There are a lot of misconceptions out there about fine natural hair. As someone who has fine strands, I’ve learned the dos and don’ts of caring for feathery hair.
Fine hair refers to hair strands that are small in diameter, compared to coarse strands which have a larger diameter. To illustrate this, imagine your hair strands are like sewing thread. Fine strands are like a thin piece of thread used to sew something like a silk dress. Coarse strands are thicker, like yarn. Thinness and thickness of your hair refers to density, which is how many strands of hair you have on your head.
Fine hair is delicate and can be prone is breakage. If your hair is constantly breaking off at the ends, it can be difficult to maintain length and grow your hair long (if that’s what you want). Fine hair can also get weighed down easily with too much product. But, stress not! Fine hair can also be shiny, bouncy, and can hold styles well.
Here are some tips for managing your fine natural hair:
Be gentle when detangling
It’s important to handle your fine strands with care. When detangling, always start from the bottom of your hair and work your way to the top. Use a wide tooth comb (like this one) or a detangling brush (I use the Felicia Leatherwood Detangler Brush).
Better yet, finger detangle! I like to use my fingers to detangle my hair first, and then go in with a brush or comb if needed. My holy grail product, the African Pride Moisture Miracle Aloe & Coconut Water Pre-Shampoo, has amazing slip and moisturizes my hair while keeping shedding and breakage to a minimum.
Use strengthening products
For those of us with fine hair, it’s important to fortify our strands. Protein treatments work on natural hair by essentially reinforcing and strengthening the hair’s structure. Protein treatments contain hydrolyzed proteins (smaller protein fragments) that penetrate the hair shaft and fill in gaps. I like to use protein treatments with a good balance of strength and moisture, like the Mielle Babassu & Mint Deep Conditioner.
In addition to protein treatments, I regularly do henna masks and glosses. Henna molecules bind to the keratin in the hair shaft, creating a protective layer that adds thickness and reinforces the hair’s structure. Making henna part of my regular routine rgives my hair great shine and elasticity. It’s important to use high quality henna — I only use Curly Proverbz henna. Her Henna and Aloe Masque makes my hair super silky and shiny! Henna will live a reddish brown tint on your hair, so this may not be the best option for you if your hair is color treated.
Get regular trims
This sounds counter-intuitive, but when you have fine natural hair, getting regular trims can actually allow you to maintain length and grow your hair out!
Fine strands get raggedy at the ends more easily due to things like styling, dryness, too much heat, and just everyday wear and tear. Getting split and scraggly ends trimmed prevents the split from going further up the shaft. The longer you hold on to split ends, the more hair you’re going to have to cut off down the line. Don’t hold on to things that don’t serve you — let that dead hair go!
Everyone’s hair is different. Fine hair isn’t worse than other types, it’s just more delicate. Take time to learn what your hair needs. Have patience for your fine natural hair and it’ll flourish!
This blog post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. Please note that I only recommend products that I personally use and believe in.
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