Easy Ways to Take Your Mane From Thin
to Thick Looking That Might Just Work!
Who among us blessed (or is it cursed) with fine hair can’t identify with any of these?
You’ve washed and meticulously styled your straight, fine hair. The hairstyle looks just perfect in the bathroom mirror. However only a few hours later when you glance in the mirror in the restroom at work you can’t believe what you see. Your hair looks limp, flat, lifeless or worse. What fine haired girl hasn’t been horrified by seeing that before?
You seem to be plagued by finer locks that seem to want to plaster themselves on your head. Leaving you to wonder what you can do to add body and at least the appearance of lush thickness? Is that too much to ask?
Has frustration with those puny strands that appear to major in limpness left you asking your her super-secret styling tips or simply for ideas on how to get some serious volume going on up there?
Gosh, it’s enough to make you desperate enough for a solution to cry out:
Meaning “fat” in a good way of course.
Let’s face it. Fine hair is hard to live with at times. You know, a real pain?
It can break your heart and often does. Leaving you looking for added fullness and volume anywhere you can find it.
So let’s see if we can’t help you get the luscious body everyone with a fine mane craves.
Quick Section Navigation
- What To Know About Fine Hair
- When Flat Hair Happens to Good People
- It’s All About the Cut
- Anyone for Plumping Products?
- Yes, Styling Tools Can Keep Fine Hair from Misbehavin’
- Video: Velcro Rollers in Action Styling Straight Fine Hair
- Nine Quick Fine Hair Tips and Tricks
What To Know About Fine Hair
Okay so if the hair gods passed out fine hair to you at conception, no sense crying about it now. The thing to do, when life gives you lemons, or what you might think are lemons, is to make lemonade. Trite but true. And knowing what to do starts with knowing a few things about fine hair.
Finer Fact: Some 60% of Caucasian women have fine hair. Many many others have it too.
It’s also important to understand fine hair shouldn’t be confused with thin hair. Think of it this way. Fine hair refers to the size of the strands. Thin hair refers to the amount of hair on your scalp. You can have thick fine hair. Or thin fine hair. Again the term refers to the diameter of the hair. So if you were wondering what is fine hair or how to define it, now you know.
The typically challenge is to make a lot of very little. And there are several options one can do to create that illusion with fine hair. You want a cut that builds in the body. You want to know how to style things or how to use hairstyles to maximize the volume. And perhaps use color to make things look fuller than they are.
When Flat Hair Happens to Good People
Yeah, what exactly causes the limpness too often found in fine locks in the first place?
We keep coming back to that, don’t we? Well there are generally three possible culprits.
Sometimes flatness happens due to over active oil glands which work overtime to pump out oil which will weigh your strands down at the root level. To combat this never apply conditioner to the hair above your ears. And hit the hair nearest the scalp with a shot of dry shampoo after you’ve styled. This will both boost the body and absorb any oil slick that develops at the scalp level.
Sometimes flat hair happens when strands have been stripped of moisture. Moisturizing shampoo should help with that. Also protein infused products can help bulk up the appearance of each strand giving a fuller appearance too.
Finer Tip: Stylists agree it’s smart to hit the roots with a final blast of cold air from your blow dryer. This will ruffle the cuticles just a bit making the hair look thicker.
Sometimes flat hair is simply the result of a cut gone bad. Seamless layers is one solution. Being underneath they are the unseen reason for the body and movement hair cut this way displays. Shorter layers also help take out the bulk at the bottom which can weigh hair down. Finally a bit of volumizing product sprayed at the root level can encourage your otherwise limp locks to lift off the scalp.
Speaking of which…
It’s All About the Cut
It really is. About the cut that is. But then you knew that already, didn’t you? So when it comes to cuts for those with fine hair you can round up the usual suspects. Here’s a short list of some of those. Just don’t expect to see anything earthshaking. I mean we are talking fine hair here after all.
And I know. Used to be a short bob cut was your only sure fire option for making fine hair look thicker. Now there are many trendy hairstyles capable of taking your fine mane to touchable heights never reached before.
