Keep reading to know the different ways to make your thin and lifeless hair come alive!
Thin Hair Vs Fine Hair
Understanding the difference between thin and fine hair can help you choose the proper hair care and styling strategies. A simple method to identify if your hair is fine is the strand test. Take a single strand and examine its texture. If it feels thick and strong, you have coarse hair but if the strand feels fragile, you have fine hair. Thin hair refers to the density of hair follicles on the scalp. If you have thin hair, you have fewer hair follicles per square inch, which can result in a more visible scalp and a hairstyle lacking volume. On the other hand, fine hair refers to the diameter of each hair strand. Fine hair strands have a smaller circumference, making them prone to breakage. However, you can have a lot of fine hair, which would not be considered thin. Strengthening and volumizing products can help fine hair appear thicker, while strategic haircuts and styling methods create the illusion of density for thin hair. Knowing your hair type helps tailor your hair care and styling approach to meet its specific needs.
Styling Tips To Make Your Thin Hair Appear Thicker
1. Shampoo And Conditioner
Wash your hair with a thickening shampoo and conditioner as they contain ingredients that aid hair regrowth and strengthening. Stay away from hydrating shampoos as they can make your hair flat.
2. Volume Spray
Volume spray – it’s in the name! Volume sprays contain polymers that coat your hair shafts to make your hair look fuller. Make sure you spritz on a generous amount to make your hair look as full as it can.
3. Dry Shampoo
Hairstylists recommend minimizing the use of shampoos to retain the natural oils and maintain the hair’s fluffy look. You can use dry shampoo instead to add volume to your hair. It absorbs the excess oil from your hair so that it doesn’t look greasy and flat. It saves you from having to wash your hair every day. Stay away from dry shampoos that use talc and aluminum starch octenylsuccinate in their products. Use products with natural starches (like rice) in them. They will give your hair a refreshed and voluminous look without causing any issues.
4. Round Brush
Using a round brush can make your hair look voluminous. Place your brush underneath your hair, brushing it downward and towards your face. This will give your hair a C-shape, making it look thick. Brush your bangs away from your face and let them fall. Angelique, a blogger, shared one of the simple ways of adding volume to her thin hair in her video. She revealed, “I put my head down. Flip my hair over, and then I use a round brush and blow dry it that way upside down. It gives me so much more volume (i)”
5. Hair Dryer
Flipping your hair down and blow-drying it is an age-old way of adding volume to your hair. Flip your hair forward, point the hair dryer downwards, and run your brush through your hair continuously. Move around to all parts of your hair. Keep the heat on medium setting as you don’t want to burn your hair or dry it out.
6. Backcombing
Backcombing or teasing your hair is a great way to add faux volume. It makes your hair look thick and full. Take a small section of hair and, using a fine-toothed comb, comb it downwards from the mid-section to the roots.
7. Mousse
When you have thin hair, use mousse instead of a gel. A gel is much thicker and will make your hair strands greasy and stick together. A mouse is light and not sticky. You can style your hair without making it look like anything has been applied to it.
8. Highlights And Lowlights
Highlights and lowlights can add dimension to your hair and make it look thicker than it is. It also depends on your face shape. Check with stylists to find out which of these will look lovely on you. A blend of light and dark colors at the right places can make your hair look full and shiny. This also helps in showcasing your natural hair color.
9. Take Vitamins
Just like your body needs nutrients to grow, so does your hair. Vitamins will help strengthen your hair follicles and aid regrowth. You can find multivitamin tablets and supplements at your local pharmacy or general store.
10. Oil
This is a hair care step rather than a styling hack to naturally improve hair volume. Oiling your hair is the best way to nourish your hair follicles and moisturize your hair. Use coconut oil or Jamaican black castor oil as they have nutrients that help stimulate hair growth and protect your hair from any damage. Make sure you also include scalp scrubbing in your hair care to manage build-up that could clog your follicles.
11. Haircuts
This is key! Get a haircut that accentuates your best features and makes your hair look full and bouncy. Layers and bangs add dimension to your face and texture to your hair, making it look voluminous. Get a pixie cut, blunt bob, shoulder-length shag, or long bob to create the illusion of volume and texture in your hair.
