Thick, Commercial-Worthy Hair: A Cheat Sheet
Full-figured with a kick... just the way we like it.
If you’re one of those women who sighs longingly at the hair in shampoo commercials, you’re not alone. Healthy-looking thick hair is one of the holiest of holy grails in the industry, the quest for which surpasses age, race, gender, religion or sexual orientation.
Thick hair owes its widespread appeal to simple biology. Since the time of our ancestors, clues to a healthy genetic makeup—and conversely, signs of ill health or poor genes—could be found in several physical features, one of them being a full, healthy head of hair. So whether you’re looking to make your full head of locks more manageable, or are looking to create some volume, read on to discover our cheat sheet to thicker strands:
Tips and Tricks for Styling Thick Hair
From a styling perspective, thick hair is a blast to play with and looks incredible… when it’s healthy, that is. The possibilities are endless when you don’t have to worry about how much hair you have, or if certain products will cause breakage or hair loss. Like being kids in a candy store, having thick hair allows you to pick and choose from a variety of products with minimal restriction.
Maintaining Healthy, Thick Hair
Unfortunately, there’s only so much that bottle of biotin can do for you, especially if both your parents are prone to balding and thinning hair. The good news is, even though your genes may be out of your control, all other factors aren’t. Below, we list a few tips to caring for and encouraging the growth of thicker hair:
Wash and care
The hallmark of healthy-looking strands, regardless of texture, is a strong, shiny, squeaky-clean gleam. A clarifying shampoo and conditioner that gently rids hair of daily gunk without stripping it of moisture is key, like Nexxus Therappe Rebalancing Shampoo and Nexxus Humectress Restoring Conditioner. A deep-conditioning treatment mask, such as the Nexxus New York Salon Care Humectress Replenishing Masque, provides that extra shot of silky-smoothness.
Nexxus
Nexxus Therappe Shampoo
Leave-in treatment and spray
A virtually weightless leave-in product acts as an extension of your wash and care regimen, so choose one that prolongs its moisturizing benefits as well as manage your density as well. A detangling product such as Dove Quench Absolute Leave-In Detangler addresses both issues, as well as provide smoothness as well. Thick hair is also prone to looking dull and lackluster, so for you city-dwellers, products that shield from daily aggressors like TRESemmé Climate Control Finishing Spray (because UV rays and humidity are such a pain) are also good to have in your arsenal. Sun damage, the silent enemy!
Styling products for thick hair
Thick, healthy hair looks its most fabulous when it’s full and shiny. And in case you weren’t blessed with density, your caveat is pumping hair up for that much-envied volume. Achieve this by using a volumizing mousse or blow-dry lotion before blowdrying, such as Dove Style+Care Volume Amplifier Mousse. Whether or not you straighten or curl is your choice; just make sure locks are coated beforehand with a proper texturizer.
Finishing product
Mimic that celebrity-like sheen with a light shine spray like Bed Head by TIGI Headrush Shine Hairspray. Be careful to blast only from the mid-lengths to the ends to prevent losing volume at the root. Damaged ends can also use some attention with a slick of serum.