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Let's get you hip on how to thicken 3C hair and also show you some of the better curly hair products available...
It's funny:
Many folks make assumptions that all natural hair is thick, kinky, coily, and challenging to manage, but that stereotype is not true.
3C hair is a curly hair texture that can vary from person to person as it relates to thickness.
Sure, this hair checks the boxes of some of the other typical characteristics associated with having natural hair such as the high risk for frizziness, struggling to receive and retaining moisture, and being prone to dryness.
However, density or thickness of 3C hair is not the same when you compare one naturalista with another.
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3C hair has a tight curl pattern than resembles corkscrews. This tight curl pattern can make it difficult for those natural oils on your scalp or essential oils that you apply to your hair to travel the length of the hair shaft.
[RELATED ARTICLE: How to stop shrinkage on 3C natural hair]
Who doesn’t love thick hair? It’s voluminous, versatile (under the right conditions), and highly durable with proper care. If you are on a quest to acquire thicker 3C hair, you can take a few actions to increase the density of these springy s-shaped curls.
Check out these eight fabulous tips on how to grow thick 3C hair.
Beware of shampoos that can disrupt the structure of your 3C hair or damage your scalp. You should always use premium-grade sulfate-free shampoos.
Why are so many naturalistas continually banging the drum about avoiding sulfates and parabens?
Sulfates and paraben shampoos have a history of stripping hair and robbing your scalp of its natural oils, vital for protecting your hair. Repetitive damage of the scalp can disrupt your hair growth cycle.
Once the hair growth cycle experiences a disruption, it can contribute to a decrease in follicle production. This disruption will lead to hair thinning and potential balding if you are not careful.
[See NEW Article 3C vs 4A Hair EXPLAINED]
In learning how to thicken 3C hair you'll hear me nagging you over-and-over again about keeping your natural hair regime on point like a mofo...
You gotta make sure that you deep condition your 3C hair with every wash. Deep conditioning your hair will help not only to keep those springy curls hydrated, but it will also establish hair elasticity. Hair elasticity helps to ensure that those tresses stay intact and become less likely to snap.
Consider Using T-Shirts for Drying Your 3C Hair
Natural hair loves to latch on to abrasive material and snap off at the least expected times. When drying your hair post-wash and conditioning, try using a t-shirt instead to reduce breakage risks.
3C hair often aligns with being high-porosity hair. High-porosity hair, it means your hair readily absorbs water, hair products and oils. It is highly porous, but this quality does not always work in its favor. These strands may require premium protein treatments to help strengthen and enhance the structure of this hair.
Scalp Massages
When thinking about how to thicken 3C hair, many women forget about the ever-important massage.
You should try incorporating more scalp massages into your 3C hair care regimen. Scalp massages help to increase blood flow, bringing vital nutrients to the scalp region. Scalp massages help to stretch the cells of hair follicles, which stimulates the production of thicker hair.
This next tip is quite broad and generic, but it rings true when it comes to trying to grow thick natural 3C hair. Your dietary choices may be the thing that's holding your back from attaining thick, luscious locks of coily hair.
The reason your diet matters has everything to do with the type of nutrients you are ingesting. Your hair relies heavily on you choosing foods and beverages that contain antioxidants that help fight free radicals that can disrupt your hair's structure.
Your goal should be to eat a diet that contains proteins, selenium, zinc, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin A, and vitamin B. Multivitamins and other supplements are great additions to your self-care practices. However, vitamin supplements should not be the sole source of your nutrients.
Put your hair up at night to minimize hair friction and tangling while you sleep. You can use a silk or satin scarf or bonnet for this task. This step in your nighttime hair care regimen will help protect your hair's structure from frizzing and split ends.
Essential oils are good for so much more than aromatherapy. Essential oils contain properties that can enhance the rate and density at which your hair grows with consistent use. Many of them include the right blend of substances that trigger follicle production, balance your natural oils, and support the hair growth cycle.
Six essential oils that can help to thicken your hair include:
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In summary, the path to thicker 3C hair requires you to potentially make a few adjustments to your hair care practices and food choices. To grow thicker hair, you have to stimulate your hair follicles to produce more hair than they are actively doing at this time. Additionally, you have to take precautions to protect the hair that is already on your head by improving hair elasticity by infusing moisture. If you like this article about how to thicken 3C hair, check out the related hair growth articles below...
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Melissa Lee
Melissa Lee is a Contributing Editor to NHP and a former owner of the BlackhairOMG website. She formed 4C Trichology Growth Services, LLC., a US based hair care consultation service. She has also contributed as a writer and consultant for various hair and beauty websites. Melissa can be followed on Twitter here.