How to Make Coarse Hair Soft and Silky

Many women have naturally coarse hair, which is very thick and gives you much volume. However, coarse hair is prone to dryness and breakage, making its smooth appearance tricky to manage. In addition, it can get tangled easily or become frizzy. Unfortunately, maintaining coarse hair is often a challenge.

Some factors contribute to coarse hair, including aging, nutritional deficiencies, or an imbalance of hormones. Similarly, prolonged exposure to the sun, UV rays, dust, smoke, and other environmental pollutants may make your hair feel coarse. Other habits like smoking, poor hair care, and psychological stress are also possible culprits.

However, coarse hair doesn’t have to be a problem. When you do regular hair maintenance and book hair salon appointments, these activities can help improve your condition. Also, there are various easy habits for maintaining your hair smoothly. Here are some best tips on how to make coarse hair soft and silky:

Shampoo for coarse hair

You may think that any old shampoo will do when washing your hair. However, the best shampoos have potent formulas designed to help if you have coarse hair. Thick hair needs a moisturizing shampoo to hydrate those dry stands. After you wash, get all the shampoo out and follow with a moisture-rich conditioner that you can leave in. The shampoo and conditioner combination forms a protective layer on your hair.

Wash your hair 2-3 times each week, with one being a co-washing. A co-washing is when you wash your hair with conditioner instead of shampoo. It will help remove the buildup of oil and dirt. This conditioner washing leaves behind moisture instead of removing it. Don’t go overboard with co-washing, or else you will have oily hair.

Reverse washing is another way to clean your hair and save on the rinsing. Start with applying conditioner, as this will hydrate your hair. Then, go straight to the best shampoo for coarse hair and wash it well. Afterwards, you can rinse away the shampoo thoroughly, leaving behind soft and silky hair.

Coarse hair products

Hair masks are one of the best coarse hair products. These treatments contain nourishing ingredients like oils or nutrients that give intense conditioning and hydration. They work by penetrating the hair shaft to leave your coarse hair feeling smooth and silky.

You can buy hair masks at most salons. Alternatively, you may be interested in making your DIY mask. Some popular nutrients include mayonnaise, eggs, aloe vera, yogurt, and other vitamin or mineral-packed foods. Also, add essential oils like tea tree, jasmine, spearmint, lavender, eucalyptus and rose to your masks. These natural ingredients provide extra nourishment and an incredible fragrance.

With all masks, massage them into your hair to the roots and leave them for approximately half an hour. Later, wash your hair with warm water. Afterwards, moisturize with the best conditioner for silky hair.

The best hair masks for coarse hair include:

1. Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Mask 

This mask is a simple mix of ACV and water in a 1:3 ratio. After your regular shampoo, rinse your hair with it to remove calcium buildup.

2. Avocado & Oil Hair Mask

This mix makes a paste using mashed-up avocados. Combine the ingredients with a healthy oil, such as olive oil or coconut oil.

3. Oatmeal Hair Mask

If you can’t eat all your porridge, mix in a tablespoon of almond or coconut milk with a half-cup of oatmeal. It will make a paste that you can work into your hair.

4. Honey & Banana Hair Mask

This mask is another paste that does wonders for your coarse hair. Just mash a banana with two tablespoons of honey and apply it. You can switch out the banana for an avocado here too.

How to soften coarse hair

Coarse hair needs gentle attention, and there are several ways to care for it besides hair products. Letting your hair air-dry instead of using a hot blow dryer is beneficial. Just pat your hair dry, and then leave it alone. Brush your hair while it is still wet to bring the oils down from the scalp. After all, your natural oils make the best conditioner.

Consider switching pillowcases to silk as it can protect your hair from snags and tangles. Silk won’t absorb as much moisture as cotton, so your hair will retain more of its natural oils. A gentle touch for your coarse hair goes a long way.

Best food for silky hair

Not many people draw a connection between food and silky hair. However, your diet plays a positive influence. As the saying goes, we are what we eat. The better the diet is, the healthier the hair.

When you eat nutrient-dense food, it provides life force to your body and strengthens your hair. A healthy diet improves blood circulation to your hair follicles. Drinking lots of water and skipping sugary beverages will also help hydrate your coarse hair.

Here is a list of what to eat to make coarse hair softer:

• Lentils
• Lemons
• Pumpkins
• Soy
• Spinach
• Eggs
• Fatty fish
• Tomatoes
• Whole grains
• Green tea

You should also include these nuts and seeds into your diet:

• Almonds
• Chia seeds
• Walnuts
• Flax seeds