Try A Volumizing Mousse
Unfortunately, having fine hair makes choosing hair products a game of styling roulette. It’s not enough to pick something with a “volumizing” labelin fact, some volumizing products can dry out hair and make it brittle. Here’s a quick rundown: Stay away from heavyweight products like pomades, oils, waxes, or other products meant for coating the hair, as they will weigh your hair down. Oh, and stay away from protein treatments, too. “Protein treatments coat the hair, but because yours is thin in diameter, the coat might be too heavy,” says Ghanima Abdullah, a licensed cosmetologist from Chicago.
Instead, look for products that add moisture and volume. “Applying a lightweight volumizing mousse from roots to ends helps thicken your fine hair without weighing it down,” says Jenna Marie Shafer, a hairstylist in New York City. “Try Amika Plus Size Perfect Body Mousse , which provides massive volume and hydration in a cushiony whipped formula.”
Final Thoughts On Natural Treatments For Thinning Hair
I hope you find these natural treatments for thinning hair to be effective. Remember that change wont happen overnight and consistency with natural treatments for thinning hair are key to optimal results.
If youre a woman experiencing hair thinning, hair loss experts recommend getting tested for thyroid problems and hormone imbalances as a good starting place. If you can get to a fixable cause of your hair thinning, the great news is that hair will often grow back and continue growing at a healthy rate once the underlying cause of your hair thinning is addressed. If youre a man or woman and youre afraid that its all just genetics, dont throw in the towel. While a family history might not be in your favor, you can still do a lot through your diet and lifestyle to slow down hair thinning and preserve your mane for as long as possible.
With a consistent, patient approach, natural treatments for thinning hair can help your scalp get back to work growing your hair as it should as often as it should or, at the least, help to to thin out at a slower pace. I know hair thinning is not easy to deal with, but I encourage you to give natural treatments for hair thinning a try and not put vanity before health because the conventional options can cause seriously alarming health issues that are a lot more concerning and damaging than a thinning head of hair.
When To See A Doctor For Thinning Hair
Although its common to lose hair throughout the day, its a good idea to speak with your doctor if youre losing more than 100 hairs per day.
You should also talk with your doctor if youre worried about persistent hair loss or a receding hairline, or if you notice sudden patchy hair loss. Patches of hair loss could signify an underlying medical condition.
Read Also: What Can I Eat To Stop Hair Loss
Don’t Shampoo Too Often
On that same note, avoid over-shampooing. “Most fine hair clients feel the need to wash every day because they feel greasy after one day,” says Jennifer Watson, a hairstylist and education director at Zenagen Hair Care. “However, fine hair only needs to be shampooed two or three times per week. Overwashing can create too much oil production, which leads to flat and lifeless hair. The natural oils created with minimized shampooing add volume and manageability.”
To manage excess oil on second-day hair, opt for dry shampoo insteadstylists say the powder remnants will mop up excess oil and create more volume. “Just remember to wash it out after using it one to three times in a row, or the buildup can irritate the scalp and dry out fine hairs, causing breakage,” says Tsippora Shainhouse, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist in Beverly Hills, Calif.
Washing Hair Too Often
Its no secret that washing your hair every day will strip natural oils and fade your color faster, says Love. But it also teaches your scalp to expect frequent shampoos, which means it will start quickly releasing more oils. The problem with that? Your oh-so-clean fine hair will become greasy fast and end up limp and droopy. Love recommends training your scalp, by not cleansing more than two to three times per week and using a good volume-boosting, oil-absorbing product in between, like Joicos Weekend Hair Dry Shampoo. Learn the other things youre doing to your hair that a stylist wouldnt.
Jena Ardell/Getty Images
Read Also: When To Be Concerned About Hair Loss
Adapting Cuts According To Your Face Shape
Women with fine or thinning hair tend to default to styles that are almost non-styles. They often grow out their hair and refrain from ever cutting it even the slightest trim,Jill Crosby, celebrity stylist who worked with Dianne Keaton and Lucy Liu, tells Today and adds that cutting can take away the breakage and damage, also enhancing the womans face. How? Flattering hairstyles for women with fine thin hair can be customized to their facial features in many ways through the length, shape, layering, texture, bangs and so on. We have a couple of pictures to showcase the balancing power of cuts tailored to different face shapes.
via @thximenes
Rule : Never Add Layers In The Back
I’ve fallen victim many times to a stylist telling me that I need more depth and volume in the back, then convincing me to try “just a few layers.” The answer? Absolutely not. It seems great in theory, but similarly to bangs, it will simply take away from the precious hair you actually have. And, believe me, it takes forever to grow back. Instead, ask for a few angles in front or even a singular layer as long as its just in front.
Also Check: Can Hair Extensions Cause Hair Loss
Whats The Difference Between Fine And Thin Hair
Fine hair refers to the diameter of the individual hair strand, while thin hair refers to the density of the hair. Hair density is how many hairs are on your scalp and how close together they are. Both fine hair and thin hair are linked to genetics, but they can also be caused by lifestyle factors like poor diet and stress.
