Hair Products I’m Currently Loving

We all have such different hair. I never really understood that growing up. I assumed I could have hair just like my friends (who I now know how straight, thin hair  – and not much of it). Alas, after many years I’ve found thick hair products that help me and my hair coexist!

Like any thick-haired lady, I have my share of horror stories of getting my hair brushed when I was a kid. I’ll be the first to tell you that I hated showering and I am the biggest wimp in terms of head-toughness.

My hairstylist is still in shock (after over a decade of doing my hair) that I’m so sensitive to pulling on my hair and brushing. He doesn’t understand how someone with so much hair can be so tender-headed. What can I say? I’m special! Hah.

Thick Hair Products

Anyway. After 30 years together, my hair and I have finally come to a happy place. I know what it will and won’t do (my hair is surprisingly very kind to me) but more importantly, I’ve found the best thick hair products to get us to a happy place.

If you have oodles of hair like me, then you’ll love these products. Some of them I’ve used for years (like my shampoo, conditioner, and detangling spray). Others are more recent additions. I’m so in love with all of these thick hair products, however, that I just had to share.

With that said, even if you don’t have thick hair, you should check out these products. Few of them are actually designed for thick hair, so they’re fairly universal…

Best Shampoo for Thick Hair

I’ve gone through my fair share of shampoos and conditioners. I have long, thick hair that’s also chemically-treated. I can’t do “conditioning” or “smoothing” lines because they weigh my hair down. And we certainly don’t need “thickening” products.

TIGI Bed Head ‘Resurrection’ Shampoo and Conditioner, however, are hands down the best I’ve ever used. They help with heat damage and are great for colored hair. The pair is just $25 and the bottles LAST A LONG TIME! (According to Amazon, the last time I bought the pair was nearly two years ago…)

I recently started adding Matrix Brass Off into my shampoo to help keep my blonde brighter between hair appointments. It works very well at maintaining the cool tones of my bright blonde hair!

And since it’s winter and my scalp gets dry, I have been starting with Head & Shoulders classic shampoo. Since I don’t like the smell of the H&S, I use it first, only on the top of my scalp and rinse it out very thoroughly. Then I do a hefty dose of the Bed Head shampoo mixed with the Brass Off.

If you’re looking for a shampoo bar, I’ve been using the Spring and Vine bar and enjoying it. My hair feels clean and it lathers pretty easily!

Best Detangler for Thick Hair {leave-in conditioner vs. spray}

If you have long and/or thick hair, the debate of leave-in conditioner vs. detangler spray is a moot point in my book. The leave-in conditioner serum/goo you have to rub on your hands and ‘disperse evenly’ through your strands is an annoying process at best.

It takes me so much product to really get it throughout my hair. I go through product too fast and my hair ends up weighed down. Instead, I opt for a detangler spray.

Detangler sprays are basically slightly watered-down leave-in conditioner serums that you can spray EVENLY throughout your hair.

I’ve been a fan of the ENJOY Conditioning Detangler Spray since the beginning. It comes in a large bottle with an easy to use spray nozzle. It’s my first step after towel drying my hair and it’s the only way I can get my fingers or a brush through my wet hair. It’s is the absolute must have in thick hair products!!

UPDATE: I’ve been using this Olaplex Bond Smoother. It works quite well at conditioning my hair post shower, making it fairly easy to brush through.

Best Hair Serum for Thick Hair

I use two different products for calming the frizz/poof. The first is ENJOY’s Straightener. Before you run for the hills, this products DOES NOT STRAIGHTEN your hair. All my natural waves still come through when I use it.

Instead it’s a frizz-control product. It doesn’t weigh my hair down at all and it’s another long-time product in my arsenal. I use about a half-dollar sized dollop, rub it frantically between my hands and tszuj it everywhere.

The Olaplex bond smoother I mentioned above works well in place of this serum as well.

If you’re wondering how to get soft hair, I mean LONG, SOFT LUXURIOUS HAIR, then you need a serum or oil. I’m a recent convert to this whole charade, let me tell you.

Since I’m so worried about weighing my hair down, an oil seemed like the last thing I wanted to add to my hair! Now that I’ve started using one, however, I can’t imagine not using it.

I can blow dry my hair and my hair doesn’t look schizo! It looks ready to go even without sprays or flat-ironing. I’ve been using the Oaui Hair Oil and IT IS AMAZING!!! The scent is subtle and of the few oils/serums I’ve tried, it’s by far the best at making my hair soft and smooth, but not limp!!! I use about a dime-size and rub it all over my hair.

A NOTE ON ORDER OF PRODUCTS: I’m writing these product reviews in the order that I use them. After I towel dry my hair, I spray the detangler, then I add in the Straightener, then the hair serum all before styling!

Heat Protection Spray {how to apply to thick hair}

I mentioned above that after 30 years, my hair and I understand one another. With so much hair, blow drying, curling, and flat ironing are not 5-minute endeavors. I balk whenever I see those beauty videos. It just isn’t possible for all the hairs on my head.

What I didn’t realize for so many years, however, was that longer hair doesn’t mean more work. Really, the length of my hair is what helps me out. The weight of my hair makes my waves more subtle and makes a straight hair day that much easier!

With all that said, I’ve been blow drying my hair much more than I ever used to (still only 1-2 times per week), so I want to protect my hair from the heat. Now, many of these products have heat protection built in to them, but having another layer of protection doesn’t hurt.

The thing about the heat protectant spray is that it can weigh your hair down, BUT if you’re wondering how to apply the spray to thick hair, the answer is in sections.

Each section of hair I take down to blow dry, gets a couple of spritzes. I hold the bottle about 12″ away from my hair to get coverage and to avoid getting it all in one place!

I’m excited to try this Innersense prep spray. Innersense is a clean beauty hair company and this bottle doesn’t have any aerosols!

Finishing Products: Shine Spray + Anti-Humidity Spray

I’ll keep this part short and sweet, since I’m just venturing into these two types of hair products.

If you’re looking for a gloss spray to add some shine, slow some frizz, and feel some fabulous, try this spritz by Giovanni!

And this Oribe Anti-Humidity Spray! You can read my full review of it here! Long story short – I’m obsessed.

Get these thick hair products. . .