Finer Tip: Generally you want to keep the haircut above the bra strap since the longer the tresses get the greater the risk of things coming off stringy looking. Know what I mean? Because the longer thin, fine locks get, the flatter they tend to lay.
Still fact remains layered fine hair remains the best of the volumizing techniques when it comes to adding that oomph your hair lacks. Those fighting fine, limp hair typically find shoulder length hair with shorter layers sliced in gives the look much needed fullness. For even more of a boost, highlights will fluff up the cuticle just a bit adding to the thickness the cut generates.
Finer Tip: Semi-permanent highlights may be the best coloring option. This still creates the appearance of more depth and volume but is easier on your hair than other coloring choices.
Anyway, here are several hairstyles for fine hair you can try on for size:
Bobs Away
As was just noted bobs head the list. Yet there are all manner of bob cuts you can talk to your stylist about. By their very nature they add volume and add a healthier more vibrant look to the hair. For fine hair many find a graduated bob works great. It’s easy care and offers plenty of movement. You know, this is where the front wisps are longer and frame the face? Add blunt bangs and you’ve got one trendy cut. Also there is likely a bob that will work with your face shape, ie a long bob can enhance a round face, things of that nature.
Cuts with Bangs
Another way of working magic with fine hair is to incorporate a fringe. Great for longer faces, they generate an element of sleek fullness. Most bangs will work so don’t be afraid to discuss straight bangs, blunts bangs or flirty, lash grazing peek a boo bangs even. The most versatile bangs fall a bit lower on the brow, so they can be swept to the side from time to time.
Something Mid-length
When you think mid length Jennifer Aniston’s now iconic look should come to mind. The mid length layers create nice movement, offers a chic feel, and plenty of volume. A versatile cut it can be layered or blunt cut. Those looking to accentuate the fine silky texture of their hair should go with the layers. The long shag is another way to go for those looking to bulk up. This shag projects plenty of sassy dimension and thickness your hair may lack naturally.
Two Rules to Live By…the thicker your mane the more you can layer. The finer it is the blunter the ends should be.
Bottom line? Don’t despair. Those sentenced to a life with fine-hair should not feel doomed like those stuck on a Carnival Cruise liner without power. These days skilled hairdressers can actually create quite a lot out of relatively little.
Anyone for Plumping Products?
It’s good to know you’re not alone. That’s right, help abounds in the fight against flat, limp locks. Or what you might describe as better living with fine hair through chemistry. That’s right. Producers of styling products feel your pain. And so are constantly coming out with hi-tech formulations designed to help you get look bouncy, full-bodied tresses too. Here are just a few options in the war on hair that falls flat the instant you step out the door; Or develops split ends if you just look at it sideways.
Volumizing Hair Spray
What It Does: Ideally this will lift fine locks that tend toward flatness by adding volume at the root level without weighing your hair down. A sanity saver if there ever was one.
You Need It Why? If your fine limp mane could use a little body building at the crown from something that will also offer great hold.
Product to Try: Big Sexy Hair Firm Volumizing Hairspray
Hair Powder
What It Does: Think of this as a body building dry shampoo that kind of creates instant fullness. That’s right, even wispy, super fine hair can benefit from a dose of this stuff and end up looking like it has unbelievable volume and fullness all without being stiff or sticky. Okay well maybe not unbelievable but you know what I mean. You may even be able to more easily skip a shampoo session every now and then. And we all know how our hair can look better when we do that sometimes.
You Need It Why? If you are tired of your ultra-fine hair coming off looking flat or oily.
Finer Tip: If you hair is freshly washed you may need to apply just a touch of wax first to get the full effect.
Product to Try: Stila-Hair-Refresher or Bumble and Bumbles Hair Powder.
Another Finer Tip: When shopping for products you want to keep an eye out for those with the words like “for fine hair” or “body-building formula.” on the label.
Deep Conditioner
What It Does: Deep conditions and rejuvenates your mane placing it firmly in the smooth, silky and healthy looking category.
You Need It Why? To help restore the last three or four inches of your hair that’s most likely to be the most damaged due to hot styling tools. That part of your strands is also home to split ends. Especially good for those with thick, fine hair.
Product to Try: Aussie 3 Minute Miracle which is hailed as a miracle worker.
