Anyone with thin hair knows the struggle. We want the hair to hold its shape for more than 0.001 seconds. Hell, you just want your scalp to be invisible through your baby-thin hair. (I’ve been there 100 percent.) And you feel like you’ve tried everything: the best short haircuts for thinning hair, shopping around for the best conditioner, trying the 100 strokes a day method. , and poured the hair growth serum. You may not expect to see increased hair density, but that doesn’t mean you can’t fake it. All 9 hairstyles to make your hair look thicker are the proof you need. (And tip: hair extensions can be your friend.)
35 short haircuts for fine hair, from ‘mixie’ to blunt bob, according to stylists
Summary of the best haircuts to make thin hair look thicker
If you peruse this gallery, you will see that most, if not all, haircuts for thinning hair shorten the hair. There is no need to clean long sluices here. In general, use layers to give your strands some body while still maintaining some collarbone length. Additionally, Dean added: “What helps make your hair look fuller is incorporating a fringe. What it’s doing is extending your girth. It makes the whole haircut look more… It looks fuller. If your hair is all one length, it may look stringy and long. Cutting around the fringe (and creating a fringe) will automatically make your hair look more voluminous.”
meet an expert
Chaz Dean is a celebrity hairstylist, colorist, and founder of the WEN hair and body care line. Dean has over 25 years of experience and his salon has been visited by the likes of Ming-Na Wen, Nicole Murphy, Gilles Marini, Alyssa Milano, and Gwyneth Paltrow. WEN is also a multiple QVC Beauty Award winner.
Our expertise in choosing the best haircut for thinning hair
As a lifestyle reporter, I regularly write about the beauty industry, from French-approved makeup to cleansing balms, hairsprays, heat protectants, fine hair styles and cuts, and more. I work with many experts, including award-winning celebrity hairstylists, to analyze trends, dig deep into ingredients, and learn why certain products and cuts work (or don’t). ) to help readers understand. In this article, we talk to celebrity hairstylist Chaz Dean about why these nine hairstyles work for thinning hair and how best to style them.
Best haircut for thinning hair
1. Angled lob
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This shoulder-grazing style is slightly shorter in the back than in the front, adding volume and shape to create the illusion of fuller hair. Take it a step further by adding some gentle waves to the midsection of the shaft to give it even more oomph. Dean also added that the deep side part is your friend. “This works great for people with thin hair, because you’re creating the illusion of fullness.” When styling, use sponge rollers or He recommends using tools that don’t use heat.
2. Fluffy pony
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When you want to wear your hair up, a fluffy ponytail will give it a fuller, bouncier look. However, Dean advises considering adding hair extensions or adding a hair bump to the top of your head to give it more shape. Next, spritz your roots with a volumizing texture spray before tying your hair into a loose ponytail. (Follow the jawline rules.) Add volume by bundling and wrapping your hair around a curling wand to pull out some face-framing areas.
3. Long layers
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A one-length cut can make your hair look heavy and flat, but feathery layers do the opposite. “The key here is that her layers are three to four inches below the hair,” Dean explains of Sandra Bullock’s haircut. “You want to keep the layers long toward the ends of your hair so they don’t weigh them down.” At the salon, you’ll have them taper a little at the ends to add fluff to mid-length hair. Then, when styling, apply a lightweight body mousse or air-drying foam.
4. Messy bob
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“This (haircut) is a definite yes because it has bangs that help create some fullness,” Deans told me. “(Using a sponge roller) definitely gives you a lot of fullness.” So a tousled bob gives you one thing. It’s the volume. With short layers and feathered ends, this cut is super easy to ruffle up for a big lift at the roots. Work in sea salt spray to keep it clean and airy.
5. Blunt Bob
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At the other end of the spectrum, a precise chop can also make fine hair look beautiful. “(This hairstyle is actually better suited for thin hair than thick hair),” says Dean. “If your hair is thick, it can look too bulky[with this cut]. The blunter the cut, the denser the hair strands at the roots, which will make them look thicker.”Additionally, Dean adds, “It helps shape the hair. It’s beautiful, smooth, and has clean lines that won’t break. Perfect for thinning hair.
