If you’ve got dry, frizzy hair that’s hard to tame, you might be looking for a quick fix. But even if you want super-smooth locks, it’s best to go the healthy route. After all, there are a thousand ways to damage your hair — from heat styling and chemical treatments to product buildup and more. And the more damaged it is, the harder it will be to make it smooth again. We’ve compiled some of our favorite tips for making rough hair silky — permanently!
Photo by Honey Yanibel Minaya Cruz on Unsplash
1. add moisture to your hair with a deep conditioning treatment
Deep conditioning treatments are not just for your hair. You can also give your skin the moisture it needs with a deep conditioning treatment. After you shower, soak a washcloth in hot water and squeeze out the excess water. Wrap the washcloth around your face for 5 to 10 minutes. You don’t want to do this too soon, or the moisture will be diluted, which could tear your skin. Let it dry and then moisturize as usual afterwards.
For skincare advocates, sun sensitivity is more than a skin problem. If you’re sensitive to the sun, you probably already know this. But the bad news is that even if it mostly doesn’t bother you — and it might not bother you at all — you could be doing more damage to your skin than good. A recent study found that people with summer gray death tan spots developed hyperpigmentation in 4 years, despite positive skin exams.
Dry skin is a problem, but if you don’t want it to get worse, you need to follow a few tricks to help manage it. First, wash your face 1–2x a week. Use shampoo that includes alcohol and a conditioner that contains water — both of which can dehydrate your skin. Then, use sunscreen twice a day. Finally, don’t use harsh products.
2. Protect your hair from heat damage by using a thermal protectant
It’s crucial to protect your hair from heat damage because heat styling tools can damage your hair and cause split ends and breakage. Heat protectant is an absolute necessity if you plan on using styling tools like flat irons and curling irons. Here’s a quick, two-minute video that shows you how to use a heat protector.
Brushing your hair can cause your natural curls to fall out. This happens because your hair is constantly moving when you brush it because of the friction from your skin and scalp. Most ointments and styling products with silicone dioxide rinse out of your hair quickly, but the silicon dioxide used in styling products acts as a barrier to prevent hair loss once it touches the liquid.
This makes it especially important to buy a hair conditioner that has low silicone, meaning it’s low enough to stay in your hair without getting runny. You don’t want your hair to absorb the product, so it’s better to use products with less silicone than a salon-made conditioner that uses a thickening agent. Any conditioner with high silicone should be rinsed out of your hair because it causes build-up, not to mention that it’ll make your hair oilier.
3. Use a clarifying shampoo to eliminate product buildup
If you’ve been using a lot of hair products, you may start to notice that your hair is greasier faster or just doesn’t seem to look as healthy as it once did. When this happens, you’ve probably accumulated too much buildup from your hair products. To fix this, you can use a clarifying shampoo.
According to Aldo, a clarifying shampoo removes dead skin cells and hair that’s come inside your pore. It also helps remove buildup from your hair products, thereby making your hair less frizzy and shiny. This solution requires some preparation, of course, but once you’ve got it in place, your hair will make coarse smooth and silky.
If you get your hair wet in the shower, you might think it’s a great idea to apply conditioner to your wet locks. But zit-bites can cause your hair to become dull and can clog pores and cause hair loss. Instead, try applying natural yoghurt to your head to cleanse it — and soften your curls.
4. Use a serum to smooth hair and reduce frizz
For best results, use a serum that contains an active ingredient like argan oil or cysteine, which is an amino acid that helps to smooth cuticles and reduce frizz. Nazarian recommends the Oribe Superfine Smoothing Serum, which is formulated with argan oil and cysteine.
But, “there are far more natural options,” says Kristine Berman, dermatologist and bestselling author of “Metropolitan.” For a natural, gentle option, pick an oil like macadamia or avocado oil to use as an exfoliant. This like clean ingredients will help the scalp remove dead cells, bumps, and the dead skin cells that can clog hair. Use an oil cleanser daily, says Berman, which can promote cell turnover and help your hair grow healthier. Give at least an hour to reap the benefits.
If you don’t want to spend the money, drying your hair can help — particularly if it’s long, inflexible hair like coily hair or kinky curls, which need to be de-angled. Keep a separate piece of hair trimmer in your bathroom, or pop in your favorite pomade before rotating your hair in the shower. Wiping can also help to loosen any tight knots that could result from tugging. If you want to take it a step further, try using dry shampoo after getting out of the shower. Just take extra caution to allow it to dry completely before blowing it out.
5. Try “no-heat” styling techniques like braids, twists, and buns
If you’re a busy professional on the go, you might not have the time to blow dry your hair every day. Try using “no-heat” styling techniques like braids, twists, and buns to keep your hair looking good. While they bring their unique challenges, styling your hair will give it much-needed hydration and give it a much-needed dose of vitamin C. Plus, it’s cute! Freezies, unfortunately, isn’t reversible. (Drink a glass of water first, though!)
Bunky curls and twist-outs are all the rage, but no rule says this must end with a hard crunch. Try nesting curls in a side-sweeping blowout for the ultimate beach-chic look, or dusting your coils with a thick layer of ivory powder for a more natural look for an all-natural look. It’s advisable to allow your hair to breathe first, to avoid heat and frizz buildup.