While fine hair is often also considered thin hair, you can actually have thick fine hair or coarse, thin hair . However, whether you have fine hair, fine thin hair, or short fine hair, your hair care routine will basically be the same.
How To Prevent Fine Hair Breakage
Strengthening your hair roots and nourishing your hair strands with adequate protein can help prevent hair breakage. Here are a few ways you can achieve that.
These are the quickest and easiest ways to reduce fine hair breakage. But why wait for breakage to happen in the first place. Isnt prevention always better? Here are a few hair care tips for fine hair that help reduce breakage and tangles.
Also Check: Does Colon Cancer Cause Hair Loss
Whats Actually Causing Your Thinning Hair
The first thing to know about hair loss is that its actually a bit complex. Your hair grows in three stages, SELF explained previously. These include a growth phase from a root in the hair follicle, a transitional phase when the growing stops, and a resting phase, after which the hair falls out and the follicle takes a break before growing another hair.
Its totally normal to lose between 50 and 100 hairs a day, according to the American Academy of Dermatology , which you might notice on your pillow in the morning, on your hairbrush, or in the shower. If you go a few days without showering, you might notice more than a single days worth of hair in the shower, which may be a little disconcerting, but is still totally normal.
Youre born with about 100,000 follicles on your scalp, and youll never gain or lose any, the AAD says. However, as you age, some follicles may stop growing hair and you may experience hair loss . When and how this happens is influenced by a bunch of factors, including our genetics and the natural hormonal changes we experience as we age, Shilpi Khetarpal, M.D., dermatologist at Cleveland Clinic, tells SELF.
Once you know what youre up against, there are some easy ways to help manage thinning hair at home or with the help of an expert. Here are the top tips we learned from dermatologists and hair stylists on how to protect your hair and restore some of its fullness and shine.
Rule #: Use A Blow Dryer
You ARENT blow-drying your hair? You should be. You should always style your hair from wet to dry, especially with fine hair, Matty says. Why?
Ok, lets talk science. Inside each hair shaft are carbon bonds that give the hair shape. These bonds break down in two waysthey get wet, or they get hot. If the hair is cool and dry in a flat shape, its hard to build volume, no matter what products you use. The only way to achieve the volume you want is to get it wet and get it hot.
Heres what to do:
- Start with wet hair and apply your choice of product , then blow-dry completely.
- Set the blow dryer to medium heat and high air flow to get the most movement in the hair.
- You can use a brush, but you can also use your hands.
The SECRET to creating volume? Go back and forth over the direction the hair falls and lift the hair away from the scalp to create volume. Keep in mind you only want to create volume at the front on topyou dont want to create volume EVERYWHERE, Matty says. Make sure you refine the shape a little bit.
Recommended Reading: Can Hair Loss Be Prevented
What Does Fine Hair Mean
Fine hair relates to the texture of your hair. You can think of texture as the “feel” of your hair.
The shape of individual hair strands are cylindrical, and the diameter determines the texture of the strand and ultimately affects how it feels.
Fine hair is small in diameter and feels like silk or satin.
Larger diameters characterize medium to coarse hair. Typically, fine hair textures have fewer cuticle layers. The cuticle layer is the outside layer of the hair strand. With fewer cuticle layers, hair products and oils can easily penetrate through the hair with this texture.
Unlike medium and coarse hair textures, which contain more cuticle layers that hinder hair products from supplying your hair with the proper nutrients and moisture. For this reason, fine hair textures tend to retain more moisture.
A lack of protein characterizes fine hair as well. Although able to preserve moisture, the bonds of fine textures are weak due to the lack of cuticle layers. With fewer cuticle layers, the strand is not as strong as compared to medium or coarse hair textures.
Regular protein treatments can benefit the strength and overall health of the hair. Having a fine hair texture is healthy and normal and based on your genetics and ethnicity.
To determine whether your hair is fine, simply take a strand of hair and compare its size to a piece of sewing thread. If your hair is wispy or smaller in width than the thread, you most likely have fine hair.
Choose A Volumizing Shampoo And A Clarifying Shampoo Once A Week
The most important step for styling fine hair starts in the shower. Stay away from sulfatesdetergents found in many shampooswhich can weaken hair follicles over time, making your hair susceptible to breakage and the appearance of thinning. “Using a volumizing shampoo can help plump up the roots and add nutrients back to depleted strands,” says Nunzio Saviano, a hairstylist in New York City. “Work in a clarifying shampoo about once a week to get rid of additional buildup, leaving hair appearing fuller and denser.”
Don’t Miss: How To Stop Hormonal Hair Loss
Overusing Professional Hair Extensions
Both tape-in and hand-tied hair extensions have become an extremely sophisticated and popular way to add volume and length to fine hair. But long-term use can result in breakage if youre not careful. A smart alternative to consider: easy-to-use clip-in hair extensions, which allow you to temporarily amp up your style without the risk of damage.
