Warning: these tips may increase the amount of hair flips you do each day.
If you’ve ever found yourself wondering how you can get your hair to feel its healthiest but have no idea where to begin, then you’ve come to the right place. We’ve compiled a list of quick tips, easy tricks and affordable products that’ll have your locks feeling refreshed and recharged in no time. You can thank us later.
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1. Target the source of any hair issue with Head and Shoulders
Its cooling, no-rinse-required formula is supercharged with menthol and peppermint oils that work to balance dryness and itchiness for up to 24 hours. And of course, it’s great for eradicating pesky flakes!
Promising review: “I saw an immediate difference from my first use of this product. For about two months, my scalp was abnormally and extremely dry and flaky. After one use, I noticed a visible difference. I don’t normally write reviews, but this line of products is the real deal! I definitely will be purchasing again.” — L. Btlr
2.Comb a treatment mask through your tresses from root to tip
This’ll be a more effective way to deep treat your split ends, dry or over-processed locks than working a product through your hair. Bonus: prevent product waste. BTW, when in doubt go for argan oil and keratin treatments — they’re practically fool-proof for fixing hair.
This mask is packed with restoring all-natural ingredients like collagen, keratin (always a win for damaged hair) and organic jojoba and argan oils to work like a leave-in conditioner and quickly strengthen weak, damaged hair. Reviewers swear by how healthy and shiny their hair looks and feels afterward!
BuzzFeed talked to professional hairstylist Vernon François who shared his best curly hair tips that’ll teach you how to style, define and care for your gorgeous hair.
3.Restore damaged tresses with Verb Ghost Oil
True to its name, you’ll barely even notice this lightweight formula that smoothes frizz in just a few pumps. Its blend of Moringa oil and essential nutrients fight humidity-causing fluffiness and promote bouncy, star-studded locks so you can banish “brittle hair” from your vernacular.
Promising review: “This stuff has changed my hair game. I have excessively bleached hair. But this stuff is so great to my hair, it has returned it to a soft, healthy, silky feeling. My regime is wash, condition for awhile or use a protein treatment, let it dry till it’s damp, then I run it through my hair (I have long, thick hair) and work it into the bleached parts. I dry and then add a little more after. The amount you get for the price is astonishing, considering most hair oils are less product for like twice as much. Buy it: works great, smells great, feels great.” — Eva
4. Master braiding your own hair with an eight-step fishtail braid
It may look like a wizard created this fancy fixed style, but once you learn the basics, it’s a really easy way to keep hair put — especially in warmer temps. (And! You may want to secure it with some mini hair ties.)
5. Balance your scalp’s pH levels and promote hair growth with castor oil
AKA the easy, clean alternative to restore fuller locks. Free from any bad stuff, this formula is rich in vitamins and fatty acids which work to create a healthy-looking and -feeling mane.
Promising review: “I had an allergy in my scalp 10 months ago that made the back of my head bald. I was really desperate to try a hair-growing product to bring my hair back. I read online and found out castor oil is one of the greatest products for hair growth, but there are lots of castor oil brands. I tried this product because of the good reviews, and ingredients because my scalp was really sensitive. My hair became softer than before and thicker, and one bottle of this castor oil lasted almost a year!” —
6. Reach for a cotton T-shirt to gently dry your hair
It prevents breakage and absorbs moisture without causing split ends because newsflash: some towels can actually be kinda damaging to delicate (particularly curly) hair!
Don’t worry, BuzzFeed has more genius tips for curly hair that’ll help improve the look and feel of your coils.
7. Or try a super-absorbent and lightweight microfiber towel
It cuts drying time in half (I repeat, in half) and won’t strain your hairline like a regular ol’ cotton towel would.
Promising review: “Everyone has been telling me how healthy my hair has been looking! I haven’t changed a thing except that I started using this towel! I use a blow dryer daily to dry my hair and this towel has significantly cut down on the blow drying time, saving my hair from all that harsh heat. I’m in love with these towels! I need to get myself some more!” — Lina
9. Use curl-specializing formulas like a hydrating cowash
It gently cleanses the scalp of residue and blends shea butter and oils from coconuts and avocados to lock in moisture between washes, while also detangling. I will now bid your frizz-filled days adieu!
