How To Style Thick Hair: Tips, Tricks, and Things To Avoid

Fortunately, there are things that you can do to make styling thick hair easier—without committing to a big chop or relegating your mane to a ponytail. Here, we’ll share some of our top tips for thick hair and clue you in on some of our favorite cuts and hairstyles for thick hair. Keep reading and prepare to put bad hair days in the past.

1. Get a layered haircut

Those who have extremely thick hair often find that their mane feels heavy, even if it’s on the shorter side. Getting a layered haircut can help remove some of that weight (and bulk) without sacrificing your length. This small change makes styling a much less tedious task—and helps ensure that your hair is voluminous in all the right places.

If you want a shorter cut, consider asking your stylist for a textured lob. This piecey cut usually hits around the collarbone and boasts soft layers cut throughout for body, texture, and movement. The classic shag is another great option for those with thick hair. The retro haircut for thick hair features choppy layers that remove bulk and give your hair a tousled, rock-and-roll feel. If your hair is wavy or curly, styling this cut is also a breeze—it’s made to look a little messy, so in many cases, all you’ll need is a curl-defining leave-in to help enhance your natural texture.

Those looking to rock longer hair may want to try face-framing layers. With this cut, your stylist will cut soft layers into the pieces that surround your face to remove unnecessary weight and help accentuate your features. Your layers can start anywhere from the cheekbones to the jawline—we suggest asking your stylist what approach they think is best based on your hair type and styling preferences.

2. Use frizz-fighting products

Generally, those with thick hair are more likely to experience frizz—and this goes double for those with thick, curly hair. One way to combat those flyaways is by incorporating an anti-frizz serum into your styling routine.

3. Let your hair air dry (partially)

Blow-drying can be a serious arm workout when you have thick hair. One way to cut down on styling time—and to give your arms a break—is to let your hair air dry until it’s 70 to 80% dry, then go in with your blow dryer and brush. This trick will give you better results and will have you out the door much faster. To help shield your hair from unnecessary damage, set your blow dryer on the lowest heat setting and prime your hair with a heat protectant.

4. Thin out your hair

If you don’t want to embrace a new chop but find your thick hair is harder to manage than you’d like, consider simply asking your stylist to thin out your hair. This simple technique is one of the easiest ways to make thick hair look thinner without going shorter or cutting obvious layers. To thin your hair, your stylist will use special shears to remove bulk from specific areas of hair. The process is similar to layering, only you won’t see any noticeable difference in your hairstyle or length—your strands will simply appear a bit less poofy (and be much easier to manage).