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Broken hair ties. Springs flying off jaw clips.
The struggle is real if you have very thick hair! While it seems as though it is a good problem to have if you are one of the “lucky ones” to be sporting ultra-thick locks it can be frustrating. Now that summer is nearing, getting the hair up off the neck in ponytails, braids, and other upstyles will be a more frequent occurrence. Let's take a look at the best ways to secure those manes.
Most people with super thick hair have searched far and wide for hair styling accessories that will actually hold their hair. Frequently, adorable clips or barrettes can only be admired from afar as thick-headed beauties know there's just no way the average clips are going to work in their hair. And as for ponytail holders, if they do manage to make it around the gathered hair they usually won't last very long before they break from either the weight, circumference or both!
When trying to put thick hair up, you must look for the most sturdy accessories you can find. Although not easily found, jaw clips and butterfly clips are available in metal which has much better strength and staying power than your average plastic clip. If you are lucky enough to find these sturdy clips, exercise caution with them as they can be a little rough on the individual hair strands and if you're not careful you can cause breakage. Use the metal clips when necessary but trade off with other accessories and/or styling techniques regularly to avoid damage.
Braids are also a great way to style thick hair and most average ponytail holders should do the trick at the end of the braids. One good style for ultra-thick hair is placing the hair in 2 or more braids so you can reduce the amount of hair in each braid making it easier to be held by your typical elastic hair ties.
The best way to give a ponytail, messy bun, or other updo staying power without worrying about breakage is to invest in large, thick, elastic, hair ties. The larger, thicker hair ties will not only be able to easily make 2 or 3 passes around your heavy hair, but they also reduce the amount of breakage that is common when tying thick, heavy, hair up. Often, when thinner hair ties are used by someone with a ton of hair, they can cut right through the hair strands as a result of the weight and pressure. The thick hair ties are also usually coated with a material that ensures that they reduce tangling, and when you remove the band, you also don't take hair off your head right along with the hair tie. Thick hair ties are also really good under pressure, unlike your average hair ties that snap frequently when put to the thick hair test of making several passes around an immense ponytail.
If you've noticed, the old 80’s scrunchies have also been making a comeback, mainly because these can be more of a fashion statement. Scrunchies themselves may be cute but can not always stand up to thick hair on their own, the weight is just too much. One great way to get in on the scrunchy trend while ensuring your style stays put is to secure the hair with a thick hair tie first then cover with the scrunchy that has a design you love. The technique of securing the hair with a thick hair tie first can also be used for other average hair accessories such as fashionable barrettes or bobby pins.
If you are fortunate enough to have thick hair, investing in good hair ties, clips, and other accessories will make your life easier when it comes to styling your hair.