Promising review: “I’ve always struggled with keeping my hair manageable, especially during summer when the humidity is high. I have thick, coarse, curly hair and this stuff is a DREAM. Not only does it feel great during the shower, it smells amazing. And not only does my hair stay the way I like and feel soft, but my scalp no longer itches. (Side note: we have hard water… and it STILL works!) I’m a convert and will be using this instead of shampoo now.” — jamestown
10. Don’t skip the step of using a heat protectant
This acts as a barrier between your fragile strands and blazing hot tools. This spray is even jam-packed with hair-loving ‘gredients like: argan, coconut and olive oil to not only shield your strands, but eliminate frizz and leave it with a glorious sheen.
Promising review: “I never used to use thermal protection spray, because every single one I tried made my hair super crunchy and dry. After a stern talking to by my stylist I decided to look for another one and give it another try. I am so glad I stumbled across this stuff. I tried the small bottle first to see if I liked it and I was shocked how soft my hair felt after using it! It even helps my hair straighten better and makes it so shiny! Highly recommend.” — Melissa
Promising review (for the SheaMoisture styling milk): “I recently bleached my hair in order to have a lighter color. Even though I was very careful, used quality products and followed directions exactly, my hair was left damaged. It has lost a lot of its curl and feels dry and brittle. I have spent a fortune trying different deep conditioners, leave-in conditioners and styling products. This is the first one that keeps my hair feeling soft and conditioned for several days after washing. I can also apply this to dry hair. I have found that if I dampen my dry hair a bit and then apply this, I get the best results on shampoo-free days. It has also brought back a lot of my curls!” — GeeBLate
Oh! And just so ya know, Andre Walker (aka the man responsible for Oprah’s hair) shared stunning curly hair makeovers and tips with BuzzFeed!
12. Ditch damage from bleaching and coloring with Olaplex hair repair treatment
It’s a star at reversing breakage and treating compromised hair as in as little as 10 minutes, behold: texture is improved and straw-like locks are softened. And guess what? This isn’t even a conditioner — just a very intense repair kit that you’ll usually hear whispers about at very exclusive salons. It works to repair broken bonds and restructures every type of hair.
Promising review: “I was dealing with frizzy, dehydrated locks from a recent session with a stylist that did not use Olaplex throughout her processing. I waited to wash my hair after I received this product. It’s ridiculous how great this product is. I could feel the softness as I was rinsing it out. I had soft and touchable locks with less brassy, cooler tones throughout. I am now only open to booking appointments with professionals who use Olaplex with their processes. I would rather pay a little extra than deal with the heartbreak of gummy ends and hair that feels and looks like straw.” — AC
It also adds volume to treat your hair with a formula that’s more gentle than traditional sprays. And! This’ll actually refresh your hair thanks to rice starch, lavender oil and more — instead of simply disguising greasy roots.
Promising review: “I’ve been using this product for almost a year now. The first bottle lasted 10 months using it two to three times per week. I have thin, fine hair that gets weighed down easily. I do not use the tip to put this in my hair (that creates patches of white that are hard to distribute). Rather, I sprinkle a little powder in my hands, turn my head upside down, and work it into the roots. I’ve been able to go from washing my hair every day to washing it every fourth day because of this product. It smells wonderful and gives my hair extra body and fullness.” — Waiting for Reign
14. Go easy on the amount of product you use per wash
It’s tempting to throw on a palm-sized dollop of conditioner anytime you decide to wash your hair, but all that excess adds extra weight. Ergo, less is more goes for this as well, friends.
It’s specifically made to treat damaged, super-thick hair by combining argan oil and aloe vera (both very hydrating and known to show fast results). Shine and softness *can* be achieved by a berry-sized amount, promise!
