If you are African American, then you know how difficult it can sometimes be to manage and style hair. It can also be super frustrating, so here is some advice on how to get thick African American hair without a lot of struggle at all. Once you have the willpower to persist and commit to the practices necessary, you will be able to see results in no time.

One well-kept secret is that of castor oil. There are women who swear by its properties to help maintain locks by providing nourishment to the scalp. They apply it every day to the scalp, known as 'greasing'. As a side note, massaging the scalp is highly recommended to promote blood circulation, which in turn helps with growth. Women also add castor oil to their conditioner as an alternative to scalp application. Over time, it will thicken and nourish the locks.

Another good product for your head is a protein conditioner, which works specifically to improve strand quality when used one to two times per week. Not only does it thicken the shaft, it also helps prevent breakage as a result. On top of a good regular conditioner, it's important to deep condition ever so often for overall strengthening. Preventing protein loss can be done by using coconut oil as well.

As difficult as it may be for some women to go for the chop, in the long run cutting off any thin or split ends will help locks look fabulous overall. Regular trimming of the ends will help for an overall bouncier, fuller look. Along with regular trimming, other ways should be found to style hair instead of using heated appliances that can cause breaking and further damage.

If you are addicted to relaxer, try relaxing only new growth the next time you have to do it. Relaxing those locks that have already been relaxed before will only make them weaker and duller. You should also really try to wait longer periods between relaxing. For example, if you do it every two months, try to do it every three months instead.

Furthermore, dyeing locks with OTC box dyes is a huge no-no. The chemicals in those products will only hinder the process of growth and thickening. Henna is a great alternative, which works to condition as well as thicken. Experimenting with alternatives to heat styling is also advisable. Braiding, wrapping or setting in rollers will really make a difference in the overall health and appearance of locks.

Consider taking a few vitamins and supplements on a daily basis to help promote growth and health. You may have heard of products like biotin and MSM specifically for this purpose. Vitamin D and iron are also recommended. None of these are hard to find and none of them are expensive either.

Last but not least, it's important to take care of what goes into the body on a whole as it will show in the skin and in locks. Certain foods are good for hair health and so must be consumed in the right amounts to gain the most benefits. Fatty foods cannot be ignored because they are a great help when it comes to adding shine and luster.