Whether you’re trying to fight frizz, add definition, or simply make it easier to handle day-to-day, this guide (with video) is here to help you fall in love with your natural texture.
My whole life I’ve had people ask me how I get my thick, coarse hair to look the way I do. I have had so many requests (from women of all ages) to make a how to guide for hair, that I finally decided it was time to create one! I hope this post, and accompanying video, will help you get the gorgeous hair you’ve always wanted!
1. Start in the Shower - hydrate from the start!
🧴 Choose the right Shampoo & Conditioner for thick, coarse, frizzy hair
- Use sulfate-free, paraben-free, synthetic-free, moisture-rich shampoos and conditioners. Sulfates can strip hair of its natural oils, which are already in short supply for frizz-prone textures.
- I absolutely love Rocky Mountain Soap Company shampoo and conditioner.
- Cleans hair without stripping it of its natural oils.
🧴 RULES FOR WASHING THICK, COARSE, FRIZZY HAIR:
🧴 RULES FOR CONDITIONING THICK, COARSE, FRIZZY HAIR:
If your hair is feeling rough or dry, a weekly deep conditioning treatment is a game-changer.
How to use it:
Apply to damp hair, focusing on the mid-lengths and ends.
Leave it on for 20–30 minutes.
Use a warm towel or shower cap to help it penetrate better.
Favorite picks:
Use your favourite natural conditioner and leave in for 20-30 mins
- Use a natural oil treatment like Saje Hair Serum (use 15-20 drops), brush through thoroughly, then leave in for 20-30 mins prior to shampooing.
2. REMOVE EXCESS WATER
Rough-drying with a regular towel? That’s a recipe for more frizz! Instead:
Gently blot and squeeze with a microfiber towel or cotton T-shirt to gently wick moisture away.
- Leave towel on hair for 15-20 mins while getting ready. This will remove a ton of moisture naturally!
Avoid aggressive towel-drying (twisting or ringing out hair) or brushing while wet.
3. ADD IN PROTECTION AND MOISTURE
Hydration shouldn’t stop after the shower. Lock it in with a natural lightweight oil to seal in moisture and add shine. This approach helps combat frizz and boosts manageability all day long.
4. AIR-DRY OR BLOW-DRY THICK, COARSE, FRIZZY HAIR?
Both air-drying and blow-drying are possible for our thick, coarse hair. To prevent frizz and minimize damage to your hair, follow the below steps.
To Air-Dry:
- Find hairs natural part
- Brush through hair
- Let air dry
- DO NOT sleep on wet hair. If needed braid hair before sleeping to prevent damage.
- Find hairs natural part
- Brush through hair
- Direct flow of air from root to tip
- DON’T
- Flip hair upside down & blowdry
- Move blowdry back & forth all directions
For faster drying, use a blow dryer with a diffuser or concentrator nozzle, and keep the heat on medium to minimize heat damage. Always apply a heat protectant (I use the Hair Serum) before any hot tool use.
5. Style or curl
💁♀️ Bonus: Embrace Your Natural Texture
While there are plenty of ways to tame and smooth thick, coarse, frizzy hair, don’t be afraid to embrace what makes it beautiful. Our hair type has natural volume, body, and character that many spend hours trying to achieve.
Try air-drying to bring out natural waves or curls. Or experiment with protective styles like braids, buns, or twists to reduce manipulation and showcase your hair’s strength and versatility.
To style in a braid:
- Once hair is dry begin braiding
- Use hair wax stick to calm down any fly aways
- Great when running short on time
- Helps calm fly aways and frizz
- Once braid is taken out – hair has a gorgeous wave!
⭐️ Not sure how to braid? If you’d like me to create a how to video please let me know in the comments below!
How to curl thick hair
I like to use a pointed tip barrel curling iron.
Why I use pointed tip barrel curling iron?
- No Clamp kinks
- Heat & hold start at top of the curl where you need it
- Natural looking
- Versatile
How to chose the barrel size?
- min – able to wrap your hair in a full rotation around the barrel.
- smaller barrel = tighter curls
- TIP: curl tighter than the desired look as curls will loosen once cooled and over time.
What heat to choose?
- Start @ lowest heat & test with small section
- Slowly increase heat as needed = desired result
curling technique
- Prep & Protect
- Ensure hair is completely dry
- Apply protectant (see previous)
- Section your hair: see video for details
- Create 2 sections @ ear
- Twist & secure top section
- Split bottom section into 2
- Brush to smooth
Take 1/2″-1.5″ section & comb through before curling
3. Curl one section at a time:
- When releasing the curl either:
- pull the end to create loose beachy, irregular curls
- OR allow the curl to fall gently into the palm of your hand and wait a few seconds before you release it for even curls
- problem with pulling: curl pulls apart – gently wrap it
- Optionally alternate directions:
- all in the same direction
- or try alternating directions
- Repeat in small sections:
- for a more natural look:
- alternate thickness of sections
- alternate direction of barrel
- for a more natural look:
4. Let the hair COOL completely
- Do NOT touch curls:
- allow to cool completely
5. Finish your style as desired. Now your curls will last for up to 5 days!
Thick, coarse, frizzy hair doesn’t need to be “fixed”—it just needs the right kind of attention. With a consistent routine that prioritizes hydration, gentle care, and styling techniques that enhance your natural texture, you’ll be able to work with your hair, not against it.
So go ahead—let your hair do its thing. Just give it the love it deserves, and it’ll return the favour tenfold. 💁♀️✨
BONUS: HOW TO MAKE CURLS LAST 5 DAYS!
Thanks for reading all the way to the end! As a bonus, here are some tips to help make those curls last for at least 5 days! Each day the curls will look a little different, as the curls loosen a bit, but I think that’s part of the beauty. You get a unique and gorgeous look each day without your hair looking greasy or dirty!
Video guide for thick, coarse, frizzy hair
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