What Is Coarse Hair? How to make coarse hair soft and silky?

Living with coarse hair is like having a unique superpower – it comes with both special abilities and daily challenges. Your coarse hair gives you something many people dream of: amazing volume. This natural fullness lets you create gorgeous hairstyles that others might struggle to achieve.

Managing coarse hair isn’t always easy. It tends to get dry quickly and often becomes frizzy throughout the day. When it’s dry, your hair might tangle more often. Then, it can break more easily than other hair types.

To make your coarse hair more soft and smooth, it is important to pay attention to moisture. It can be applied for straight, curly, or natural hair. We all have the perfect care routine for you. Let’s begin your hair care journey together!

What is coarse hair?

First, don’t confuse thickness and coarseness. Hair thickness is about how much hair on your head. Coarseness is about how wide each single strand of hair is. You can have coarse hair even it is straight hair, wavy hair, or curly hair.

Think of coarse hair as thick rope compared to thin string. Each strand is wider than normal hair. This actually makes it the strongest type of hair, which is why it can hold styles well and often grows nicely.

But there’s a trade-off. While coarse hair is naturally strong, it needs extra care because it:

• Gets dry easily
• Can become brittle
• Often turns frizzy
• Breaks more easily than you’d expect

The most important thing to remember? The answer is hair moisture. If you have coarse hair, try to keep it hydrated. It must lie in your hair care routine.

How can you tell if your hair is coarse? Coarse strands feel solid when you touch them between your fingers. They are also easily visible against a different background because they are wider than a piece of sewing thread. Additionally, as you bend a coarse hair, it quickly springs back to its original shape.

The reasons for having coarse hair can be beyond our control or within our control. Here are some common reasons why hair can feel coarse. One major factor is using the wrong products. Some hair care products contain harsh chemicals. They can damage your hair over time. It can lead to a rough and coarse texture.

Consider environmental factors as well. If you frequently exposed to strong sunlight, windy conditions, or pollution, you can dry out your hair. These elements will make the hair appear coarse and brittle. Genetics is another significant factor. Coarse hair often runs in families. Therefore, if your parents or grandparents have coarse hair, you might inherit that trait.

As aging, the hair tends to change as well. It can become thicker because the hair follicles grow larger. This may contribute to a coarser feel. Lastly, hormonal changes affect hair texture. They can happen during events like menopause or pregnancy. This leads to a coarser hair texture.

What causes coarse hair?

Genetic factors

Coarse hair is primarily determined by the inheriting factors from parents. We might think it is not possible to transform coarse hair into straight and smooth hair as it is genetics. In the next sections, we will suggest how to utilize and improve hair coarse without using any heat and chemical methods.

Environmental effect

This is an inevitable factor that everyone has to face. The daily sun exposure and harsh climate significantly affect our hair texture. UV rays from sunshine and heat weaken the hair cuticle and make it more fragile.

Also, the dust, dirt and smoke from pollution damage the hair shaft, forming a layer and stick to the hair cuticle, making the hair more rough and dull.

Unhealthy diet

Human hair is mainly made of keratin protein, which provides strength and flexibility. Hair health depends heavily on the nutrients we consume. A poor diet causes lack of vitamins and proteins, leading to hair becoming more fragile, weaker and prone to break and coarse.

Coarse hair issue

Requires extra care than normal hair type

Due to the wider hair strands and thick volume, it is hard for the natural oil and moisture to distribute evenly to all the hair surface. Besides, the high hair density and thickness prevent hair treatment products from absorbing deeply into hair roots.

Easy to dry and brittle

Coarse hair is referred to as the strongest and thickest hair type, which could protect it from external hair damage factors such as sun rays, chemicals and pollution. On the other side, the wide and thick hair strand makes it more difficult for the natural scalp oil to spread down along the hair shaft, causing it to lack moisture. As a result, it tends to become brittle, frizzy and dry if not taken care of properly.

Difficult for hair styling

In the styling process, coarse hair is protective from heat and chemicals, which can be beneficial for the owner if one wants to have instant healthy hair look without damaging it much. In fact, thick hair is resistant to these styling methods, thus requiring extra heat and stronger chemicals for perfect hair shape, which could break the hair structure and cause it to break later on.

