Whether it’s due to genetics or hair loss, we’re not all blessed with thick, bouncy tresses. Thin hair can be difficult to style, not to mention disheartening for many women, but there are a few tips and styling products that can help give your strands instant volume and fullness. Click through the slide show to find out how to make thin hair look thicker with our roundup of volume-boosting hair products and styles.
The Ultimate Guide on How to Make Thin Hair Look Thicker
The Right Products
There’s no miracle cure or treatment that can make your hair thicker overnight, but there are a variety of hair styling products that can instantly boost your strands and create the appearance of a thicker mane. Click through the slides to find the best sprays, volumizing powders, and creams to instantly add some va-va-voom to your flat and lifeless hair.
Root Lifting Sprays
These sprays are the hair equivalent of a push-up bra. They add instant volume to your mane and create the same gravity-defying effect produced by backcombing or rollers. Root lifting sprays contain polymers that absorb oil and moisture and prevent hair from going flat. Living Proof Full Root Lifting Spray US $26; AED/SAR 95 www.sephora.com
Volumizing Powders
Meant to amp up the volume and texture of your mane, volumizing powders come in tiny, shaker bottles that deposit white ground powder onto your roots. The powder increases the friction between hair fibers and absorbs excess oil and moisture to help create volume. Opt for a tinted hair powder to create the illusion of thicker hair or conceal the scalp. Schwarzkopf Osis+ Dust It US $24; AED/SAR 88 www.ulta.com Bumble and Bumble A Tint of Brown Hair Powder US $36; AED/SAR 132 www.sephora.com
Volumizing Mousse and Creams
A good volumizing formula contains polymers that fatten each hair strand and create thicker, fuller hair that won’t fall flat. Unlike sprays and powders, mousse is meant to be worked into damp hair. As it dries, the polymers found in the ingredients coat your hair shaft and set up a film on your strands to create volume. Sally Hershberger 24K Supreme Body Volumizing Mousse US $32; AED/SAR 118 www.sephora.com Alterna Haircare Bamboo Plumping Strand Expand US $22; AED/SAR 81 www.sephora.com
Texture Sprays
A texture spray isn’t just reserved for beach waves; it is also perfect for the days that you decide to flat iron your hair. The formula breathes life into limp strands and amps up dull hair by creating volume and sexy, effortless tousled locks. Redken Cerafill Maximize Texture Effect Hair & Scalp Refresher US $18; AED/SAR 66 www.ulta.com
Thickening Shampoo
Give your limp tresses a boost with a thickening shampoo, which temporarily plumps up your hair strands to create the illusion of a thicker mane. Avoid any shampoo with sulfate; this ingredient is used to create lather, but is extremely harsh and causes dryness. Pureology Pure Volume Shampoo US $64; AED/SAR 235 www.ulta.com
Perfect Your Blow-Dry
Who doesn’t want a Victoria’s Secret-worthy blowout? You can add some life to your strands by the way you dry your hair. To create bouncy, enviable locks, flip your hair upside down and blow-dry wet locks with a wide, round brush. Once your hair is slightly dry, flip it back over and blow-dry the rest in sections. Make sure to use an effective heat protector to prevent damage and a volumizing mousse prior to blow-drying. L’Oréal Mythic Oil Seve Protectrice US $26; AED/SAR 95 lorealprofessionnel.co.uk
Avoid Oil
Despite what Pinterest, Buzzfeed, and all your favorite beauty gurus are saying about the miraculous benefits of coconut oil, it should be avoided if you have thin or fine hair. Heavy hair oils, including coconut oil, will weigh down thin hair, and make it appear even thinner, greasy, and stringy. Instead, opt for an overnight oil treatment that you can wash out in the morning. Alterna Haircare Caviar Anti-Aging Overnight Hair Rescue US $38; AED/SAR 140 www.sephora.com
Opt for Layers
Ask your hairstylist to create some layers to give a multidimensional effect that contributes to the appearance of a fuller mane. Unlike hair that just falls flat in one length, layers add some movement and fullness to your tresses. Mila Kunis shows us how it’s done with her long, face-framing layers.
Rock a Lob
Hair that sits just above the shoulders is ideal for girls with thin and fine locks. A longer length can be too heavy and weighs the hair down, making it look even thinner. Opt for a chic lob, like the one sported by Rosie Huntington-Whiteley at the Mad Max: Fury Road Los Angeles premiere.
Tease It
Backcombing and teasing are quick and easy solutions to flat, lifeless hair. Use a backcombing brush to comb the underside of the hair towards the scalp and a strong hold hairspray to lock in the bouffant style à la Eva Mendes. Sexy Hair Big Sexy Hair Spray & Play US $18; AED/SAR 66 www.ulta.com
Shorter Cuts
Short hair appears thicker than long tresses. Fake fuller hair with a pixie cut, an angled bob, or a messy chop like Scarlett Johansson’s. Don’t forget to load on the texturizing products.
Get Blond Highlights
Take a beauty cue from Alessandra Ambrosio and ask your hairstylist for blond highlights. Just like layers, highlights create a multidimensional effect. Bleaching your hair also makes your strands thicker, since peroxide makes the hair shaft swell. Note: Keep in mind to not over process your hair—peroxide and other processing treatments are extremely damaging to your tresses if overdone.
Don't Part Hair to One Side
When you part your hair the same way for a long time, it becomes flat on that side. Change directions of your part or flip your hair to one side to give the appearance of thicker locks. Look to Emily Ratajkowski for inspiration.
Comb it Back
Sometimes, a defined part can expose too much scalp for those who have thin or fine hair. Opt for a style that doesn’t need a hair part, like this slicked back hairdo sported by Gigi Hadid.
Invest in Extensions
Clip-in extensions are perfect for a night out or on the days that you want to look extra glam. They add instant length and fullness to short, fine hair, and come in an array of colors and lengths. You can style them according to the texture of your natural hair. Cheryl Cole is a fan of hair extensions and pulls them off well.
Wear it Curly
While curly hair can have its disadvantages (taking forever to dry and being too frizzy), it has more texture and more lift at the roots than pin-straight tresses. If you have natural curls like Vanessa Hudgens, embrace them. Meanwhile, those with straight locks can use a large barrel, curling wand to create voluminous and defined curls. T3 Polished Curls 1.25” Clip Barrel US $85; AED/SAR 312 www.sephora.com
Get Bangs
Eyebrow-skimming bangs, as seen on Jessica Biel, add volume and shape at the crown of your head. Combine with lots of layers and presto, you'll have luscious, thicker locks.