15. Deeply cleanse away build up by using a clarifying shampoo
All you need is a weekly rinse to revive roots and leave strands feeling silky and shiny.
Promising review: “This is a great product! It removed months/years of product buildup in my hair that I didn’t even know I had. After just one wash, my hair felt lighter, finer, more voluminous, and I needed fewer styling products to achieve the same results. I have long, dark, fine hair and I use this about once every two weeks, or once every four to five washes.” — Katherine
16. Introduce intervals between bleaching by using a purple hair mask
You can expect brighter hair in just five minutes, which means blondes can remain platinum fresh and coloring sessions can be halved. Plus! With a combo of soy protein, vitamin B5 and hydrating super oils, you can undo damage to keep tresses touchably soft. The violet formula neutralizes yellow tones left from pigment residue after bleaching or lightening and brightens your hair without drying it out (in fact it doubles as a deep conditioner) — all in just five minutes.
Promising review: “Let’s be honest, for an at-home hair product that takes five mins in the shower, this mask kicks ass! I’m so mad I didn’t take before-and-after pictures. But I went from a yellowy bleach blonde to a cool icy blonde in just four minutes! Badass! Next week I’m going to leave it in just a little longer to get a couple of those stubborn brassy blonde highlights out, but seriously for an at-home $25 hair treatment, you can’t beat it!” — Shelly K.
17. Achieve beach waves by sectioning off and twisting your (slightly damp) hair before bed
You’ll need: bobby pins at night and a spritz of hairspray in the morning! Come morning, your hair is already good to go! Which means you should feel free to sleep in, which is the greatest part of all.
18. Lessen the burden of breakage by switching to a detangling brush
Reviewers with curly and thick hair rave that this tackles knots and tangles ~head on~ and without painful tearing or pulling. So basically, the days of you competing in a shedding competition with your pooch are OVER.
Promising review: “This brush has been the best thing for my natural hair. I have thick 4c hair and I was having trouble keeping it detangled. Before this, I would use a wide tooth comb or my fingers, but they did nothing for the tight knot balls I was getting. I would get frustrated at how long it would take and start going faster which was ultimately ripping my hair out. Every time I touched my hair it seemed like I was losing it. What used to take hours has now been chopped down to about 26 minutes. When I looked at the brush, there was nearly NO shed or broken hairs left behind. I’ve thrown every other detangle tool away (though I decided to keep my fingers). This has my loyalty for life.” — Dubya
19. Opt to lower the heat setting on your diffuser
So you can avoid hair fry, cc: heat causing more frizz. If you’re questioning whether you need a diffuser, then let me just give that three thumbs up. Because if you’re setting out on a journey for smoother ‘dos, this’ll get you right on track since targeted heat means less damage (and, pro tip: when you hold it at an angle, you can define curls easily).
Promising review: “Forget those $200 dryers with their proprietary diffusers that claim to fix all of your curly hair frustrations. This diffuser reduces the amount of hair blowing your hair around (and therefore frizz), reduces the amount of times you need to move your dryer around your head, and distributes air and heat more evenly to your roots and ends. I have the standard Conair Infinity Pro blowdryer and removing the plastic ring inside the attachment let this diffuser attach securely to my dryer.” — Jennifer
Check out these curly hair tips from BuzzFeed for more on how to care for and define your curly hair.
20. Tie up tresses with coil hair bands
These will not only have you waving ta-ta to ponytail creases, but they’re a lot more gentle than those of the elastic variety. And! They can even keep heavy hair in place while lessening the strain on your hairline.
Promising review: “I really love these hair ties! They hold your hair efficiently without pulling or causing a headache. They also do not leave a crease in your hair, and they come out easily. So far they have gone back to their original shape each time, even though I stretch them out when they are in my hair.” — P. McKinney
Yes, TEN-in-one, folks. It takes care of everything from detangling, frizzies, split ends and even provides heat protection up to 445 degrees F. Simply spritz it on your damp hair and let it do all the work, so you can get a salon-worthy blowout without the price tag or the need for nine other products! Oh and hey! This formula contains cannabis sativa seed oil, which works like a charm to moisturize and highdrate without the weight.
