beauty

From an 'angel' wash to texture sprays, 23 women share how they manage and style their fine, thin hair.

 

If you’re reading this right now, there’s a good chance you’ve been blessed with a beautiful head of thin, fine, thinning or sparse hair.

Like all hair types, it has its pros and cons.

Pros: it dries quicker and you use less hair products in the shower. Cons: it gets greasier faster and prefers sitting flat and limp rather than high and bouncy.

That’s OK, though, because we’re here to help.

Side note – here’s five easy hacks to up your hair game (yes please!). Post continues after video.

Video via Mamamia

From a hairdresser’s perspective, there’s three main things you can do to care for and style fine, thin hair.

“Use thickening and volumising products from roots to ends, don’t skip conditioner and know that shorter cuts will make your hair appear thicker, but if you must have it long, keep the ends blunt,” Ali Holmes, Co-owner of Wildlife Salon Sogo and KMS Style Council Member, told Mamamia.

But what about other women with fine and thin hair? How do they do theirs and which products do they recommend to their friends?

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We asked 23 women from our You Beauty Facebook group exactly how they look after their fine, thinning and sparse hair. It’s truly enlightening.

1. Rachael.

thin hair
"People don’t believe me when I say I’ve got thin, fine hair because I bulk it up so much." Image: Supplied.

People don’t believe me when I say I’ve 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 it’ll look flat and thin and won’t 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 (either Ouai Texturizing Hair Spray or Bumble & Bumble Surf Spray for both of those) 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 I’m left with this hair for about four days. Oh, and Klorane dry shampoo in between washes too!

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2. Emily.

thin hair
"I feel I’ve perfected fine (also short) hair!" Image: Supplied.
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I feel I’ve perfected fine (also short) hair! I use a scalp scrub once a week - the Christophe Robin sea salt one is my favourite but I also like The Body Shop's Fuji Green Tea Scrub . And the Christophe Robin Rassoul Clay is incredible. I use it maybe once a week also. I use any sulphate-free shampoo in the shower and only a spray leave-in conditioner. And then a light texture spray once it’s dry. My fave is the Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray but it’s expensive - there are lots of good cheaper options! Another very committed tip to get volume - I used to get baby lights in my hair to add “grittiness”. I don’t colour it anymore and it’s very soft, hence all the above steps. But if your colour was suited and a little lightness was something you’re happy to maintain, it’s worth chatting to a colourist about.

3. Reenie.

thin hair
"My hair is the healthiest it's ever been!" Image: Supplied.
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My hair is very thin and I've always just used supermarket shampoo and conditioner because I'm stingy, but then my buddy bought me the Olaplex No.3 Hair Perfector and No.4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo for my birthday and my hair is the healthiest it's ever been! I wash it every two days, it's thicker and I get less fallout. It's also easy to control with a smidge of argan oil to smooth the flyaways.

4. Vanessa.

thin hair
"The Christophe Robin Cleansing Volumising Paste has changed my life!" Image: Supplied.
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I have fine, thin hair and the Christophe Robin Cleansing Volumising Paste has changed my life! It gives your hair a level of grit but it still feels clean... it’s hard to explain but basically your hair has actual volume from the grit, but is clean at the same time. For me personally, I feel like the results last through to the next wash too. I never usually repurchase hair products targeted for thin hair, but this one is a winner in my books! Originally, I didn’t rate it... I felt like it never really washed out and my roots would feel very gritty (but not in a nice way). But I was determined to make it work, so I started shampooing with my normal Kristen Ess Shampoo and THEN the paste followed by the Kristen Ess Conditioner. This combination worked so well for me.

5. Janine.

"I have very fine and low volume hair." Image: Supplied.
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I have very fine and low volume hair. I have tried so many shampoos and conditioners and the AG Hair Natural Balance range is my favourite, I think it's the apple cider vinegar that makes the difference. I also try to wash my hair every five to six days to avoid hair splitting at the end because it's so fine, it splits easily. This means very slick buns and ponytails. When I am lazy, I wash my hair at night when I get home from work, let it air dry then tie it in a bun to sleep. I find it gives it a bit more volume and curl the next day. The Sam McKnight Easy-Up Do Texture Spray is great for near the roots to give volume. I also do a hair mask every two weeks, I love the Aesop Rose Hair & Scalp Moisturising Masque. And I get my hair cut every six weeks. Absolutely no later.

6. Nat.

thin hair
"I have been blessed with hair that's thin, fine and very, very sparse!" Image: Supplied.
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I have been blessed with hair that's thin, fine and very, very sparse! My saviour is washing it way less! When my hair is greasy, it is so much more full of volume and body. When it’s clean (no matter what I wash it with) it’s flat, lank and lifeless. So I tend to let it get greasy and oily and full of life. One product I love is the Not Your Mother's Beach Babe Texturizing Sea Salt Spray, it feels like it makes my hair more coarse and my curls can hold up to three days with that in it!

