How to Style Thick Asian Hair

Use hair clay and wax add texture and hold.

Just rub a tiny bit of the clay or wax between your fingers. Then, work it into the ends of your hair while it's still damp. Blow-dry your hair and style it how you normally would. Both hair clay and wax will boost your hair's volume, and they'll give you a little more control over which way your hair lays. In addition, they'll add definition to individual strands, helping you get the most out of your thick mane. These are especially great for styling short hair, but you can also use them to add extra definition to curly or wavy hair. Mousse, gel, and pomade can also help you control your style, but you won't get the same defined, piecey look. Also, gel and pomade won't add volume to your hair.

Opt for a lightweight hairspray to keep sleeker styles in place.

Go with plain hairspray if you're not looking for max volume. Just be sure to choose a hairspray that touts having a flexible hold. That way, your hair will stay in place all day without looking stiff, crunchy, or dirty. Avoid heavy styling products like gels or waxes on longer hair. They'll just weigh your hair down, making it look flat and oily.

Style your hair while it's damp for the best results.

Start by washing your hair with a sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner. Comb your hair with a wide-toothed comb while it's wet—brushes tend to add poof and frizz to thick hair. Work a little of your favorite styling product into your hair, then blow-dry with a round brush and a hair dryer fitted with a diffuser attachment. However, stop when your hair is still just a little damp so your hair can finish drying naturally. Allowing your hair to air dry the rest of the way will help protect you from heat damage. It will also help protect wavy or curly hair from getting frizzy. Avoid heavy conditioners and oils, especially on straight hair—they'll just weigh your hair down, making it look flat and oily. However, if your hair is very curly, you may find you need extra conditioning to keep it shiny and healthy. If you need to, you can go back in with a straightener, curling iron, or curling wand to add definition or smooth out any wayward pieces. Just be sure to spritz your hair with a heat protectant first so you don't damage your hair!

Find a stylist who knows how to work with your hair texture.

Be especially sure to seek out an experienced stylist if your hair is short. If you have thick Asian hair, you might notice that the sides and back stick straight out when they're cut short. That can be frustrating, but there are ways to avoid it—and a stylist familiar with Asian hair should know how to do that. For instance, your stylist might use thinning shears to take some of the weight off the sides and back of your hair, then use regular shears to point-cut the hair to taper it.

Try a taper or fade for a neat, masculine style.

Ask for your hair to be longer on the top, then shorter on the bottom. If you want the hair to fade out so only your skin is showing at the bottom, ask for a fade. If you'd prefer your hair to get gradually shorter, but not shaved completely, ask for a taper. Either way, the sides and the back of your hair will be short enough to be manageable, but you'll have enough length on top to show off that thick mane. Try leaving your hair really long on top so you can pull it into a bun or work it into a brush-up style, pompadour, or faux hawk. Ask for a crew cut if you want your hair to be cropped fairly short on the top. If you want your hair to look longer on the top and sides but you love the idea of clipping off some of your thick hair, try an undercut.

Ask for layers to add movement to your hair.

Thick hair can sometimes take on a kind of mushroom shape when it's cut super blunt. Adding a few layers will lighten up your hair, adding a lot of natural movement and volume. If you prefer a super-short masculine style, a messy crop is a great look. A crop is cut close to your ears and the back of your neck, although you can have a little more length in the front if you'd like. For a more feminine look, ask for a layered, chin-length bob or a tousled shoulder-length lob. Try face-framing layers for a flattering way to change up a shorter 'do. If your hair is longer, ask your stylist to cut your hair at a slight bevel so the ends won't be quite as blunt. If you want the top layer of your hair to be long, try asking your stylist to use thinning scissors to take some of the bulk out of the bottom layer of your hair. However, this tends to look best if you wear your hair straight.

Cut a fringe to add drama to your style.

Choose almost any style bangs to make the most of your thick hair. Luckily, your thick hair means you have a lot of versatility when you're choosing your style. Curtain bangs, blunt bangs, a side-swept fringe, or even baby bangs will all work with your hair type! Fringes can work with both masculine and feminine haircuts. To decide which bangs are right for you, try talking to your stylist about what style will work best with your face shape. For instance, you might go with swoopy, side-swept bangs to add a sultry element to a cropped style. You might also like the modern look of blunt bangs with a bob. Curtain bangs, which are longer on the sides and shorter in the center, instantly give any hairstyle a more romantic look.

Embrace your natural texture if your hair is curly or wavy.

Find a cut that works with your texture instead of constantly fighting it. It might be tempting to get your hair chemically straightened or permed into loose waves, but those harsh treatments can do a lot of damage over time. Even just using a straightener or curling iron every day can lead to frizz and split ends. By learning to love your natural hair, you'll save a lot of time, energy, and money in the long run. Messy layers look great on medium-length or long hair, and brush-up styles can be a great way to show off your waves if you have short hair.

Try a half-up, half-down look for an elegant everyday style.

Don't just default to a messy bun on a daily basis. If you need to keep your hair out of your face during the day, pulling up just the top half is a great option. You'll get the hands-off benefit of an up-do, but you'll still look like you put in a little bit of an effort—always a win-win! For instance, you might twist the top half of your hair into a bun, then leave the bottom flowing in loose waves. You could also pin the front pieces of your hair behind your ears for a classic, understated look. Braid the pieces to add a little extra romance! Of course, a messy bun or a quick ponytail is totally fine some days! Just try to change it up so you don't fall into a hair rut.