How to Make Coarse & Curly Hair Soft

By: Celeigh O'Neil

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Curly hair has a tendency to be very dry, often losing its natural shine and moisture in the time it takes to walk out the door. Any time spent defining curls can go to waste, as hair absorbs any hint of nourishment and is left with a rough look. Coarse and curly hair requires care and styling different from any other hair type. It should be washed less in order to retain natural oils, and products should be chosen with care to keep drying ingredients at bay. Return coarse and curly hair to a soft and manageable state with a nourishing haircare routine.

Step 1

Wash your hair with a sulfate-free shampoo. Focus on lathering at the roots and rinse completely. Cleanse every other day if you have fine hair or every three days for thick hair to avoid stripping your hair of natural oils.

Step 2

Coat your hair from roots to tips with a deep conditioner. Formulas containing oils are best for deeply nourishing hair.

Step 3

Allow the conditioner to set for at least 5 minutes and rinse.

Step 4

Blot your hair with a microfiber towel to remove excess moisture without causing breakage.

Step 5

Apply a dime-size amount of leave-in conditioner from mid-length to ends.

Step 6

Comb your hair from root to tip with a wide-tooth comb to remove tangles.

Step 7

Work a golf-ball size amount of moisturizing mousse through your hair, scrunching upward to define curls. Avoid alcohol-based styling products that can dry out your hair and make it stiff.

Step 8

Allow your hair to air-dry in order to retain moisture and softness or dry on low heat while scrunching with a diffuser.

Step 9

Smooth a dime-size amount of hair oil through the ends of your hair to protect it from humidity and seal in shine. Repeat this step throughout the day whenever necessary.