Amazing tips to transform coarse hair into silky hair

Provide extra hydrations

Rough hair texture requires a deep moisture to maintain its soft and smooth. Consider using smoothing and softening products such as sulfate-free shampoos or moisturizing conditioners, which are designed for dry hair, to maintain the hydration.

If shampoo and conditioners are not enough, apply a hair mask or hair oil weekly as extra treatment for deeper repair and nourishment.

Adjust hair wash routine

Overwashing is not a good habit for a healthy hair look. Washing your hair everyday removes the natural scalp oil, which strips away the hair barrier, which is essential to protect hair strands. 

Try to stretch out the washing day to twice or three times a week for a healthy oil balance. The combination of hydrating products and proper hair wash routine is key for hair recovery.

Limit heat styling

Restrict high heat setting in the styling process reduces damage to the hair structure. Using heat tools such as a curling wand or a flat iron causes your hair to become more dull, brittle, and crispy, even split ends.

If it is unavoidable for not using heat styling, try to apply hair protectant before using any tools, and not remaining it on the same spot for too long. If we can reduce the frequency, it is better to reduce the usage time as much as possible.

Avoid chemical treatment for instant result

Coarse hair owners tend to have chemical treatments such as relaxers or perms to quickly fix the hair shape to straight and seem-to-smooth hair. Over time, these methods destroy the hair cuticle and cause irreversible damage. If not treated properly, it might lead to the worst case of trimming damaged hair parts. The better alternative is to focus on sustainable solutions for long-lasting silky hair that provides hydration and moisture.

How to make coarse hair soft and silky

1. Utilize natural air to dry your hair

Blow drying your hair can make it dry faster. But it’s not great for your locks. The heat can dry them out too much, leaving you with split ends and broken strands. Nobody wants that!

Instead, after washing your hair, you should gently pat it with a towel. You can also use an old t-shirt to get rid of water. Then, wrap it up for a bit. This helps it dry faster but keeps some moisture in. Your hair will stay soft and beautiful.

2. Avoid washing your hair every day

Your scalp’s pretty smart – it makes its own natural hair conditioner! These oils keep your hair smooth and soft. And it will protect it from stuff like wind and sun. When you brush hair, you are spreading oils all over the head. You will give your locks a nice little coating.

Don’t wash it every day. Washing too much actually strips away those good oils your hair needs. Instead, do that just once or twice a week. It gives your hair time to soak up nourishing oils. Your hair will thank you for it! This will result in soft and silky coarse hair.

3. Ensure you have proper nourishment through your diet

If you want to make your rough hair soft and shiny, it’s not just about what you put on your hair. It is what you eat matters too. You can add oily fish to your meals. They can be sardines, mackerel, and salmon, with lots of Omega-3s for your hair.

If you don’t eat fish, go for seeds and nuts. Pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, flax seeds, or sesame seeds have proteins and other stuff to help your hair look nice.

Also, pay attention to beta carotene in your food. It keeps your hair strong and healthy. Eating these foods will make a big difference in how to make coarse hair soft and silky.

4. Maintain hydration for body

It is not just about how to make coarse hair soft and silky. But, you should stay hydrated with fresh, raw fruits, and vegetables. 

You can eat melons, papaya, guava, squash, sweet potato, pumpkin, and cucumbers. In addition, reduce sugary drinks like concentrated juice and soda. Drink 2-3 liters of water daily to benefit overall health. It will also promote soft and silky coarse hair.

5. Seek out suitable products

Select special hair products for how to make coarse hair soft and silky. You should opt for specifically formulated ones. Shampoos and conditioners for coarse hair contain moisturizing ingredients. They can penetrate the outer hair layer. 

When washing your hair, be gentle, not rough or harsh. Try not to cause tangles, frizz, and dryness. Additionally, incorporate a deep conditioning treatment into your hair care routine. It is really beneficial for coarse hair. Finally, using a conditioner on your coarse hair provides nourishment for it feels soft and silky.

6. How to make coarse hair soft and silky by using hair masks for treatment

How to make rough hair smooth and silky at home? Once a week, you can use a mask for coarse hair. This mask provides essential nutrients to your hair. It helps prevent dryness and frizz. 

