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As an Indian-American woman, finding products for my hair can be pretty tricky. South Asian hair is generally very coarse and frizzy, but also very oily—so traditionally hydrating ingredients don't always work on it. In fact, I found out early on that when I used very strong products containing highly recommended ingredients for frizz (think shea butter or avocado oil), my hair got even oilier, and it just lay flat on my scalp without any style whatsoever. And it turns out, this is totally normal for my hair type.
“One of the most common issues that affects South Asian hair is frizz, ” says Angie Hookumchand, Lead Stylist at NYC-based Butterfly Studio Salon (and a fellow South Asian woman herself). “Due to the heat and sun exposure in South Asian countries, we often have coarse, oily hair that frizzes quickly, or has low-moisture retention.”
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“South Asian hair produces higher levels of oils compared to Caucasian hair, but it tends to have high porosity: This allows for easier moisture absorption, but also higher loss in moisture content, ” adds Texas-based hair stylist Anjo Hirang. “Oily scalp is another concern, because the oils cannot travel down the hair follicle when the hair is thick and frizzy.”
For South Asian hair, the balance lies in finding ingredients that are deeply hydrating and fight frizz, without weighing the hair and scalp down. As a result, Hookumchand and Hirang recommend hydrating ingredients that have lighter consistencies than traditionally heavy oils and butters—in this way, they’ll be able to penetrate the hair more deeply, and therefore will moisturize both more effectively and for longer. Some of the common ingredients South Asians should look for include hyaluronic acid, aloe, CBD, and coconut juice or water (as opposed to the more easily available oil), as these lighter ingredients have all the moisturizing benefits of their thicker counterparts, but won’t over-oil the scalp.
If you don’t want to scour through every product at your local salon or store to check out their ingredients, we completely understand. That’s why these stylists have helped curate the best hair products that’ll deeply hydrate your South Asian hair without over-moisturizing it. From shampoos and conditioners to lightweight oils and serums, we have it all on the list below.
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“This is one of my favorite serums, as it deeply penetrates the hair to help tame frizz, instead of sitting on top of our hair, looking greasy like most others do, ” says Hookumchand. “It's also a wonderful heat protectant!” Infused with a blend of hyaluronic acid and a complex made of chia seed, bio-fermented bamboo leaf, and plant-based protein, this Oribe treatment both hydrates as well as creates a protective layer around the strand, which prevents moisture loss due to high porosity.
Ranavat is an Ayurvedic brand founded by Michelle Ranavat, a South Asian woman who was unable to find products that catered specifically to her hair and skin type. The Ranavat Regenerative Veda Bond Repair Shampoo in Mighty Majesty aims to help target scalp irritation and coarse hair with amla (or Indian Gooseberry), a traditional Indian ingredient that both promotes hair growth and softens the hair without overpowering it.
Hyaluronic acid is the star of this shampoo by Amika, but don’t discount the use of bio-fermented coconut water, too: Not only does it help plump up dry, damaged hair, but it also adds a sleek finish to it once you rinse the shampoo out.
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For an overnight treatment that strengthens and softens the strands without adding weight, use this Leave-In Conditioner Cream by Crown Affair. Simply massage a few pumps of conditioner onto your damaged tresses, making sure to avoid the scalp. It’s worth noting that the star ingredient for this one is Tsubaki seed oil (or camellia oil), a lightweight oil sourced from the camellia flower in Japan: It’s rich in fats and proteins, adding an extra dose of nutrition to coarse hair.
“I like using these two products that contain THC-free cannabinoids CBD, CBC and CBG for South Asian hair, ” says Hirang. “These are naturally occurring chemical compounds, and when combined, they have anti-inflammatory benefits that can help to soothe the scalp, boost circulation, and rebalance moisture. CBD is rich in amino acids that enhance collagen to strengthen the hair shaft, resulting in fuller, shinier, and more manageable hair, while CBC and CBG (rich in omega 3, 6 and 9 fatty acids) help resolve moisture imbalance by regulating sebum production, with the additional benefit of promoting natural hair growth.” Essentially, this combo will hydrate your hair without weighing it down, according to Hirang.
While thicker oils like coconut and avocado will be too strong for South Asian hair, the Moroccanoil Treatment uses argan oil instead, resulting in a non-greasy, fast-absorbing option that you can use as an overnight treatment, heat protectant before a blow dry, or on dry hair for a subtle shine. This formulation, in particular, also contains linseed extract, whose fatty acids help prevent hair loss, too.
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“Shu Uemura Essence Absolue Cream has been my go-to leave-in cream for years: It's a holy grail product!” says Hookumchand. “This is a natural, oil-based product that melts into the hair, and you can use a generous amount both while styling and detangling.” Also infused with camellia oil, this quickly tames coarse hair and frizz without feeling heavy on your strands.
I’ve personally been using this Kérastase hair oil for years, and I can’t even begin to tell you how my hair has changed: It’s so much easier to manage! I massage the oil onto my damp hair to calm flyaways and frizz all through the year. The hyaluronic acid keeps it moisturized without bulk, and the texture is non-sticky, making it super easy to apply. And as a bonus, it smells divine, too!
This seriously genius Living Proof serum works both as a heat protectant and moisturizer, since it contains a humectant polymer that absorbs water in order to add an extra dose of hydration to tired tresses. While you can obviously use it before any heat styling like using a flat iron or blow dryer, I also like to spray it on before heading into a pool or out in dry, cold weather: The thin, filmy layer doesn’t make my hair look wet, but still allows it to brave the elements.
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Using a unique combination of cold-pressed almond oil and hyaluronic acid, this Paul Mitchell Anti-Frizz conditioner may feel ultra-rich, but the calming ingredients pack a punch when it comes to moisturizing without the weight. You can leave it on for a little longer if your hair’s really going through it, but for everyday use, it’ll keep your strands soft, yet bouncy at the same time.
Redken’s Frizz Dismiss Shampoo is an option that you’ll easily find at your nearest drugstore, and it’ll soon become a staple in your bathroom: It’s a gentle, sulfate-free formula that’s intended to nourish frizzy hair without making it lie flat. The proprietary formula may be a secret, but whatever it is, I can assure you it absolutely works.
While Pattern was created with Black hair in mind, I’ve noticed that the Hydrating Hair Mist has become a must-have in my styling repertoire—it’s such a simple way to refresh my hair in the middle of the day. It’s especially great for when I need to head out and don’t have time to put in a leave-in conditioner or serum: The spray simply refreshes my hair and lets me style it normally, which I think has to do with its water-based formula.
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