7. Alana.

"I swear by two different shampoo and conditioner ranges." Image: Supplied.
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I swear by two different shampoo and conditioner ranges: the Kérastase Chronologiste Revitalising Shampoo and Kérastase Densifique Fondant Densité Conditioner, and Nick Chavez Diva Liquid Gold Shampoo and Conditioner. I wash my hair every second day and I'm embarrassed to admit the Nick Chavez outshines Kérastase hands down, it gives me the biggest, voluminous hair. I bought it from the TVSN shopping channel, haven't looked back.

8. Tamara.

thin hair
"Dead-straight hair is the enemy for me." Image: Supplied.
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I've always had very fine hair but thanks to my parents (my mum has tight curls and my dad's hair is dead straight) I was blessed with natural waves. I find the best way to style it and retain some volume is to air-dry it straight from washing, then I use a GHD to neaten up the front part. I take the GHD and refine the waves throughout the more unruly sections, and it ends up looking quite natural. I'll add some body and definition with Kevin Murphy's Bedroom Hair texturising spray and a little OUAI Hair Oil through the ends. That's it for products, too much product really weighs it down. Dead-straight hair is the enemy for me, after a day of wear it just looks lank and flat!

9. Gabrielle.

thin hair
"Kevin Murphy products allllll the way!!" Image: Supplied.
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Kevin Murphy allllll the way!! Pretty much every other product I’ve tried has weighed my hair down or made it greasy, but the Kevin Murphy Angel Hair range is AMAZING for fine hair! I wash my hair every second day with a texture dry shampoo on the second day if needed. Once washed, I then spray in Kevin Murphy Body Mass while damp and cool dry with my hairdryer. This gives it a nice amount of volume. Yes, they're not the cheapest products but a little goes a long way and they have honestly changed my fine hair!

10. Hannah.

thin hair
"My hair always looks better if I keep it at a bob or lob length with fairly blunt ends." Image: Supplied.
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My hair is thin and always looks better if I keep it at a bob or lob length with fairly blunt ends. Since I started colouring my hair, it looks thicker too and seems to respond best to light blow-drying/minimal heat styling. I only wash it twice a week and find Aveda products work best.

11. Alicia.

thin hair
"I have to wash my hair every day or I get thin hair that is ALSO stringy and lank. Yay!" Image: Supplied.
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I have to wash my hair every day or I get thin hair that is ALSO stringy and lank. Yay! I use the Organic Care Normal range, a brilliant recommendation I got from the You Beauty Facebook group. Every few weeks I'll shampoo with Redwin Shampoo With Tea Tree to get the build up out. I am generally hopeless with any treatment products as they weigh my hair down, but I do use milk shake Leave-In Conditioner (spritzed on a comb and combed through) before I blow-dry my hair and it's solved my static flyaways problem. I also keep a can of Batiste Volume Dry Shampoo in my work desk drawer to fluff up my hair if I'm going out.

12. Sarah.

thin hair
"I wash my hair pretty much every day." Image: Supplied.
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I’ve been using Function of Beauty customised hair care and it has really helped add volume to my hair! I wash it pretty much every day and never blow dry or use heat on my hair. I’ve also stopped going blonder so that I can give my hair a break and never tie it up. It’s a bit excessive, but the difference it’s made is crazy!

11. Rachel.

thin hair
"I keep the length shorter because it gives it more life and bounce." Image: Supplied.
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I wash my hair twice a week with evo Gluttony Volume Shampoo and Conditioner. I don’t use a lot of product as I find it weighs my hair down, but I often wear it half up half down or parted to the side. On oily days, I put it up in a tight top knot. I like to use accessories like scarves and colourful clips to add more to my hair look, and I keep the length shorter because it gives it more life and bounce.

12. Kirsten.

thin hair
"Volume powder through the roots is my best friend." Image: Supplied.
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I have super fine, curly hair. Fortunately, the curls make it look like there’s more hair then there is, but it’s really thin around the top. I swear by Nioxin shampoo and conditioner and volume powder through the roots is my best friend.

13. Melinda.

thin hair
"I use clip-in extensions for volume when I go out." Image: Supplied.
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I've used and love the Kérastase Densifique range and the plumping range by Kevin Murphy. I wash my hair twice a week at most and dry shampoo is my best friend in between washes. I also use clip-in extensions for volume, only when I go out. Real human hair extensions and hair pieces will set you back around $300 -400 but I've had mine for years, get them coloured when needed and they wash and wear so well. Supplement wise, I'm taking the JS Health Hair + Energy Capsules and they seem to be helping, I lose hardly any hairs now whereas before, I was shedding everywhere!