Another option is to try hot oil treatments. This action is easy yet cost-effective. This treatment penetrates and saturates the hair cuticles. It will add moisture to your coarse hair. By using these, you can give your coarse hair the hydration. It will have a soft and silky texture.

7. Apply oils to your hair

When you ask for how to make coarse hair soft and silky naturally, use oils for a head massage. It can be incredibly beneficial. Oils possess conditioning and nourishing properties help combat dryness. They will make the hair shine and soft. The oils you can use can be sesame oil, avocado oil, and olive oil. 

Simply massage the oil into scalp and hair. And then cover it with a cloth or scarf. Leave the oil on for around an hour. This time allows the oil to deeply penetrate and nourish hair.

8. Try hair rinses

Consider incorporating hair rinses into your hair care routine. There are different oils for dry, coarse hair including rose, spearmint, lavender, clove, jasmine, eucalyptus, and tea tree.

To start, mix a few drops with a cup of water. You need to store it in a spray bottle. Then apply the hair rinse throughout your hair. The hair rinse should stay for a few days without damage.

When it comes to how to make coarse hair soft and shiny, these rinses help much. They will prevent dryness and frizz. It will also nourish and hydrate each hair strand. As a result, it will make your coarse hair soft, silky, and shiny. Use the hair rinse 1-2 times a week.

9. Sleep on a silk pillowcase

Your rough, dry hair can get tangled easily. In this case, try sleeping on silk. It helps protect your hair while you sleep. Silk pillowcases are smoother than regular cotton ones. Sleeping on it, your hair slides around on them more easily. Therefore, it doesn’t get all knotted up or break.

In addition, silk does not suck up moisture like cotton. As a result, your hair keeps its natural oils. And, it makes the hair look shiny and healthy. When your hair keeps these oils, it will feel less dry.

Make sure you buy real silk pillowcases. Some stores sell fake ones that they call “silk-like”. Real silk is the best choice for taking care of your hair. It might cost a bit more, but it’s worth!

How to know if you are having coarse hair?

Wide hair strand

Understanding one’s hair type is helpful in selecting the right products. Coarse hair  is used to describe a hair with a wider strand than other hair types. Unlike normal hair, it is made of three layers of hair shaft: cuticle, cortex and medulla.

Thick and rough texture

The contribution to coarse texture is not only the hair strand size but also the feeling when we touch our hair. It usually felt rough and dry due to moisture deficiency.

(source: Freepik)

High hair volume

Many people wondered if it is bad to have thick hair texture as it offers the desirable voluminous look. However, if we don’t take care of it properly, it is easy to get tangled and could lead to hair dryness and split ends.

Strong and dense appearance

Besides the great volume due to the high density of hair strands, coarse hair also offers a strong and healthy look to its owner, which is beneficial to do hair styling as this hair type tolerates heat and chemicals better than other hair texture. On the other hand, it is also a big challenge to maintain this look with shine and softness.

Difference between coarse and dry hair

It might sound confusing to distinguish coarse hair and dry hair as they have nearly the same texture and look. Below are quick comparison that might be helpful to identify one’s hair condition:

• Coarse hair: Referring to a natural or genetic hair texture and used to describe the width of an individual hair shaft. This hair type is not necessarily bad because it brings a strong and thick look, meanwhile offers great volume, fast hair growth and hard-to-break texture. Hair damage is caused if only in a serious lack of moisture. We might feel rough, textured and sturdy when touching it.
• Dry hair: Referring to a negative condition of hair. Hair dryness might come from external factors such as environment, improper hair care routine, unhealthy diet, etc. The texture of dry hair is similar to coarse hair: rough, brittle and somewhat unsmooth. In fact, hair dryness might happen to every hair type if one’s hair is not nourished enough.

In Conclusion,

Want to turn your rough hair into something soft and silky? Follow the mentioned methods in this article will help you: Use products made for coarse hair. They work better than regular stuff. Try hair masks and oil massages. These really help feed your hair what it needs.

Don’t forget about what you eat and drink. Good food and lots of water help your hair too. Even getting enough sleep can make a difference! All these little things add up to make your hair smoother. It might take some time, but you’ll see your hair look better. Got questions about how to make coarse hair soft and silky? Just ask Jen Hair!