Thinning Hair In Women: Why It Happens And What Helps
- By Kelly Bilodeau, Former Executive Editor, Harvard Women’s Health Watch
Many people think of hair loss as a male problem, but it also affects at least a third of women. But unlike men, women typically experience thinning hair without going bald, and there can be a number of different underlying causes for the problem.
Some are associated with inflammation in the body. Some are female-pattern hair loss, says Dr. Deborah Scott, assistant professor of dermatology at Harvard Medical School and co-director of the Hair Loss Clinic at Brigham and Womens Hospital. But the good news is that in many cases this hair loss can be stabilized with treatment, and it may be reversible. When its not, there are a number of new cosmetic approaches that can help.
Read Also: How To Fix Fine Thin Hair
Cosmetic Options For Hair Loss
When medical treatments fall short, women can also consider cosmetic options to make up for lost hair, such as wearing a wig. At the other end of the spectrum is hair transplantation, a surgical procedure that moves active follicles from the back of the scalp to areas where the hair is thinning. Once transplanted, the hair grows normally.
Hair transplantation is typically performed as an outpatient surgical procedure. In appropriate patients, it can be extremely successful, but it wont work for everyone, says Dr. Scott. One drawback is the expense: it can cost thousands of dollars and is not covered by insurance. The procedure also requires recovery time. And it may not be appropriate for women who have diffuse thinning across the whole scalp. Its more effective in treating smaller, more defined areas of balding.
About the Author
Choosing Styles For Different Hair Lengths
Since short tresses tend to look thicker and they are more likely to hold a lift at the roots because of the lighter weight, crops are among favorites for fine hair, including adorable pixie cuts. Without much effort at all, it creates the look of dense, full hair. There are endless variations to pixies when cutting them, I love for my clients to remain their most feminine, sexy self, celeb hairstylist Adir Abergel, who gave Charlize Theron her Oscars 2019 look, says to Allure. Bobs are hot on pixies heels with their endless variations from blunt and short cuts to choppy and mid-length ones. That said, long hairstyles can also work for fine strands as long as they look healthy or you have plenty of them. Here are some good examples illustrating various lengths of haircuts for thin hair you might want to try.
via @hairandmakeupbykaylarenae
Also Check: Can Toenail Fungus Cause Hair Loss
Why Mia Freedman Wont Do Injectables
People dont believe me when I say Ive got thin, fine hair because I bulk it up so much. My favourite volumising shampoo and conditioner is the L’Oreal Elvive Fibralogy range. It gives my hair thickness and texture which I LOVE. Anything that makes my hair too soft and silky means itll look flat and thin and wont hold my waves. After washing, I spray a volume spray at the roots and mid-lengths followed by a sea salt spray through the mid-lengths and ends and then rough dry my hair upside down before flipping it over to smooth it out. I then wave it and hair spray it upside down and then Im left with this hair for about four days. Oh, and Klorane dry shampoo in between washes too!
Vitamin C Jelly Detoxifying Hair & Scalp Treatment: Perfect For Fine Hair
Fine hair has the tendency to become oily and limp quickly, so its a good idea to get into the habit of using a detoxing, pre-shampoo treatment like our Vitamin C Jelly Detoxifying Hair and Scalp Treatment, to thoroughly cleanse your hair and scalp. Our innovative, powder-to-jelly formula dissolves away hard water minerals, pollution and product build-up that can leave hair feeling limp and heavy. It effectively cleanses and purifies, revealing strands that feel super clean, soft and weightless, with reflective shine, making it a must-have for fine hair textures! The results from our Instrumental Tests speak for themselves Vitamin C Jelly removes 11% more pollution, 31% more mineral build-up from hard water and 38% more product build-up than shampoo alone.
Read Also: Which Is The Best Shampoo For Thin Hair
Use The Minimum Of The Right Products
When you have fine hair, choosing the right shampoo can make a big difference. Creamy formulas of shampoos designed for thick, coarse hair types will weigh down your locks, making hair look flat and greasy. Choose the ones labeled as thickening, volumizing, or lightweight.
Despite the widely advertised benefits of hair oils and leave-in conditioners, these products are suitable for fine hair. It is better to shy away from styling gels, firm hold hairsprays, silicone- and sulfate-based products too. All these products weigh down fine hair, making it limp, dull, and lifeless.
Related Post:8 Best Styling Products for Short Fine Hair
Use A Clarifying Shampoo To Get Rid Of Buildup
Product buildup leads to weight in your hair, which makes everything more droopy. Using a once-a-week clarifying shampoo will rid your hair of impurities and product buildup without stripping your color, Colette says. We recommend the Ouai Clean shampoo, $28, which is formulated with keratin to smooth and repair damage.
Don’t Miss: Does Myrbetriq Cause Hair Loss