Here is the know-how in a simple, easy-to-follow weekly hair care guide for thick hair:

We all dream of having full, thick, flowing hair, but hair of this type can become a nightmare if you don’t know how to manage it. It’s important that you know how to clean, treat and style thick hair, and thankfully, there are ways to do this without adding hours to your routine! Here is the know-how in a simple, easy-to-follow weekly hair care guide for thick hair:

Monday  
Due to the fact that thick hair is a lot dryer than most other hair types, ensure that you use a good quality shampoo that has specifically been made for thick hair. Shampoos of this kind are filled with oils and vitamins that your hair naturally lacks and needs.

Thick hair needs to be washed thoroughly. Removing all dust, oil and soap is the first step in managing the health of your hair and keeping your hair looking gorgeous. If your thick hair is not washed properly, it may cause scalp problems such as dandruff. Sufficient rinsing is vital! This cannot be stressed enough! Rinsing is just as important as knowing which products to use, how to use them and when to use them.

Conditioner is a must for thick hair, especially if your hair is very dry and brittle. Massage the conditioner into your wet hair; leave it in for a few minutes and then rinse thoroughly. This will help to lock in moisture and leave your hair feeling soft and silky. Also, important to note, use a shampoo and conditioner from the same brand as they are designed to work together. Shampoos and conditioners from different brands may work against each other.    

Once the conditioner has been washed out completely, and your hair has been towel dried, apply a leave in conditioner. This will make your hair even sleeker. It will also help keep the moisture in from washing your hair and will leave your hair glossy until your next hair wash.  

You can then style the hair as you wish. Blow-drying your thick hair would be your best bet. It can cut down on the appearance of thickness and will help smooth your hair out. Work with a brush to straighten and manage as you blow-dry. Use a large paddle brush or a large round brush to work through the hair. Be careful not to overly brush the hair. This will make your hair flat and static making your hair go frizzy and flyaway. Use your fingers to add volume.  

Tuesday
Do not wash your hair again. Thick hair should not be washed every day. This will only dry your hair out further making it look a lot coarser and more difficult to manage. Wash your hair every other day or every third day. Unless your hair is really oily, washing it every day is essential.  

Having thick hair means that you’ve got a lot to deal with! So, washing your every day is not really ideal anyway. Choosing a proper hairstyle is imperative to looking good with your luxurious locks. This is also another way to control your thick hair. Work with what you have and go for a cute updo instead. You can experiment with a bun, braids, ponytails, and various hair accessories. Many women would kill to have a luscious head of thick hair, so play around with it and have fun!

Styling thick hair can be a bit of a challenge. Use light styling products such as sprays to add shine or a light mousse for a smoothing effect to help you out. Just be careful not to use too many styling products. One product is enough. Don’t go overboard with styling products. They can weigh your hair down and make it appear thicker. It can also cause a lot of product build-up to develop. You may need to try out a few styling products before you find one that works for you. Once you find a styling product that will leave your hair glossy, shiny and luxuriously thick, stick to it.

Intensive conditioning treatments are vital for rebuilding hair follicles and repairing dry, brittle hair. A moisturizing conditioner with detangling properties is the best choice for this type of hair. Distribute conditioner evenly throughout the hair, saturating the entire head from the roots to the ends for maximum benefits. Let the conditioner sit for at least 15 minutes, then rinse.

Wednesday
Thick hair can become unmanageable. Nurture and control your thick hair with a hair treatment. Hair treatments aid dry, brittle hair, split ends, over-processed locks, flyaways and static tresses. A hot oil treatment is perfect for treating a dry and itchy scalp which often comes with having dry, thick hair. It will also help to restore the normal balance of oil in the hair and get rid of build-up.

Intense chemical treatments, such as bleaches and perms should be avoided. These treatments cause the hair strands to swell making the hair look a lot thicker. You don’t want a treatment that will make your hair look thicker. You want a treatment that will protect and promote your thick hair.   

For an all-natural treatment, apply olive or coconut oil to your hair. Natural treatments are better for your hair as they don’t contain any chemicals that may damage your thick hair. Apply the oil to your hair and leave it to work. Use a shower cap to cover the hair. This will keep the body heat trapped inside, enabling the oil to penetrate more deeply.

Leave the hair treatment of your choice to work overnight. Treatments of this kind should only be used once a month.

Thursday
Make sure you rinse the oil treatment out of your hair properly. If you battle with this, use a clarifying shampoo to help you out. Conditioner should be avoided at all costs. Once your hair is squeaky clean, leave it to air dry. Whenever you get the chance, let your hair air dry instead. Too much heat can damage your hair. Give your hair a break from hot tools once in a while. Use rollers or hair pins as an alternative.     

If you do, however, absolutely love your hair straightener or blow-dryer, there’s no need to shut them out completely. Use a thermal styling spray before you use your hot tools. Make use of products containing hydrolyzed wheat protein to repair gaps along the hair shaft, and jojoba oil, which smoothes the cuticle and helps to repel UV rays. Simply spritz it on your damp hair and style as usual.

Embrace the natural texture of your hair! Most thick hair has a natural curl or wave to it. Try a few good quality products to work with your thick, natural texture. This will improve the condition of your hair and can also take away the coarse nature of it.

Friday
Constant heat styling can sap your hairs moisture and weaken your strands leaving your hair dull, brittle and prone to split ends. Bring back the moisture and strength in your hair with a deep conditioner. Deep conditioners control frizz by restoring moisture to the hair. Shampoo the hair as per normal, then work the deep conditioner in your hair from root to tip. Comb the deep conditioner through with a wide tooth comb. To trap heat from your scalp and help the conditioner to penetrate the hair cuticle, cover your hair with a shower cap. Leave the deep conditioner in your hair for about 10 minutes, then rinse thoroughly. Dry and style as usual. Deep conditioners should only be used once a week.  

Thick hair is usually the envy of both men and women. A blessing, and not a curse, this hair type can look unbelievably sexy when it is treated correctly and with the right products. This easy-to-follow weekly hair care guide will prove it.

Now that your goregous thick hair is  looking its best- why not plait it? Try out Blake Lively’s braid. Or read how to braid your hair with our braid encyclopaedia.