growth.

If you have coarse hair, consider upping your water intake. Everyone’s body has slightly different hydration demands, but you don’t need to overthink how much water to drink. A couple of liters a day should suffice for most body types and activity levels, but the more, the merrier.

2. Oil Up

Once you have your body hydrated well enough to support healthy hair, you need to keep the water in your locks. Treating your hair with oil can further enhance the hydration of your hair and soften its texture.

Oil treatments for hair come in two primary forms: moisturizing oils and sealing oils. Moisturizing oils open up the pores and penetrate the hair itself to add moisture. For that reason, they work best before shampooing when they can help other products work their way into the hair.

Sealing oils, in contrast, lock the moisture into the hair. That same mechanism means it can keep moisture out; applying it too early in the regime can exacerbate dryness. But, with the right timing, sealing oils add fantastic shine and long-lasting hydration.

3. Wash Wisely

Good news! Coarse, dry hair might signal that you can get away with less frequent washing. Shampoo strips oil away from the hair and scalp, which opens it up to dryness and removes much of the nourishment that keeps hair soft and supple.

With less frequent washing, your body gets more time to adjust the production of natural oils, and your hair gets less stress, minimizing breakage and frizzing. Added bonus? Less washing means less money spent on hair products and water.

Certain products can have a more prolonged impact on your hair’s texture, which also sweetens the deal. You spend a little more time at once, fewer times per week, to get a better look.

4. Shop Around

When it comes to hair care, one size will never fit all. Everyone’s body chemistry has subtle differences that make their hair respond slightly differently to various products. If your hair doesn’t improve, don’t get discouraged, and don’t be afraid to try something different.

Finding a product that works for you might require shopping around a little bit.

5. Be Brand Loyal

Once you find a product that gets a good response from your hair, stick with it, and consider adding more of their complementary products to your regime.

We’ve all read the back of the label on shampoo X that recommends using conditioner X. It may seem like a scheme, but in reality, product manufacturers use some sophisticated chemistry to make sure their products complement one another. For that reason, a shampoo that helps improve your hair’s texture may become even more effective with the related conditioner.

6. Mask Up

A hair mask goes a step beyond the typical conditioner, giving a lasting treatment to coarse or dry hair. Masks need a little longer on the head to get the greatest effect but done correctly, they provide dramatic results with less effort.

A mask applied to a damp-but-not-soaking head of hair and left to rest for around 10 minutes will bring body and flexibility to your hair’s texture. It takes a little time, but it does make an excellent excuse for some extra me-time.

7. Turn Down the Heat

Hair can easily become damaged when overexposed to heat from hair care accessories. The expansion and contraction of the hair itself lead to cracking and coarseness. Turning down the temperature on things like straighteners or blow dryers can limit some of the stress.

With the right treatment, coarse hair textures can lead to absolutely stunning styles. Figuring out how to make coarse hair softer takes a bit of effort, but it’s doable. Then, you’ll be looking and feeling amazing.