Turns out how you layer your creams, oils, and liquids can make a substantial difference for your coarse strands. Professional stylist Ashley Jackson tells Hair she recommends the LCO order. After shampooing and conditioning, you apply your liquids or leave-in conditioner, the creams, before finishing with oil. This order helps to open your hair’s cuticles, soak in moisture, and lock it in.

There has been debate on whether oils should come before or after applying creams. However, Jackson supports finishing with oil as, “by applying on dry hair, oil is able to really work into the hair, not just sit on top and block out product as it might in the LOC (liquid, oil, and then cream) method.”

Product quality is also extremely important when it comes to coarse hair. “This hair type calls for a heavy product application, so you want to make sure you’re really using the right products — ones that nourish, treat, soak, and douse strands ,” licensed hair stylist Samantha Denis tells Hello Glow. Denis recommends replacing regular conditioner with a hair mask once a week. She suggests it will clean strands of heavy products that “will block moisture from penetrating the hair shaft and eventually lead to dry hair. ” With hair masks and oils added to our haircare shopping list, there are a few things to look for when picking the best products.