"If you have thin hair, you'll want to keep the ends blunt instead of feathering them," Shakir suggests. "This gives the look of density and thickness." "Overlayering and too much texture can make fine hair look thin and limp," Marjan says, agreeing with Shakir. "Blunt cuts make the ends appear fuller and healthier."
If you have a finer hair texture but like to keep your length long, Seamus McKernan, hairstylist and Nioxin Top Artist, recommends asking your stylist for a blunt haircut. "Blunt cuts have a solid, clean line at the perimeter of the hair that gives the appearance of fuller hair.
If you have thin hair, a blunt cut will feign thickness, and a pixie cut makes those strands feather-light and much more pliable for styling. For thicker fine hair, well-placed long layers give dimension and volume to your bobs and lobs.
Assuming you can't pull off layers
But in reality, layers can be great for fine hair, says Adam Broderick, owner of Adam Broderick Salon & Spa. “Soft layers can remove some of the weight and let some of the hair be released and have more volume,” he explains. With more movement, your hair will actually look thicker.
Yep! But this is only true for hair that has some volume in the first place. Truly thin hair can look even thinner with layers. But here's a new trend haircut – with an evocative name – that just might help: Ghost layers.
"Layers tend to remove weight and can make hair look thinner. Long layers will remove just the right amount of weight to add volume at the root while keeping density throughout."
Be strategic with layers
"Rather than layering hair, texturizing the ends will make hair look longer and fuller," he said. "Keeping layers near the crown of the head gives the hair more lift without interfering with the perimeter, giving the hair and the style more density," Pistas added.
For those with fine, straight hair, a blunt haircut is the way to go. "Excessive layers will only cause fine hair to look thinner, so resist the urge to get 'choppy layers for movement,'" notes Townsend.
Parting the hair at a diagonal back to the crown of the head will impart more volume than parting the hair straight back to the crown. Low density fine hair fares best with a shorter length to maximize movement and body or go for a short cut that doesn't require volume.
You're not getting a layered haircut: The easiest way to make your hair look thicker is to get a layered haircut that will frame your face and give your hair bounce. Longer hair weighs more, so it can pull your hair down, making it look thinner than it really is.
"Density is always a differentiating factor—fine hair means the strand of hair is smaller in diameter, while thin hair means there's simply fewer strands of hair growing, no matter how thick." Simply put, fine hair comes down to the thickness (or lack thereof) of each hair strand, while thin hair is related to the ...
On the other hand, gel can be too heavy for some hair types, especially fine hair. Mousse is great for adding bounce and volume to fine hair or holding waves or curls in straight hair. Applying mousse to damp curly or wavy hair can provide shape and definition.
"Short hairstyles are best for thinning hair, because too much length can drag the hair down and create an unflattering, stringy appearance," says Alabama stylist Hope Russo.
"A blunt bob works wonders for thin hair"
One thing about the blunt bob is that it creates the illusion of more volume - which is great news for anyone with fine or thin hair. Whereas layers take away from fullness, a defined edge will remove any wispy-looking, thin ends.
According to Friese, "Any cut with a blunt perimeter will create the illusion of thicker hair than a cut with more texturized or feathered ends. An all one length blunt bob (around chin length) is a great option for thin hair.
Hemple says long layers always give off a youthful appearance. She adds that off-center or side parts that "fall naturally in place can make the eyes seem wider to give you a more youthful appearance. "
Blunt bangs can also boost the appearance of volume and fullness, making thin strands look visibly denser. Wispy bangs for thin hair add the element of soft, subtle texture and can be styled for enhanced volume.
If your hair texture is thin and fine, or if you have chemically damaged hair, you'll want to keep the heat on a lower setting between 200° and 300° F. For normal to medium textured hair you can increase the heat up to 350°F. Thicker more coarse hair types can withstand the highest temperature setting up to 375°F.
Brightened-up colors, such as golden blonde, can work wonders when applied to the money pieces around your face. Likewise, rich colors—like chestnut or caramel brown—can create a shadow effect throughout that feigns depth and thickness.