Promising review: “I absolutely love these hair products. Since using them, my hair has practically been restored to it’s natural curls! This has been super helpful in that it protects hair from heat damage while also easily detangling – two big things for me. I love it and won’t ever be going back to anything else!” — Katie P
22. Transform your look with a simple yet seriously badass faux hawk
The pièce de résistance? You can easily style this in the face of humidity (especially when you seal it with some hairspray). We see you, hairfluencer.
If you’re after some more inspo for easy, no-heat hairstyles, check out this vid.
23. Treat over-processed and overexposed locks to protein recharge
Pick your poison: whether its heat styling, dye jobs or just general dryness, this powerhouse blend of almond extracts and protein elixirs hits the reset button to both strengthen and protect your hair from further, unavoidable damage. AND it repairs split-ends and restores shine. Talk about a twofer!
Promising review: “I noticed a difference in my hair as soon as I used it. My hair is just past my shoulders by three inches. It’s wavy, but extremely dry and has been shedding a lot lately. So I was desperate to try something new before losing it all. It’s so thin now that it’s a real concern. Right after the first use, I’ve noticed that it is shiny, soft, and much easier to mange. And it’s tangle free and has body without being weighed down. It’s nice and fluffy. I LOVE THIS STUFF.” — Aragonme
24. Revive the shine that once was with a Elizavecca collagen treatment
It repairs locks that have endured multiple coloring sessions, intense heat tools or sun damage. Because run-your-fingers-through-with-ease hair is back, baby, thanks to five minutes with an enriching formula. Cue slo-mo hair flip. It’s packed with protein, Ceramide 3 and collagen so it can work quickly to get your hair shiny and soft.
Promising review: “My hair is very thick, frizzy, and has a natural wave. Even when I dry it and straighten it, it still just looks dry and poofy. The first time I used this, I wet my hair a bit and let it sit on there for 20 minutes or so, then showered it off and let my hair air dry (which usually ends up in the dreaded frizz). Lo and behold my hair has never felt so silky and light — without being greasy, which is really important. The second time I used it, I just put on a little in the shower and let it hang out and rinsed it off at the end, and I got similar results as the first time I left it on for 20 minutes. This stuff is the best hair product I’ve ever purchased. And you really only need a little bit to get results right after the shower. I’ve always hated my air-dry natural wave, because of the condition of my hair, but this stuff lets me keep my waves (no styling required) and makes them look shiny and healthy.” — TF
25. Consider leaving your hair tools on read and instead, style with a headwrap
Taylor Miller / Jenny Chang / BuzzFeed
This *stunning* accessory not only looks amazing, but it’ll do wonders for your hair, too, since it protects it from environmental stressors. TL;DR: we could all use a break from technology — your mane included.
And! Cee Cee’s Closet is a Black-owned business specializing in hair accessories founded by Chioma and Uchenna Ngwudo. Their designs are handmade by artisans in Nigeria.
26. Make frizzy manes a thing of the past with leave-in conditioning cream
Not all heroes wear capes, but this team of vitamins B3 and B6, plus argan oil and citrus protein, are the ones fighting off humidity and leaving locks with a reflective shine. Psst! You can use this on DRY hair *and* would you just look at that price!
Promising review: “I’m very impressed with this product! I have badly damaged hair like a bird’s nest due to frequent hair coloring, Japanese perm, and hot tools for styling. I was at first reluctant to buy this since it was so cheap and I normally use expensive salon brands. Since I’ve been using so many products and it didn’t take away the tangle or frizz very well, I decided to purchase this product based on its high reviews. I am so glad I did! It got rid of my tangles and made my hair very soft and smooth. Just because it’s cheap doesn’t mean it won’t work as well. In this case it worked spectacularly! I am also impressed with the smell. I am very allergic to perfume and this has a very light fruity smell that didn’t cause me to sneeze.” — honeydew
27. Say “Au revoir!” to dull-looking length thanks to deep conditioning treatment
Its fast-acting (we’re talking 180 seconds of singing in the shower fast) repairing formula will bring on the shine and miraculously cuts drying time, leaving hair hy-dra-ted.