14. Sadishika.

thin hair
"My hair is basically similar to angel hair pasta." Image: Supplied.
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My hair is basically similar to angel hair pasta. I use Kérastase Specifique Bain Prevention Shampoo sometimes, but my secret weapon is... the Lush Rub Rub Rub Body Scrub. Stick with me. It’s packed with sea salt and lathers well with water. My hair has so much body and volume after use, it’s crazy. I use it when I need to style my hair or am going out.

15. Trudie.

thin hair
"I only wash my hair once a week as it’s a real pain in the arse mission." Image: Supplied.
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I only wash my hair once a week as it’s a real pain in the arse mission resulting in hair clogging the drain and it ending up all over my body (including my bum crack!). Funny how you can have thin hair, but so much falls out, you could cover a bald man in a week of leftovers! I wash and condition with Kevin Murphy Angel range then put Olaplex No. 6 Bond Smoother in the ends. Sometimes I dry with Parlux hairdryer or leave it overnight to straighten the next morning. I also spray the Bondi Boost Intensive Growth Mask into my roots and massage at night.

16. Emma.

thin hair
"I have fine hair but lots of it and it gets oily quite easily." Image: Supplied.
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I have fine hair but lots of it and it gets oily quite easily. I use a combination of the Aveda Sap Moss Shampoo and De Lorenzo Novafusion Intense Indigo Shampoo, and Olaplex No. 6 Bond Smoother. I also take the JS Health Hair and Energy vitamins.

17. Sarah.

thin hair
"I tend to put a curling tong through my hair to give it some shape and for volume" Image: Supplied.
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I wash my hair twice a week with the Aveda Shampure™ Nurturing Shampoo and Conditioner, and a Frank Body scalp mask once a week. For styling, I tend to put a curling tong through my hair to give it some shape and for volume, I use the Aveda Pure Abundance Hair Potion and the Aveda Texture Tonic.

18. Bridget.

thin hair
"Washing daily is non-negotiable, no matter what my thick-haired pals try to tell me." Image: Supplied.
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I keep it cut in a blunt bob and bleach seems to expand the hair follicles (i.e. more volume) so blonde highlights help too. I use Klorane Volume Shampoo with Flax Fiber and the matching conditioner, but I do the 'condition, shampoo, condition on just the ends' method. Washing daily is non-negotiable, no matter what my thick-haired pals try to tell me. Then, I blow dry and add Toni & Guy dry shampoo.

19. Georgie.

thin hair
"I have thin and fine hair that struggles to grow." Image: Supplied.

I have thin and fine hair that struggles to grow, so I always have a blunt cut with no layers for maximum thickness. After having my tape extensions out, it’s been a mission to get my hair back to what it was before. I've been using the L'Oreal Professionnel Serie Expert Absolut Repair Lipidium Shampoo and Conditioner, with an OGX Argan Oil Intense Moisturising Treatment and the ELEVEN Miracle Hair Treatment post-wash. I manage to only wash it twice a week and top up with Batiste Volume Dry Shampoo.

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20. Cat.

thin hair
"I have the world's thinnest hair and have tried everything." Image: Supplied.

I have the world's thinnest hair and have tried everything. I love the Kevin Murphy Anti.Gravity.Spray before blow-drying with the Dyson Supersonic™ Hair Dryer. I wash my hair no more than twice a week and never use too much conditioner on the ends as it weighs it down. I love the ELEVEN Miracle Hair Treatment, too, and the Bumble & Bumble Prêt-à-Powder styling dust is good for a night out.

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21. Kate.

thin hair
"The Kevin Murphy Angel Hair range is the absolute best!" Image: Supplied.

The Kevin Murphy Angel Hair range is the absolute best! I wash my hair max three times per week, and once it’s washed, I put the Kevin Murphy Body Mass through my roots and blast them up to style.

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22. Kim.

thin hair
"I don’t wear my hair down for more than a few hours at a time, or it goes limp and stringy." Image: Supplied.

I use the Bumble & Bumble Surf Hair products (shampoo, conditioner, volumising spray) and on days I’m going to curl and style my hair, the sea salt texture spray. Sometimes I’ll shampoo, condition and then shampoo again so it gets extra body. I blow-dry with my hair flipped upside down and always do a little ‘sex hair’ tousle. I don’t wear it down for more than a few hours at a time or it goes limp and stringy.

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23. Nat.

thin hair
"My hair is much thicker and the healthiest it's been." Image: Supplied.

I have been using the Kevin Murphy hydration range and my hair is much thicker and the healthiest it's been. The brand also does a plumping range for thinner hair which is amazing, it gives you so much volume! Now, I wash my hair three times a week, let it air dry (I try not to straighten it either) and add the ELEVEN Miracle Hair Treatment to the ends.

Product Summary: Best products for fine, thin, sparse hair.

Do have any great fine or thin hair care and styling tips? Tell us more in the comments below!