6. Shag your bangs
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We know that shaggy layers help add volume and volume, but bangs are also a great way to add dimension to the front of your face and make your hair look fuller overall. Dean points out that Alexa Chung’s bangs work so well here, perhaps because the fringe is more dense, rather than feathered like curtain bangs, which lose their shape. He explains. When you go to the salon, have your layers shortened to lift the top of your head.
7. Choppy Pixie
Fraser Harrison/Getty Images
This style is the perfect hassle-free haircut for women with thin hair. When I asked Dean if his pixie wasn’t long enough to cover his scalp, he said: However, you will need a texture paste to give it a bit of texture and hold it in place. ” When choosing a paste, Dean says choose one that is water-soluble to avoid stressing your hair. To test, put a little on your hand. “If a product washes off with only water, that means it’s water-soluble,” he explains. “If it feels waxy when you rinse your hands and you have to use an emollient to remove it, it’s heavy and will build up on your head,” he says. We recommend using a diffuser on low speed to create body and texture while shaping.
8. Textured half-up, half-down
Noam Garay/Getty Images
Half-up, half-down is fun and flirty, and the best part about this hairstyle is that it can be done at almost any length. However, Dean says this is one hairstyle that requires extensions. (But that’s OK; we can’t let people with thick hair have all the fun. Plus, extensions are readily available and there are options to suit every budget.) Top bun To create it: You’re going to put[the donut]in, wrap it around your hair to get this lift, and then add extensions to get this volume. ” Texturing sprays and styling pastes can be used to add even more volume.
9. Torn Braids
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This is the characteristic of braids. In fact, braids can make fine hair look thinner. (From experience, braiding fine, thin hair definitely makes it look like there’s even less hair.) But hairstyles can be fun, and hair extensions can add to the illusion of hair. You can participate. Nice thick locks. Dean recommends inserting clip-in or braided extensions before you start. Then you’re ready to try out this lovely braid using a technique known as “pancaking.” Swipe your hair to the side into loose braids, dab with a thickening powder or texture spray, and pull your hair out little by little until you reach the desired thickness.
Styling challenges for thinning hair
Styling thin hair can be difficult. First, there’s not much to work on. Fine hair is difficult to keep its shape and spots on the scalp may show through. There are some hairstyles and cuts that will only work if you try wigs or hair extensions. (However, as mentioned with the hairstyles above, there are sometimes fun looks that justify augmentation, if you’re willing to jump a few hurdles.)
In particular, Dean sadly says it’s best to avoid curtain bangs if you have thin hair. “When your hair is wispy, it doesn’t hold its shape; it doesn’t have enough support,” he explains.
Thankfully, there are many ways to hack the system, as we discuss with Dean below.
Does fine hair look better short or long?
Dean says you shouldn’t limit yourself to a certain hair length in general, but admits that people with very fine hair don’t want to grow their hair past their collarbones. “The longer the distance from the scalp to the ends of the hair, the thinner it looks.” Therefore, the collarbone is somewhat ideal, but this is also a guideline. That’s not the end of everything. ”
Styling tips to make thin hair look thicker
Fortunately, there are many ways to increase hair volume to make your head look fuller. “You should definitely avoid using harsh chemicals or lathering shampoos, as they can destroy your hair and make it thinner, finer and weaker,” advises Dean. “Be sure to use a volumizing product, such as a volumizing mousse.”
When styling, he says, it’s important not to overdo your hair. This happens, for example, when you blow-dry your hair in the opposite direction. You can also use volume and texture sprays to give your roots more lift. However, avoid Sd Alcohol 40 B, which is an incredibly drying ingredient.
Another hack is to add color to your roots. “This is an automatic way to make anyone’s hair look fuller,” says Dean. “If your hair is pulled back and your scalp is showing, a dab at the roots will make your scalp look twice as thick.” He advises choosing the color closest to the roots, rather than matching the ends. I’m doing it.
Of course, you can also choose hair extensions. Dean calls these “a great, cool shortcut if you just want to add volume to your hair and don’t want to go through a lot of other hardships.”
Why is my hair thinning? What can I do?