Treatment Masque
What It Does: Replenishes and nourishes your hair to cut down on split ends. Leaving you with healthier, shinier, softer, more supple strands.
You Need It Why? If your hair tends to be dry or is damaged with more split ends or breakage than you care for this is something to try.
Product to Try: Kerastase Nutritive Masquintense generally gets rave reviews. Pricy but most say worth it.
Volumizing Foam
What It Does: Gives your hair a badly needed lift.
You Need It Why? If want to crank up the volume and take your hair from flat to full bodied while keeping it feeling soft and looking touchable.
Product to Try: Redken Body Full Instant Bodifier Volumizing Foam For Baby Fine Hair
Whatever you do don’t fall into the trap of thinking if a little styling product is good lots more must be lots better. Not so much really.
Plus as great as any of these may be, it helps to remember that using the right product is will only go so far. How well your hair behaves itself still begins and ends with the right cut for your hair’s thickness and texture.
Light Weight Hair Spray
What It Does: Adds extra hold where you need it most when you are all done styling.
You Need It Why? If you don’t want something heavy weighing down the volume you worked so hard to build.
Product to Try: Sebastian Shaper Zero Gravity or JOHN FRIEDA Luxurious Volume Extra Hold Hairspray
So make sure your bathroom is stocked with the right products because products do help. Well, actually the right products for YOUR locks can change your life.
Yet it can’t hurt to have the right tools in your tool kit either.
Yes, Styling Tools Can Keep Fine Hair from Misbehavin’
Essential Volumizing Tool: Ionic Hair Dryer
What It Does: The ions generated eliminate static electricity and help seal the cuticle. Result? A smoother hair cuticle which means less frizz, flyaways and all-around shiner hair. And given these dryers tend not to suck the moisture out of the your hair, potentially less damage.
You Need It Why? If you want a blow dryer that produces fuller, shinier hair with less risk of heat damage this may be the type for you. Why? It simply dries your locks faster. And less time under the dryer means less damage to your mane. If you like you can see the video where the Good Housekeeping Institute reported when they tested ionic hair dryers. Why not give one a try — you’ll probably like it.
Finer tip: When blow drying keep it set on medium heat using a vent brush to lift the roots.
Product to Try: Revlon RV544 1875 Watt Tourmaline Ionic Lightweight Dryer
Those on a budget might find this popular choice to be delightful. Durability might be an issue however.
Essential Volumizing Tool: Round Brush
What It Does: Round brushes are a great way to style your hair when blow drying.
You Need It Why? I have to explain this? Really? Everyone needs a round brush. Especially one that doesn’t get all tangled up in your hair.
Product to Try: Cricket Technique Barrel Hair Brush
Confession: Round brushing isn’t necessarily easy but it can add a ton of body. If you wait until your hair is about three quarters dry it’s easier. And if you do nothing but apply the brush to the areas that need it the most, that would be the crown of your head and the sides, you can create amazing fullness.
Essential Volumizing Tool: Velcro Rollers
What They Do: Give you a cheap, fast, low tech way to give those “lie flat” roots a boost. In other words near instant voluptuous volume. Or fullness you can’t impart to fine hair any other way. After you take them out simply loosen the curls with your fingers as much or as little as you want.
You Need It Why? Get these only if you’re looking for an easy quick way to create more volume than curl. With an end result that looks much like a professional blowout. Or get these if you want a simple technique some use to take their fine, flat hair all the way to full and bouncy! Because rollers like these can be your new best friend.
Product to Try: Conair Mega Self Holding Rollers
Now if you want to see Velcro rollers in action don’t miss this video. If you’re not careful you’ll discover how to get your fine straight hair looking fuller, thicker and healthier than you ever thought possible.
Rollers in Action Styling Straight Fine Hair
- Back combing comb (optional)
- Some alligator clips or bobby pins
- Velcro rollers
- Large barrel curling iron (optional) .
- Shine spray like Garnier Fructis Brillantine Shine Glossing Spray. Or if you prefer you can use a hair oil.
First take your shine spray, spritz a bit on your hands and run your hands through the bottom half of the shafts. Or you can do the same with your hair oil.
