*I was provided with Lilla Rose Flexi Clips. There are affiliate links in this post.

I’ve had thick hair since middle school. Whenever I get my hair cut the stylists comment on how thick my hair is. In my case, it’s not that the strands are thick but I have so many. Hair stylists always tell me that if I ever experience hair thinning later on, it will take forever for anyone to actually see through to my scalp because I just have so many hairs. I know I am blessed to have thick hair some ways, but some days my hair drives me nuts. In high school I kept it shoulder length and it was wavy so I straightened it every single day. I used heat protecting spray but with the daily use of my straightener the ends would eventually get damaged and cause more poof and frizz. For the last few years I’ve been trying to let my hair grow out which has made it SO much straighter than it was when it was shorter. I love how the long length weighs it down to make it straight but having long, thick hair gets hot when I leave it down during warm weather and it is difficult to put up. Most clips are too thin to hold more than a tiny portion of my hair. Most plain hair ties let the ponytail slide down my head after just 20-30 minutes of wear. I’ve experimented with a lot of products and have found a few solutions for long, thick hair problems. Here are my tips for people with thick and long hair.

1. Use enough conditioner. When my hair was shoulder length or shorter it never tangled and only got dry during the winter so I’d use only a small amount of conditioner. Now that my hair is more than halfway down my back, it tangles – I think mainly from getting caught in my sweaters and coats but also from wind or movement. I use at least a half-dollar size amount of conditioner and it makes my hair much more manageable.

2. Scunci No-slip Grip Evolution Jelly Ponytailers. I don’t think I look very good with my hair pulled back in a plain ponytail, but I put it in a pony or bun when cleaning or cooking at home. I was using THREE regular hair ties for a ponytail or bun and it would still slide down my head by the time I had finished cooking or cleaning. I would also get a headache from having the hair ties on so tightly. I decided to try the Scunci jelly hair ties – they feel like those rubbery bracelets and are really lightweight. I don’t really understand why they work but just a single one keeps my ponytail or bun in place for easily two or three times longer than regular hair ties. They pull my hair out if I just pull the pony tail off, but I’ve learned that if I slowly untwist each ring from around my ponytail then it comes off without a problem.

3. Flexi clips. My hair gets tangled if I leave it down when I am outside so if we go out anywhere I like to put my hair half up or sometimes in a twist. Most hair clips are either really big and bulky (and attention grabbing!) or are really thin and aren’t thick enough to hold even 1/2 of my hair. Flexi clips from Lilla Rose come in several sizes and each clip has three grooves so you can adjust how tight it is. For me, the size small is great for a half up (this size is perfect for holding all of the hair above my ears) while the size medium works for a full pony. I can make a braid and then pull it back up in a twist and secure it with a size small as well. If I try to do a un-braided twist (so the base of my hair and the mid-section of my pony is in the clip) then the size medium is too small, so a large would work. The clips go up to a size XL so even if your hair is REALLY thick you’ll be able to find a lilla rose flexi clip that fits you. I love how they are pretty enough to be suitable for weddings or other somewhat formal events but not so attention grabbing that they feel out of place to wear around the house or to the grocery store.

4. Have your hair layered. If your hair is poofy then having layers can prevent it from looking like the bulk is all concentrated on the ends. I like to have my hair cut with a razor which is basically tons of teeny tiny layers which makes my hair look and feel thinner while not leaving any portion of my hair significantly shorter than the rest so I can pull it all back into a ponytail still.

5. Have hair thinned. When you get your haircut you can ask your hair stylist to thin your hair with thinning sheers to remove a bit of the bulk without having a visible layer of shorter hair. If you’re brave enough you can buy the Hair Thinning Scissors yourself and use them at home. The sheers remove just a few hairs from each batch of hair that you feed into the sheers but its important to remember that it will cut a few of the hairs so make sure you don’t trim too high. If you use the sheers an inch from your scalp then a few of your hairs will be 1 inch long – eek! I thin my own sometimes but I start just above my shoulders so none of my hair ends up too short.

Do you have thick hair? What products or hair care methods have helped you get the look and feel that you desire?

Emily

Hi there! I am Emily Evert, the owner of Emily Reviews. I am 28 and live in a small town in Michigan with my boyfriend Ryan and our two pugs. I have a large family and I adore my nieces and nephews. I love reading memoirs, and learning about child development and psychology. I love watching The Game of Thrones, Teen Mom, Sister Wives and Veep. I like listening to Jason Isbell, John Prine, and other alt-country or Americana music. I created Emily Reviews as a creative outlet to share my life and the products that I love with others.

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