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How to care for thick hair

Thick hair is really desirable, with those that have fine to medium hair longing for thicker, fuller locks. While to others your thick hair may seem like a blessing, to you it may cause a number of difficulties. This hair type can generally be quite tricky to manage, but get it right and you’ll have hair that’s envied by all. Here’s how to manage your thick hair and make it look amazing… 

Dolce Nourishing Shampoo
Prodigio Regenerating Oil
Intenso Smoothing Shampoo

What is Thick Hair? 

The term ‘thick hair’ refers to the width of a single strand of hair while density looks at how many thin or thick strands are grouped on the head. This means that someone can have fine hair that’s also very dense. Alternatively, a person can also have thick hair that is not dense. Of course it is possible to have dense and thick hair, which can be especially difficult to manage, but you can control this hair type for amazing results, you just need to know how. 

How to Care for Thick Hair 

Everyday care for thick hair comes down to the products you use, as well as a few tips and tricks that just require simple changes to your hair care routine. The key to improving thick and unmanageable hair is to increase the moisture content to smooth, detangle and soften. 

Washing Thick Hair 

For everyday use, try the Intenso Shampoo, a sulphate free, non-paraben shampoo with Avocado and Green Tea and over 95% natural ingredients that helps to hydrate and soften thick hair, Follow with the Intenso Mask which has a recipe packed with over 90% natural ingredients like Shea butter and Almond and helps to tame, moisturize and strengthen thick hair. 

Bonus tip: Take our free online hair quiz to discover your own personalized hair care routine.

Image of Rossano Ferretti Parma's Intenso moisturising & smoothing shampoo and the softening & smoothing mask.

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If you hair is thick but also coarse or over-treated and always in need of maximum moisture then why not try our new Dolce Shampoo and Dolce Mask combination with up to 97% naturally derived ingredients like Keratin, Sunflower, Shea Butter and Grape that help to super hydrate the driest, coarsest and thirstiest of thick hair. 

Close-up photo of half the face of a girl with green eyes and blonde hair.

When it comes to choosing products for your thick hair, opt for natural ingredients over artificial. Hair care products such as shampoos and conditioners packed full of harsh chemicals and manmade ingredients can strip the hair of moisture and natural oils, often causing thick hair to become really dry and brittle. This will make thicker hair very difficult to manage. Instead choose products that contain a high percentage of natural ingredients and that will actively nourish your hair, whilst also working to smooth and soften to make it easier to care for and to style.  

Avoid over-washing your hair, which can further worsen the dryness. The natural oils that our scalp creates are really good for the hair, but if you wash your hair too much these oils are stripped before they are able to give any benefit. 

Take Care When Drying Thick Hair  

Air drying isn’t much of an option when you have thick unruly hair and heat doesn’t do thick hair many favors either. When the hair is wet, it’s in its most vulnerable state, prone to breakage and split ends. To avoid, gently towel dry the hair and detangle with a wide toothed comb, or if blow drying, partially dry your hair before using a blow dryer. To avoid heat damage and keep your hair looking as healthy as possible we recommend doing this on a medium heat setting.. 

Thick hair blowouts taking you forever? If your blow dry takes an enormous time and works your arms more than a gym class, one great solution is to use a high quality dry shampoo such as our Vivace Dry Shampoo crème which means even if you only wash your hair once or twice a week that you can still cleanse your scalp, and refresh your style, in between washes. 

Brush your hair daily using a natural bristle brush. This will help to distribute the hair’s natural oils from the roots throughout the length which will moisturize, as well as help to protect against frizz and humidity but always brush gently; hard brushing can break and damage the hair strands. 

If you wake up with frizz, try using a silk pillowcase to help reduce this. Sleeping on your hair loose can also cause additional dryness and split ends as it gets caught at night and causes friction. Try sleeping with your hair in a loose braid instead to protect the ends. 