There are two ideas in play here.
- With the oil you’re adding moisture to the ends which will leave your strands feeling smooth silky.
- While with the glossing spray you’re trying to shine up your tresses to give them a healthier sheen.
As with many styling products and fine hair you want to avoid getting any of the product near the roots since things like this tend to weigh the hair down.
Next select three or four sections at the crown, curled with the iron (to get a little heat on your hair more than anything else) and then the curl is ultimately set using a Velcro roller. Using jumbo rollers you want to roll the hair away from your face while going easy on the tension.
If you elect to use the iron be sure the hair is dry. Otherwise you’re doing this on dampish hair.
Either way this technique produces loose curls which gives a much needed body boost to finer strands.
Okay so once the curl is created the section of hair is wrapped around a Velcro roller which is held in place with an alligator clip or pin.
You can stop with three rollers or go for the whole head. If you do the latter use smaller rollers for the bottom strands.
If your mane needs more hold spritz some hair spray when the hair is curled up in the rollers.
Give the hair on the curlers time to set while you go about your business of getting ready for the day or date or whatever.
Next you’ll want to remove the rollers taking care to unroll them rather than just yanking them out of your hair.
If you like you can back comb a bit at the roots to build on the volume the curling iron and rollers has put in.
Otherwise rake through the curls with your fingers to loosen things up.
Note this is quite a simple styling trick that produces a dressed up look for your locks.
Even if you do more than three rollers it’s maybe ten minutes actual styling time at the most to pull off.
The end result is a more voluminous style that is visibly thicker and fuller looking – as you can see for yourself from the before and after shots.
Nine Quick Fine Hair Tips and Tricks
#1: It’s a given that fine hair needs plenty of TLC. Fail to do so and you could end up with a head full of frizzy, flyaways, with split ends galore. Seriously. And with all the other things working against it, who needs fine locks with problems like that? (Which is also why you might want to pay close attention to the hair care tips that follow.)
#2: A common mistake is to put on the styling products too soon. Fine hair needs to be dry enough for the products to work. Use your blow dryer, sans nozzle, to get your hair about 75% dry before applying styling products.
#3: Earlier it was mentioned you could use highlights to give your hair some depth. Add in subtle lowlights too and suddenly you’ve got some three dimensional action working that gives your mane a real shot in the arm. Apply a volumizing foam to top it off to maximize the look.
#4: With many styling products most overdo it. Yet the rule of thumb with most volumizing products is a little goes a long way. So don’t go crazy with any of them. Read the label and only use the recommended amount.
#5: When it comes to blow drying create more lift by applying the upside down trick. That is bend at the waste so your hair falls forward and aim the head of the dryer down. This forces the roots off your scalp. It works even better if you are gently tugging the roots with your fav round brush.
#6: Remember protein based shampoos add strength. Moisturizing cleaners hydrate. But too much of a good thing either way isn’t good. So switch up your routine. It’s not that your locks get used to a shampoo. It’s may be more that whatever the suds have been designed to do have been accomplished. Alternating the suds of choice will keep your hair from lying flat do to be over hydrated. Or from breaking or splitting due to too much protein.
#7: Here’s a trick your stylist should apply to create the illusion of greater density. Bury the body building layers under outer layers of longer hair. It looks like your hair’s all one length. It looks like you’ve got great body to it. But only your hairdresser knows it’s the shorter layers underneath that are making this happen by adding badly needed root lift.
#8: Again have you tried one of ceramic ionic blow dryers available nowadays? These little miracle workers can dry hair 50-70 percent faster – less heat less damage? Even better they coat your strands with negative ions that lock in the moisture while creating a smoother, i.e. shinier, strand texture. In other words these ionic dryer can deliver a blowout that will blow them away.
#9: Have you tried letting your hair air dry some parted on the opposite side you normally wear it? It’s works. Why? Because the roots are lifted when dried one way and then styled in the opposite direction.
Forget truth or dare – great fine hairstyles dance with the daring. You daring enough to apply any of this with your fine hair?
And if you’re looking for more helpful tips and tricks to make your fine mane mesmerizing, please do yourself a favor and follow our boards on Pinterest!
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