12. Coloring Techniques
Certain hair-dying techniques can create the illusion of thicker hair and enhance depth. Add bright highlights to the hair that reflect light and give the hair a voluminous look. On the other hand, you also darken certain strands to add vibrancy. The lowlight technique creates a multi-dimensional effect on the hair, giving it a fluffy appearance.
13. Hair Extensions
If you have really thin and fine-textured hair, hair extensions are a simple and great way to add more hair. They are also easy to attach to your hair. You can choose among tape-in extensions, clip-on extensions, and sewn-in extensions.
14. Hair Plugs And Implants
If you want a permanent fix for your hair thinning issues, try hair plugs and implants. In these procedures, hair follicles are transplanted from a donor to the recipient. Some clinics work with your own hair. They take hair from your nape and add it to the area that is losing hair.
15. Curling
Curl your hair away from your face and brush it outwards. This makes it appear more voluminous. The same goes for wavy hair as well. You will definitely notice how bouncy and thick this makes your hair look.
16. Pancake Your Hair
Make your braids look more voluminous by tugging at each weave of the braid. This is known as ‘pancaking’ your hair. You can try this when you twist your hair and then pin it or even on a ponytail.
17. Velcro Rollers
Velcro rollers are a simple and easy way to bring volume to your hair. The best thing about velcro rollers is that they latch on to your hair and make sure that it doesn’t slip off the roller.
18. Massage Your Scalp
Whether you’re oiling, shampooing, or conditioning your hair, make sure you massage your scalp so that the products reach your scalp and nourish your hair from the roots. When using oil, make sure you massage it into the roots as it strengthens and nourishes your hair. When shampooing your hair, take a dollop of shampoo and massage it on your scalp to prevent any build-up or flakiness from remaining on your hair. Massaging your scalp properly helps rejuvenate the tresses and support scalp health as well.
19. Hairstyles
A pouf done on a ponytail, bun, or even loose hair will make your hair look thicker. Sweeping your hair to one side and pinning it in place will also make your hair look voluminous. While slight waves can make your hair look fuller than it is, side-swept bangs add dimension. Tease your hair near the crown to give it a perfect rise near the hairline. Avoid tight ponytails or buns as they can lead to hair fall.
Short Hair: Short hair that ends at your shoulders or higher makes thin hair look incredibly thick. A shag haircut, an edgy textured bob, or a pixie cut can add dimension to your hair. Layers: Layers add dimension to your hair, which personifies volume. Blunt Bobs: A precise bob with blunt ends make for solid styles that add a neat looking volume to the ends of your hair.
20. Stress
Stress is one of the leading causes of hair loss. The more stressed you feel, the more your hair will fall. So, de-stress! Take a holiday or, if you have too much work, try splitting it up into small tasks rather than doing it altogether.
21. Lose Weight
Yes! Being obese can cause hair loss. Your BMI (Body Mass Index) determines how much your body should weigh depending on your height and mass. Consult a physician to understand what steps you can take to reduce body weight along with exercising and eating healthy. Does thin hair look thicker dark or light? Thin natural hair usually looks light. However, you can make it look thicker by coloring it in a dark hair color. Will highlights hide thinning hair? Yes, highlights can be used to hide thinning hair. But if you have light hair, try experimenting with lowlights – dark highlights. Darker color can create fullness by absorbing light and illuminating more shine. What role does blow drying play in making thin hair appear thicker? Blow drying the hair in the opposite direction by flipping the hair down can create a nice lift and volume at the roots, which in turn can create the illusion of fuller-looking hair. Can hair extensions or hairpieces make thin hair look thicker? Yes, adding hair extensions or hair pieces such as wigs, toupees, sponge donuts, a pack of extensions, and hair weaves help add thickness to the mane without hair damage and give it a natural look. Are there any specific haircuts or styles to avoid if you have thin hair? Though adding layers helps to create the illusion of thick and healthy strands, adding too many layers can make it look lacking in volume and body. And could not help you achieve the desired results. Can a healthy scalp contribute to the appearance of thicker hair? Yes, an unhealthy scalp and oxidative stress can impact hair growth and lead to premature hair loss. Hence, a healthy scalp is essential for the appearance of thicker hair (1).
Illustration: How To Make Your Thin Hair Look Thicker - 20 Styling Hacks
Seeking detailed styling tips to get a fuller hair look? Watch this easy step-by-step tutorial to learn how to make thin hair look thicker and voluminous!
