Who doesn't want soft silky hair? But to give your tresses that feathery touch, you’ll need to learn some tricks on how to get soft hair.
There are a lot of reasons why your hair might be becoming dry and coarse. Your lifestyle and food habits could be major contributors to this.
Luckily, these issues have simple solutions. Oh, just a little change in your diet here and some new hair care products there!
Although some people are blessed with naturally soft hair, people like me have to learn how to get soft hair.
There are a lot of ways in which you can make your hair soft. Some of these even give you long-term results.
How To Get Soft Hair - especially for MEN
I’ve listed a few such tips and tricks for soft hair in this article. So if you want to know how to get soft hair, read on!
Use hair products according to your hair type
This is something that a lot of people tend to ignore while selecting a shampoo and conditioner. Different hair products are formulated for different hair types.
If you use a product that is not suitable for your hair texture, then it will not give you the best results.
Take curly hair, for example! It requires needs that extra dose of hydration.
So the shampoos formulated for them usually have a lot of moisturizing ingredients in them.
Any other type of shampoos might make curly hair dry and brittle.
These products can also change depending on other things like the climate or seasons.
So you have to consider everything before selecting hair products that actually work for on hair.
Use a t-shirt to dry your hair or use hair dryer on cool setting
I’m sure a lot of you must be familiar with this method. But for those who are clueless about it, T-shirts are more gentle on your hair than a bath towel.
You have to make sure to use a cotton t-shirt so it absorbs all the water.
Wet hair is much weaker than dry hair so you have to be gentle with it when you are drying or brushing.
A towel can be aggressive on your hair cuticles but a t-shirt doesn't have the rough grooves of a towel.
This method is very common among people with curly hair because it helps in reducing frizz that usually happens when you are towel drying your hair.
Do not wash your hair with hot water
You can wash your hair with lukewarm water but if you are a fan of hot showers, it might take a toll on your hair. This is especially not advised if you have dry hair.
If you want soft hair, your hair needs to be moisturized. Hot water can strip off the natural oils in your hair which will make it dry and brittle.
It can also cause scalp irritations like dryness, itching, redness, etc. Your roots tend to become weak and your hair frizzy.
Use conditioners at the tips
If you want soft hair, you have to be generous with the conditioner on the tips. When your hair starts getting dry and brittle, it affects your ends pretty badly.
In fact, dry ends are an indicator of unhealthy hair and they start looking dull and dehydrated.
Your roots don’t really need a lot of conditioners since it is new hair that is healthy and moisturized.
Your ends, on the other hand, have gone through a lot so it needs that extra dose of nourishment and hydration.
Start working the conditioner from the middle of your hair and move to the ends.
You can even use a wide-toothed comb to distribute it evenly and make sure that your strands are fully covered.
Use a hair mask
A hair mask is one of the fastest ways to revive your dull and lifeless hair.
This hair care product can be incorporated into your weekly hair care routine to get smooth and soft tresses.
A hair mask is similar to a conditioner but they usually have a thicker consistency.
They coat your hair and provide intense nourishment and hydration in a single use.
If your hair is dry, you will find a lot of oil-based hair masks that cater to dry hair with ingredients like shea butter, Moroccan oil, etc.
These usually have to be kept on your hair for a longer duration than a conditioner. You will even find hair masks that should be kept overnight!
DIY HAIR MASK FOR SOFT HAIR
If you are on a budget, you can always do a DIY hair mask. Hair masks can also be made at home using simple ingredients found in your kitchen.
You can alter the ingredients according to your hair type to get the best results.
Some of my favorite hair masks for moisturizing and softening hair are:
- Oily hair
Apple Cider Vinegar - ¼ cup
Lemon - 2 teaspoon
Jojoba Oil - ½ cup
The goal of this hair mask is to remove the excess sebum from your hair so your hair doesn't look too greasy.
Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and apply it all over your hair. Leave it on for at least 15 minutes before washing it off.
- Combination hair
Yogurt - ½ cup
Strawberries - 6
Baking soda - 1 teaspoon
Strawberry is rich in Vitamin C which helps in making your hair soft. The proteins in the yogurt will make your hair stronger.
Simply mash the strawberry and mix in the rest of the ingredients. Leave it on for around 15 minutes before washing it off.
- Dry hair
Avocado - 1
Jojoba OIl - 1 teaspoon
Banana - 1
Mash the Banana and Avocado and form a thick paste. Mix the jojoba oil and apply it to your hair.
Leave it on for at least half an hour to get smooth and soft tresses.
Hair masks can be stubborn and get stuck to your hair.
So if you are using ingredients like yogurt, mayonnaise, etc, you will have to shampoo twice. Otherwise, it could lead to scalp buildup.
It is also important to not use a mask more than twice a week because it could potentially clog your pores and irritate your scalp.
You should also clean and massage your scalp thoroughly after using a hair mask.
Oil your hair regularly
If you haven't been oiling your hair already, this is your cue to start. Oiling is one of the most important practices that are necessary for soft and moisturized hair.
You can use any natural oil for this but my favorites are coconut oil, almond oil, jojoba oil, olive oil, and of course, Moroccan oil.
Oiling not only hydrates your hair but also strengthens and fortifies it.
Hot oil treatments can work wonders on your hair. Simply warm your oil and massage it on the scalp for a few minutes. This gives you amazing results that last long.
You can even use hair oils as a hair mask and leave it on overnight or at least an hour before washing your hair. This is a great method for people with dry hair.
Limit your use of styling tools
Hot styling tools like flat irons and hair dryers are great at temporarily making your hair look soft and sleek.
But they have long-term implications that can take a toll on your hair texture and strength.
When you expose your hair to high temperatures, it could strip off the natural oils of the hair. This can also lead to coarse, frizzy, and brittle hair in the long run.
So if you are someone who uses these tools, make sure to use a heat protectant spray or cream before styling to ensure your hair remains protected.
Minimize exposure to the sun
Your hair needs to be protected from the harmful UVA and UVB rays of the sun, just like your skin. So it is best advised to stay away from sunlight as much as possible.
Sunlight attacks the cuticle and makes your hair dry and brittle. Whenever you are going out in the sun, make sure to cover your hair with a hat or a silk scarf.
Avoid chemical treatments
If you want soft hair, it is better to steer clear of chemical treatments like hair coloring and rebonding.
Such treatments can alter your hair structure by eliminating oils and making your hair dry.
Although certain chemical treatments like rebonding, smoothening, and keratin treatment can give you soft hair.
The results are short-lived and could harm your hair in the long run.
Eat a healthy diet
Your diet can really play a huge role in your hair health. If you drink enough water and eat a balanced diet, your hair will be smooth and shiny.
It is important to include lipids like omega 3 fatty acid and flaxseed oil in your diet to have healthy hair.
Check out our favorite - HONEY.
You should also eat food rich in iron like jaggery, lentils, spinach dates, etc.
If you feel like you have a deficiency of certain nutrients, you can even take hair supplements regularly to see good results.
It is important to take care of your overall health if you want soft and healthy hair.
If your diet is not right, it will be difficult to get good results even after following the above tips.
Getting Manly soft hair
I hope this article helped you get some pointers on how to get soft hair.
The softness of your hair depends on the hair cuticle. If these cuticles lay down flat then your tresses will feel smooth and appear shiny.
So it’s important to take care of hair health and not just depend on hair moisturizers for superficial fixes for soft hair.
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