Having natural hair with too much volume can be challenging to manage and style. Whether you’re dealing with frizz, puffiness, or just want a sleeker look, there are ways to tame your mane. These practical tips will help you reduce the volume of your natural hair while keeping it healthy and beautiful.
1. Try a keratin treatment
Keratin treatments work wonders for reducing hair volume by smoothing the cuticle. The protein-based formula penetrates each strand, eliminating frizz and excess puffiness. Results typically last 3-5 months, giving you manageable hair that’s much easier to style daily.
2. Switch to heavier conditioners
Lightweight conditioners won’t weigh down voluminous hair. Instead, reach for rich, cream-based formulas containing shea butter or coconut oil. These heavier products coat strands thoroughly, adding necessary weight that helps tame excessive volume while providing deep moisture.
3. Master the wet-styling technique
Styling your hair while it’s soaking wet keeps curls defined and prevents them from expanding. Apply your styling products to dripping wet hair right after showering. Then either air dry without touching or use a diffuser on low heat to maintain that controlled volume.
4. Sleep with a silk bonnet
Cotton pillowcases create friction that leads to frizz and increased volume overnight. A silk bonnet preserves your hairstyle while you sleep. The smooth fabric prevents hair from rubbing against itself, keeping your strands compressed and your morning routine much simpler.
5. Invest in ionic hair tools
Regular blow dryers can make volume worse! Ionic technology helps seal the cuticle and reduce frizz significantly. These specialized tools emit negative ions that break down water molecules faster, resulting in smoother, less voluminous hair that stays that way longer.
6. Try regular hot oil treatments
Hot oil penetrates deeply into hair shafts, weighing down strands naturally. Warm olive, coconut, or argan oil before massaging it throughout your hair. Cover with a shower cap for 30 minutes, then rinse. Weekly treatments progressively reduce volume while improving hair health.
7. Get strategic haircuts
Layers might seem like a good idea, but they often create more volume! Ask your stylist for blunt cuts with minimal layering. The weight of longer, evenly-cut sections helps pull your hair down naturally. Consider undercut sections if you have extremely thick hair.
8. Use anti-humidity sprays
Moisture in the air is volume’s best friend and your worst enemy. Anti-humidity sprays create an invisible shield around each strand. This protective barrier blocks atmospheric moisture from penetrating and causing your hair to expand throughout the day, keeping volume consistently under control.
9. Embrace leave-in masks overnight
Overnight treatments provide intense moisture that helps weigh down voluminous hair. Apply a rich hair mask before bed and cover with a shower cap. The extended application time allows deeper penetration of smoothing ingredients, resulting in more controlled volume when you rinse in the morning.
10. Perfect your diffusing technique
Many people diffuse incorrectly, causing extra volume! Keep the dryer pointed downward, moving slowly with minimal scrunching. Use medium heat with low air flow, and resist the urge to fluff or touch your hair until it’s 100% dry to prevent unwanted expansion.
11. Try the pineapple method
Gathering your hair into a loose, high ponytail (resembling a pineapple) before bed helps maintain style while reducing morning volume. Use a satin scrunchie to prevent creasing. This method keeps curls intact but slightly stretched, preventing them from springing up with extra volume.
12. Apply products with praying hands
The “praying hands” technique smooths products onto hair without creating frizz. Press your palms together with hair between them, then glide downward. This method ensures even product distribution while encouraging your strands to lay flatter, reducing overall volume significantly.
13. Use microfiber towels exclusively
Regular terry cloth towels rough up the cuticle, creating frizz and volume. Microfiber towels gently absorb water without disturbing your hair’s natural pattern. Simply press the towel against your hair rather than rubbing to maintain smoother strands from the washing stage onward.
14. Consider temporary relaxers
Temporary relaxers offer volume reduction without permanent chemical damage. These wash-out formulas gently loosen your curl pattern for 4-6 weeks. They’re perfect for trying a lower-volume look without fully committing to chemical straightening, giving you versatility with your natural hair.
15. Master the banding technique
Banding stretches your hair while it dries, preventing shrinkage that leads to volume. Section damp hair and wrap each section with soft hair ties placed an inch apart. Leave overnight or until completely dry for elongated, less voluminous curls that maintain their natural pattern but with reduced poof.