How to Help Fine, Thin Hair Look Thicker
Open your phone or turn on your TV and you’ll see plenty of ads for shampoo and conditioners accompanied by models with the thickest, shiniest hair you’ve ever seen in your life. But let’s be real – very few people have hair like that! Fine hair is a common hair type for people of all ages, genders and ethnicities -- even some of your favorite celebrities like Hailey Bieber, Emma Stone and Harry Styles.
Whether your hair is naturally thin, or it just began thinning, there are tips, tricks and cuts you can do to make your hair look fuller and thicker so you can have confidence that you look your best.
Is there a difference between thin and fine hair?
Did you know that there is a difference between thin hair and fine hair? Fine hair is not the absence of strands, it’s a lack of thickness to the strand of hair. You could have a full head of hair only to find that your hair makes a very small ponytail when pulled back. Fine hair is more susceptible to breakage since the smaller strands can easily dry out and become brittle. Thin hair means less density – there are fewer strands in a section than average. You can still have thick strands of hair but looking at the root of your hair you will see more scalp.
What causes thinning hair?
There could be several reasons you are experiencing thin hair. Firstly, it may just be that your genetic makeup has given you thin hair as your hair type. Of course, if this is the case, then you have had this hair type since birth and are well aware that you have Mom or Dad to thank for that. But
Hormonal Changes & Getting Older
Thin hair can also be caused by the genetic and hormonal changes that occur while aging. Pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia) is a genetic condition affects both men and women, though female pattern baldness is less well-known despite it being the most common cause of hair loss for adult women. According to Mayo Clinic, 55 percent of women experience some hair loss by the age of 70.
Hair thinning can also be caused by the hormonal shifts women experience in their 40s and 50s with menopause. During menopause, estrogen levels fall, and androgens rise, and the hair on your head can start to become finer or it can begin to thin. This type of hair loss is called “telogen effluvium hair loss” which is caused by an increased number of hair strands reaching the final stage of the hair growth cycle where the hair strands rest and eventually fall out. Telogen effluvium hair loss can also be caused by extreme stress or an abnormal thyroid.
Thin Hair from Traction Alopecia
Another common cause of thinning hair is traction alopecia which occurs when hair is continuously pulling on the hair follicle. You can cause traction alopecia from constantly wearing your hair in a tight ponytail, bun, or braid, putting your hair up in rollers at night, or using hair extensions for extended periods of time. Since an outside force is causing the thinning, this is the easiest thinning to fix as it can be reversed by avoiding tight hairstyles, wearing thicker braids that are harder to pull as tight, and wearing extensions for shorter periods of time. If you do not identify and correct the habit soon enough, however, the hair follicle can become so damaged and scarred that they cannot produce new hair.
Thin Hair from Heat Damage
If you find that none of these explanations seem to fit your thin hair story, then it’s possible that your hair loss is a result of heat damage or hair dyes. According to Dyson, you can damage your hair when you blow dry, flat iron, or curl your hair at the highest temperature settings over an extended period of time. Hair dyes involving repeated bleaching can also heavily damage the hair follicle preventing new growth and creating breakage. Your favorite hair style could be doing more harm than you realize, but small changes to your hair care routine to give your follicles a break can have your hair repaired and back to growing in no time.
How do I make thin hair look thicker?
There are multiple steps you can take to aid your hair growth and trick people into thinking your hair is thicker than it is. Though some may swear by rosemary oil in their roots or taking biotin religiously, the fact is genetics and hormones often dictate our reality, and hair loss can’t be avoided all the time. That being said, there are steps you can take to enhance your hair and give it the flair you are looking for using products and techniques for volume and growth.
1. Choose the Right Shampoo Type
Starting from the first step in hair maintenance, the type of shampoo you use is either working for you or against you. The shampoo your best friend loves may not be the shampoo of your fine hair dreams – it’s possibly its nightmare match. To best serve your hair type, you need to identify your biggest concerns and then look for a shampoo that addresses that problem.
For fine hair that falls flat, look for a volumizing shampoo. If you have fine hair that gets oily quickly, choose a cleansing shampoo. You may be thinking “but you said my fine hair needs hydrating!” and yes that’s true. However! Adding hydration to the root will weigh down such light hair – hydration should be targeted to the mids to ends of the hair with a conditioner. If your ends are particularly dry, opt for a leave-in conditioning hair maskthat can keep moisture locked in for longer.
2. Change Your Blow-Drying Techniques
The direction you blow dry your hair can increase the amount of volume at the root for an extra boost. Start with a heat protectant blow dry spray with a light formula to protect your hair. Then begin blow drying with your head upside down, raking your fingers through your strands. After flipping right side up, create extra volume by blow drying roots in the opposite direction the section typically lays.