Promising review: “Does what it says for a good price. Made my hair feel really soft after just one use. I use it twice a week just to keep up with the heat styling I do.” — Blonde44
28. Soothe a dry, itchy scalp with a shampoo brush
It a) reinvigorates, b) exfoliates and c) stimulates the roots to really get that deep, deep clean. Plus, it can also be used to gently detangle any knots!
Promising review: “I’ve suffered with dry, flaking scalp for about a year now (pretty much started when I was pregnant and hadn’t gone away). I have used tea tree oil shampoo, dandruff shampoo, coconut oil, you name it. I finally read somewhere that exfoliating the scalp might help, but I was hesitant because years ago, I had a shampoo brush and it was very rigid, the bristles were fine and close together, and it made my hair a tangled mess. Anyway, I saw this shampoo brush and it looked a lot more flexible so I thought I’d give it a try and HOLY MOLY my flakes are gone! It’s made out of a silicone-type material and the little ‘bristles’ are flexible but still get the job done. I can literally brush my hair with shampoo in and it doesn’t get tangled. It’s amazing. Not only do I have zero flakes now, I feel like using this does a way better job at working the shampoo in and getting your hair and scalp really clean. I have super thick hair and no matter how much shampoo I use or how long I scrub my hair, I felt like the back, underneath part of my hair would sometimes stay dirty. This brush gets all that.” — Meg R
29. Whip up an at-home remedy that restores damaged strands
Advice From A Twenty Something
It also happens to smell divine, with a super easy DIY hair mask. The only two ingredients? Honey (to moisturize and nourish your locks with natural antioxidants) and baby oil. Yessiree, it hydrates the skin — and works just as well for your thirsty tresses. This tutorial uses Johnson’s shea and cocoa butter baby oil gel, because it’s extra soothing and moisturizing.
With these, you can achieve bouncy, voluminous curls without consistent heat: When your hair is damp and moisturized, just wrap strands around each one and let them work their magic overnight for soft, easy, natural-looking waves. Just so ya know, they vary in size so you can pick which is best for your hair length!
Promising review: “I have thick 4c hair and I love this set. I usually have the smaller odds at the ends of my hair and have the bigger rods at the top of my hair. My hair came out so curly. It really reminded me of the movie star curls, because it has been such a long time since I have seen my hair curl without having to use heat to it. ” — Marisa Fields-Williams
Something like this protects your hair from frizzing overnight, even if you’re known for tossing and turning. Dreams do come true because you can rest easy knowing that there’s something that won’t compromise your hairdo.
Promising review: “I have long hair that’s super curly and after 26 years of life, I finally mastered styling my hair with the help of Devacurl products. The only problem I had was not being able to maintain my style overnight. I would have to wake up and start the wash, condition, gel, and diffuse process all over again. This bonnet not only fit my big hair, but it stayed in place all night as I slept. The next morning my hair was soft, curls intact, and frizz minimized.” — online shopper
32. Procure the help of a deeply nourishing leave-in argan oil treatment
This stuff works to repair from the root and restores your hair’s natural strength and shine — so even over-processed, dried-out tresses have another chance at life. You can even use it as a heat protectant!
Promising review: “I have really coarse, color-treated 4c hair and have been through many products attempting to keep it tamed, soft, and moisturized. Very few are effective in doing so, however, this has done more than an amazing job. I even purchased it for my mother who has even thicker hair than I do and she loves it. I was able to use this to blow dry my hair which usually causes a lot of breakage and damage, but when I blow dry my hair with the oil, I barely had any breakage.” — Georgina J.
33. Throw your hair up into a quick ‘n’ easy braided bun
It’s the perfect alternative to blow drying your hair post-workout — or even just after a shower. It’ll stay in place if your hair is wet and create a nice, natural wave once you take it out. (And for extra softness, smooth in some serum).