Remedy for Coarse Hair

Even though you shower daily, you don’t need to wash your hair every day. Instead, wash your hair no more than every three days. Why? Because the combination of shampoo and water dries out your hair, which is especially bad if your locks are coarse. And swap out your regular shampoo for a moisturizing organic or all-natural kind, which won’t damage your hair. Ingredients to look for in a shampoo are shea butter, wheat germ oil or macadamia nuts, which all help to lock in moisture.

Hot oil treatments are beneficial for all types of hair, but they are especially good if your hair is coarse. They help to restore moisture to your mane, which leaves your hair softer. You don’t need to buy packaged hot oil treatments. Instead, just heat up ½ cup olive, almond or jojoba oil in the microwave for about 30 seconds. Once a week, smother your coarse strands with the oil. Leave it in your hair for a minimum of 15 minutes before rinsing and washing your hair.

It might sound crazy to load your locks with fabric softener, but it works. It gets your clothes soft, so why wouldn’t it soften your coarse hair? Plus, it makes your hair easier to untangle, which reduces breakage. Mix 2 parts fabric softener and 1 part water into an empty spray bottle. After washing your hair, spray on the solution. Comb your hair to thoroughly coat each strand, then rinse it out.

Slap on a hair mask once a week to moisturize and smooth down your coarse hair. And what to use for the hair mask? Yogurt. Don’t get the fancy stuff with chunks of fruit or whipped topping. Instead, just massage about a pint of plain, white yogurt into your strands. Leave it in your hair for 15 minutes before rinsing with lukewarm water.

Heat is a big problem when it comes to managing coarse hair. It makes your hair drier, frizzier and less manageable. Steer clear of hot showers and heated styling tools. If you can’t part with your blow dryer or curling iron, use a thermal spray to protect your hair. Avoid hair products that contain alcohol, which also dries out your hair. Comb your hair rather than brushing it so your hair doesn’t get frizzy. If you can tolerate it, wrap your hair in a silk scarf or sleep on a satin pillowcase at night to help retain moisture and protect the ends of your hair while you’re sleeping. And don’t forget to make a date with your stylist every four to six weeks to get your ends trimmed.