Be careful not to blow dry on too high a heat which could dry out your ends and create unnecessary breakage. Use rollers and hairspray to reinforce the voluminous shape and maintain your volume throughout the day. Halt use of heated tools if you find your thin hair breaking from excessive damage. Also do not sleep in rollers which can result in extra pressure on the root of your hair, leading to extra hair loss.
3. Use Volumizing or Texturizing Dry Shampoo
Dry shampoos can be a huge player in creating texture and volume in a hairstyle, especially when working with fine or thin hair. While dry shampoo can save day 2,3, or whatever-day-it-even-is hair from the perils of oils, dry shampoo can have extra benefits that work in tandem with your hair’s best interests.
For fine or thin hair, you should look to use a volumizing dry shampoo. Batiste™ Volumizing Dry Shampoo absorbs excess oils for a clean feeling, while leaving your hair bouncy and volumized. Just shake, hold 12 inches away from the head, aim at your roots, and let it rip. Let the residue sit for a minute and then massage in, and don’t forget the back of your head!
4. Try a Hair Fiber Spray
If you’ve tried the 3 steps to voluminous hair above and find you still need a little help with making your thin hair look fuller, you might want to try a hair fiber spray or powder. Hair fibers are exactly what they sound like – fibers of keratin proteins that are applied to the hair and scalp to mimic the appearance of hair strands. Toppik™ Hair Building Fibers blend undetectably with existing hair strands to instantly create the appearance of naturally thick, full hair. They’re also resistant to wind, rain, and perspiration for long-lasting results!
Hair fibers should be used on dry hair, preferably already in your hairstyle of choice. Hair fibers can be removed with a simple shower with your favorite shampoo and conditioner so there’s no long-term commitment if you try it and don’t love the results.
5. Add Hair Extensions
Finally, if you are envisioning a new, luscious look that completely transforms your hair story, try adding hair extensions in! Hand-tied, Halo, or Tape-in, hair extensions come in several styles for you to try and discover your best fit.
Be careful when choosing your hair extension, as styles like Fusion or Microlinks can damage already thin and fine hair. Clip-ins or Sew-ins can also put excess stress on already delicate hair. Your best bet for fine or thin hair is a lightweight extension that will create the least amount of damage to the hair follicle. Once you find your perfect fit, you can live your long hair, thick strand fantasy!
What hairstyles look best for thin hair?
Without the right haircut, all your efforts toward volume can be thwarted before you even begin. Thin, fine hair requires cuts that lean towards being lightweight – and shorter, texturized hair will do a lot more for you than long and damaged hair.
Pixie Cuts
Pixie cuts are very popular styles for thinner hair types, especially when textured by your hairstylist. The cut-in texture creates extra movement to the hair that tricks the eye into believing there is a fuller scalp. A good example of this haircut would be Michelle Williams, Chris Hemsworth or Rihanna.
Bobs
Another popular haircut for fine hair is the bob. Keeping hair at a medium length keeps the hair from being too heavy and flat against the scalp. Emma Chamberlain and Hailey Bieber are both fine-hair celebs who love this cut. Depending on your face shape you may want to keep your chop to your chin or move it closer to your collarbone. Don’t be afraid to add in some long layers as well while you’re at it for extra movement and volume!
Wavy, Tousled Hair
Adding in waves to your short to mid-length hair gives way more volume than a straight hair style. Wavy, tousled hair is easier to achieve than you might think and is a great hairstyle that can suit going to the office or going to date night. You can even bump up the volume with a couple spritzes of a texture spray.
Half-Up, Half-Down
Half-up, half-down not only helps keep your hair out of your face, it also can create the illusion of volume. Just tease the crown of your head before gathering the top half of your hair into a ponytail or bun. Pull a couple pieces out a smidge to maintain the volume in your hair and voila! You have a quick and easy updo. For extra face framing, keep some front pieces out and curl for texture.
Bangs
Before everyone closes their window at the audacity to suggest bangs, just hear us out on this one. Bangs can be a great addition to a haircut if you’re looking to create some extra visual interest to your fine hair. If cut correctly, a thick bang is likely to enhance the presence of your hair and add some extra face-framing. Just ask Emma Stone who almost always has some sort of fringe.
We suggest you keep a mini dry shampoo in your bag in case you notice your bangs getting a touch greasy throughout the day. Touch up your look with a quick spritz of dry shampoo at the roots to eliminate excess oil.
Achieve Your Best Hair with Batiste™
Finding the right hairstyle or haircut for your hair type should never leave you discouraged. Love the hair you rock with a little help from Batiste™ dry shampoos, shine sprays, and leave-in masks. From adding volume, to absorbing oil from the scalp, Batiste™ has a product to take your hair from Basic to Bombshell! For more information on using Batiste™ products, check out these articles: