How To Get Soft Hair
If you’ve ever dreamt of having the glossy, soft, and shiny locks flaunted in shampoo adverts, read on to find out how to get gloriously soft and healthy hair.
If your hair is feeling coarse, dry, or brittle, you may be searching for ways to inject some life into it and get it feeling soft and healthy again.
In this article, we will take a look at what soft hair is, what it means to have soft hair, and how you can look after your hair so that it is not just soft, but healthy too.
What does having soft hair mean?
If you have soft hair, it will feel soft, smooth, and manageable when you run your fingers through it.
Hair is usually soft when it is hydrated, so soft hair can be an indicator that your hair is well moisturised. If your hair feels soft, it is also likely to have a good level of elasticity.
Soft hair can look and feel great, but not all soft hair is equal. Let’s find out a little more about the different types of soft hair next.
If your hair feels soft it’s usually an indicator that it’s in good condition, which is great!
However, just because your hair feels soft doesn’t actually mean that it is healthy. In addition to being soft, your hair should be strong and shiny as well to signify that it’s in good condition.
Soft hair is usually well moisturised with good elasticity, both of which are signs that hair is in good health. Moisture and elasticity both give hair strength and make it less prone to damage and breakage.
It’s important to note that healthy hair will feel naturally soft, even when it doesn’t have any hair care products in it. Some hair care products, particularly those that are designed to be left in, can mask the condition of your hair, making it feel soft even when it is in poor or damaged condition.
Some leave-in conditioners, serums, and hair glossers are designed to smooth your hair’s cuticle to reduce frizz and improve manageability. Whilst this might sound attractive, they often work by coating your hair in silicone, which can prevent hair from gaining moisture, leaving it dry and damaged internally and in the long-term.
So, softness is generally a good quality for your hair to have, however soft hair doesn’t automatically equal healthy hair; hair needs to be strong and shiny as well as soft to be in its best condition.
Genetics play a big part in determining hair texture and thickness and so can affect softness too, to some extent.
For example, naturally curly hair tends to get dry easier than other hair types and so is less likely to feel soft. However, there are also plenty of external factors that will affect how soft your hair feels, including:
- Environment (temperature, humidity, weather)
- Your hair care routine
- The hair care products you use
The good news is that it is possible to make coarse hair feel softer by adopting a hair care routine that looks after the health of your hair and keeps it hydrated.
How can I make my hair softer?
If your hair is coarse or dry, you’ll need to look at your existing hair care routine and see what changes you can make to improve the condition of your hair in order to make it softer.
Healthy hair is strong and beautifully soft, so you should aim to look after your hair with a hair care routine that is gentle and nourishing on your locks.
Here are our top tips for looking after the condition of your hair to make it soft, shiny, and healthy.
Most hair types only need to be washed 2 or 3 times a week. Washing hair more regularly than this can strip it of the natural oils it needs to moisturise strands.
Avoid putting chemicals in your hair
Many hair treatments, dyes, and products contain synthetic ingredients which can be very drying and damaging to hair. If you’re trying to soften the texture of your hair, you should choose products containing naturally nourishing ingredients and avoid harsh chemical treatments altogether to protect the condition of your hair.
Using products and treatments that will moisturise and hydrate your hair is very important if you want it to be soft. Hair is soft when it is healthy and full of moisture, so make sure you don’t skip your conditioner, regularly treat your hair with an oil like argan oil, coconut oil, or almond oil, and use an intensive hair mask once or twice a month.
Regularly using hairdryers, straighteners, and curling tongs can quickly cause hair to become dry, brittle, and damaged. If you’re serious about getting soft hair then you’ll need to minimise your use of heated styling tools and try air drying and heat-free styling methods instead.
Protect hair from environmental conditions
Heat, humidity, wind, cold temperatures, pollution, and the sun’s UV rays can all wreak havoc on hair. Environmental conditions that are out of your control can quickly turn hair that feels soft and hydrated, coarse and lacklustre. Protect your hair by covering it with a hat or scarf if you know it may be exposed to damaging conditions.
What products make hair softer?
To achieve beautifully soft hair, you must take extra care to only use hair care products that are gentle and nourishing on your hair.
Many high street shampoos and conditioners contain chemical ingredients like sulfates, parabens, and alcohols that cause hair to become dry, coarse, and dull. If you’re trying to soften your hair, it’s important to avoid products containing synthetic ingredients and instead opt for hair care products containing natural, moisture-rich ingredients.
Here at Nereus London, our haircare range is free from toxic chemicals. Instead, we use active ingredients and fragrances that are 100% natural and hydrating, for lusciously soft and shiny hair.