Image of Rossano Ferretti Parma's Dolce nourishing shampoo and the repair and nourish mask

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Managing Thick Hair and Solutions 

Common issues with thick and/or coarse hair include dryness, frizz, tangled hair and stubbornness. Here’s more information about each problem, and how to manage it: 

Dry Hair 

If your hair is thick and coarse, you’re very likely to struggle with dryness. Coarse hair includes all three layers of the hair shaft; the cortex, cuticle, and medulla, making it more difficult for moisture to penetrate deep into the strand. This can result in a rough texture, wiry or damaged, dull looking hair. 

To improve this, keep in mind that thick and coarse hair should be treated differently to fine to medium hair. Improving dry hair is all about hydration. Use a weekly hair treatment for thick hair. Or for very dry and dehydrated hair try our Dolce Mask These hair treatments will help to soften and smooth thick, difficult hair, alongside your weekly hair care routine. A treatment will really give your hair a boost of hydration and will help you keep on top of managing your thick hair. 

Frizzy Hair 

Frizz is another common problem in those with thick hair and/or coarse hair. If your hair is naturally frizzy, you’ll find that humidity makes it worse and can make your hair really tricky to manage. 

To reduce frizz, limit the amount of heat you use on your hair. Blow drying, curling and straightening can all strip moisture from the hair and cause split ends, which can make frizz even worse. To smooth unruly hair, apply the  Intenso Serum before you blow dry. With 99% natural ingredients, like Coconut oil and Tree butters detangles and smooths. A serum will work wonders when it comes to sealing the hair cuticle to create a sleek finish and minimize frizz. You could also try giving your hair a blast of cold water at the end of washing – this will help seal the cuticle as well and will add a natural shine. 

Stubborn Strands 

Dry and/or frizzy hair can be difficult to style. You might find that you can easily achieve the style you want, whether that’s straight, curly or wavy, but once you leave the house your hair seems to have a mind of its own, going back to its natural state within minutes of getting out into the fresh air, especially when it’s humid.  

The trick here is to learn to manage and tame your stubborn hair, using the care advice above to reduce frizz and increase the moisture in your hair. You can also add a few drops of Prodigio Oil, at the end of your blow dry or every day in the morning, which helps to seal the hair strands, as well as protecting against static and humidity. 

Image of a man with blonde curly hair showing Rossano Ferretti Parma's regenerating Prodigio oil in his hands.

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Tangled Hair 

Thick unruly hair is often impossible to untangle. You might find that even after applying a rich hair mask, after your shampoo, your hair gets tangled again when you remove the towel. For this reason we suggest you use a leave-in conditioner, such as our Dolce protecting and detangling spray, before you brush your wet hair. This will help avoid breakage and protect your hair from heat during your styling rituals. 

When you get your thick hair right, the styling opportunities are endless. Thick and full hair is really flattering, so make the most of your locks and take a few extra measures to ensure your thick hair is healthy and easy to manage. Just a few tweaks to your current hair care routine and investing in some luxury products will work wonders and completely transform your hair. 

Styling Tips For Thick Hair 

Keep On Top Of Trims 

Split ends can look more prominent on thick hair. They appear and make what is supposed to be a gorgeous, full mane appear dull and lifeless with stringy ends. To say goodbye and make your hair shinier,  get trimmed regularly. You can also ask your stylist to ‘take the weight out’ by adding face framing layers that give shape and body to your hair.  

Add Texture  

For an easy-going, natural hairstyle for thick hair, use a styling spray like our Favoloso Movement Spray. Use it to create beautiful beach waves that give your hair body and volume  without the added weight of a gel or heavy mousse. Using a serum after every wash can also help smooth down frizz before styling.  

Half Up Half Down 

Opting for a half-up half-down hairstyle can take some volume out of the bottom of your hair, making it easier to manage on busier days. Centre partings also look great on thick hair as your hair will be evenly distributed on both sides, creating a more balanced look.  

Take our free online hair quiz to discover your own personalized hair care routine and enjoy healthy and nourished hair with Italian Designer Haircare.