Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images
Although thick hair certainly has its benefits, it often has a mind of its own, becoming frizzy or poufy and just plain refusing to stay down. Even while other women admire your luxurious locks, you may be cursing your unmanageable mane. But don't get too frustrated with your tresses. Having the proper haircut, styling tools and hair products can help you solve your pouf problems so you can become hair happy.
Conditioner
Thick hair needs plenty of moisturizing to look its best, so invest in a salon-quality conditioner specially formulated for thick hair. The editors at "Allure" magazine suggest using Joico Silk Result Smoothing Conditioner for Thick/Coarse Hair. This conditioner contains silk amino acids, silicones and keratin that work together to reduce poofiness and make thick hair less bulky. After shampooing your hair, gently blot your tresses with a towel to remove any excess water. Apply a generous amount of conditioner and let it sink into your strands for about three minutes before rinsing.
Styling Tools
You thick-haired gals certainly know that you need extra time to dry and style your hair, but using a hair dryer and flat iron is practically a must for getting your hair to stay down. "Allure" editors recommend using the Solano SuperSolano 3500Lite 1800 Watt Professional Dryer. This Best of Beauty award winner uses infrared heat and ceramic technology to dry even the thickest hair in just 15 minutes. The "Allure" gals also suggest using the FHI Heat Runway Styling Iron, which has the rep for straightening super thick hair quickly without frying your luxurious locks.
Hairstyles
Getting the right haircut is key to making your thick hair stay down. The editors at "Seventeen" magazine suggest asking a professional stylist to give you "thinned-layers" with special thinning scissors. This should remove a lot of that pouf-causing bulkiness, allowing your hair to lay a little flatter. Hair length is another important factor for you thick-haired gals. The "Ladies' Home Journal" editors suggest either keeping your hair longer than chin-length or cutting it in a super cute, super short pixie crop style. Any length in between will likely cause your hair to pouf out like a mushroom.
Styling Products
To keep your thick hair from poufing up and out, always apply a straightening balm to your towel-dried hair before using heat styling products. The editors at "Seventeen" suggest using Nexxus Sleek Memory Straightening Smoothing Spray. This product actually trains your hair to become straighter each time you use it, which means you'll soon be able to get your hair to stay down in no time flat. If you also suffer from the frizzies, apply a thin coat of frizz-fighting serum after you style it. If you're having one of those days where your hair sticks up in spite of all your hard work, hide your hair while looking stylish by pulling it off your face with a glamorous hair band.
