5 Hair Types No One Talks About (and How to Deal With Them)
Oily and dry, gray and dyed, natural and relaxed—whatever your hair combo, these expert tips will restore harmony.
By Melissa Goldberg
Fine + Damaged
Even though fine strands are smaller in diameter than their thick counterparts, they have a higher percentage of cuticle, which can provide extra protection from chemical damage, says Westman. But fine hair often doesn't hold a style as well, so you may rely heavily on straighteners, curling irons, and blow-dryers. Over time, that heat can deplete your strands of moisture, causing dullness and breakage.
Wash: To treat damage without weighing down your strands, reverse your cleansing process: Condition, then shampoo, says Fugate. This allows the conditioning agents to penetrate the strands and coat the cuticle, protecting hair from any harsh cleansers.
Treat: To step up your defense, you can also apply a deep conditioner weekly. "When choosing any product, make sure it's labeled as weightless or for fine hair," says Wilkerson. "Otherwise your strands could look limp and lifeless."
Style: While healthy hair can handle the pull of a stiff boar-bristle brush, brittle strands may be too delicate. "The bristles can scratch the cuticle, making weak strands more vulnerable to damage," says Kingsley. Use a paddle brush, which has large bristles gentle enough for any hair type. .Wet Brush Galaxy Detangler, $10; TheWetBrush.com.
The best body-building routine? Apply a heat protectant, then a volumizing mousse or spray to the roots, says Chiccine. Blow-dry on low to medium heat, or air-dry and wrap sections around hot rollers, which are typically less damaging than curling irons. Pureology Clean Volume Weightless Mousse, $28; Pureology .com
Wash: To treat damage without weighing down your strands, reverse your cleansing process: Condition, then shampoo, says Fugate. This allows the conditioning agents to penetrate the strands and coat the cuticle, protecting hair from any harsh cleansers.
Treat: To step up your defense, you can also apply a deep conditioner weekly. "When choosing any product, make sure it's labeled as weightless or for fine hair," says Wilkerson. "Otherwise your strands could look limp and lifeless."
Style: While healthy hair can handle the pull of a stiff boar-bristle brush, brittle strands may be too delicate. "The bristles can scratch the cuticle, making weak strands more vulnerable to damage," says Kingsley. Use a paddle brush, which has large bristles gentle enough for any hair type. .Wet Brush Galaxy Detangler, $10; TheWetBrush.com.
The best body-building routine? Apply a heat protectant, then a volumizing mousse or spray to the roots, says Chiccine. Blow-dry on low to medium heat, or air-dry and wrap sections around hot rollers, which are typically less damaging than curling irons. Pureology Clean Volume Weightless Mousse, $28; Pureology .com
From the November 2017 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine