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Those with fine, curly hair walk a tightrope when working to keep their hair moisturized. They must navigate through a world filled with thick, heavy conditioners, which often leave their hair feeling greasy and suffocated. Though it sure was hard, we figured out the best way for our fine-haired naturalistas to keep their curls hydrated while not weighing them down in the process.
Lay Off the Conditioner
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This one may seem obvious, but for many of us, better conditioning equates to adding more product. Your coarse-haired counterparts might benefit greatly from slathering on butter-like conditioners, but the same can’t be said about thin, fine hair. In fact, for fine hair, some even suggest completely eliminating leave-in conditioners and instead relying on detanglers.
Use Products That are Plentiful in Protein
Your thin hair requires a strong foundation to better retain moisture. To do this, incorporate more protein into your hair care routine. Protein temporarily seals pores in the hair shaft, temporarily holding it in hydration. Use these products in moderation, however, for too much can leave your hair feeling drier and more brittle than before. If you find that a protein-heavy product is too rough on your hair, consider substituting a product whose protein ingredients are located further down the list.
Focus on Moisturizing the Ends Rather Than the Roots
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Especially if you were raised to apply grease and oil to the scalp, it might seem natural to channel most of your energy into putting hair products on your roots rather than your ends. Though the curly-haired community still debates what’s best, those with thin hair should avoid applying too many moisturizing products to the root.
Doing so will only weigh your hair down and give your hair follicles little room to support new growth healthily. As a rule of thumb, start by rubbing conditioners and similar products across your hands to ensure evenness, and begin applying them three to four inches away from the root.
Pre-poo the Hair Before Shampooing and Conditioning
Though it may seem tempting to condition often to accommodate dry tresses, conditioning too often or leaving in product for too long can weigh your hair down even more. Fine hair is more prone to hydrostatic fatigue, which occurs when the hair follicles stretch and weaken while absorbing water. Undergoing overnight and/or deep-conditioning treatments makes the hair more vulnerable to this costly process.
While weakening your hair, excess water and conditioning can also weigh your fine hair down. Pre-pooing can help accommodate the product-heavy process if you still decide to condition. Pre-pooing provides naturalistas with many benefits, including preventing any damage to fine hair during shampooing and conditioning. This process can give thin, fine hair enough strength to resist being weighed down by heavy conditioners.
Don’t Leave Essential Oils Out of Your Hair Care Routine
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To oil or not to oil. It’s a question that those with fine but curly hair often struggle with. But any hair type will benefit from a little bit of oil. Because fine hair’s fragile structure makes it more susceptible to damage, sealant oils such as argan, jojoba, and almond oil can help lock in the moisture provided after a much-needed conditioning treatment.
But as mentioned before, be sure to start around three to four inches around the root when applying your favorite oil, paying special attention to your ends. But as you probably know all too well, using too much can make your hair a stringy, heavy mess that can take hours to rid yourself of. So keep oil usage to less than a dime-sized amount.
