Fine hair can feel daunting to build a routine around because it has unique challenges. Easily styled, though more prone to breakage, damage and grease, people with fine hair can feel frustrated trying to find products that will give them volume without washing their hair every day. Learn more about fine hair tips and product options.
In this article:
- What not to do with fine hair
- Day-to-day fine hair care routine
- Selecting products for fine hair
- Lifestyle habits to help improve the health of fine hair
What not to do with fine hair
The following guidelines can help protect fine hair from damage and breakage.
Avoid chemical treatments
Chemical treatments, such as bleach, perms or relaxing, can damage hair and lead to hair loss.1 While you may like how it looks, these processes can alter the structure of your hair, leaving it vulnerable to becoming dry and brittle. When you have fine hair, it’s best to limit chemical treatments. Adding more time between coloring or perming your hair can help prevent hair damage, along with having only one service done at a time.2 Work directly with your stylist to find the best balance for your hair’s unique needs.
Avoid frequent use of heat styling tools
Fine hair is already fragile and more susceptible to breakage, so be sure to turn down the heat setting to the lowest possible temperature and limit the use of heat styling tools as much as possible.3 If you still want to use them in your hair care regimen, minimize potential damage by applying a heat protectant.
Day-to-day fine hair care routine
Building a hair care routine that caters to fine hair is critical to ensuring your hair looks its best. While this may seem simple, it’s easy to develop a routine that doesn’t help us achieve our goals, or worse, unknowingly damages hair.
Brushing and detangling fine hair
Hair is most prone to breakage when wet and showering with hard water.4 To protect fragile locks, wait until hair is dry to begin brushing or combing, and choose a brush designed to be gentle on fine hair. Post-wash is also an ideal time to apply hair products like leave-in conditioners, which work best on damp hair.
Washing and conditioning fine hair
According to celebrity hairstylist and educator Mario Solis, how you wash and condition your hair has just as much of an impact on the appearance of fullness.
“It’s important to take care of finer hair a little differently, as a lot of products, or heavy products, can weigh it down…make sure to never apply conditioner directly on the scalp. This can actually make it appear less dense and oily. I like to advise clients to start with conditioner on their ends, and work their way up,” he advised.5
Tips for styling fine hair
More isn’t always better, and that’s the case with hair styling products on fine hair. Because the strands are not as dense as someone with thick hair, they are less able to support multiple layers of products without falling flat, making fine hair appear even more sparse.
Consider choosing one or two products that can serve a variety of purposes, focusing on protecting hair from heat and environmental damage, as well as achieving the appearance of thicker, more lifted hair.
Protecting fine hair while sleeping
Many people wear their hair in a bun when they go to bed, thinking it’s a protective style that prevents pulling and pinching overnight. However, licensed cosmetologist Sarai Curry recommends sleeping with a loose braid, effectively keeping hair back without excessive pulling and twisting.6
To further reduce hair friction, try putting your hair in a bonnet or switching to a silk pillowcase.7
Selecting products for your fine hair
There are a variety of shampoos, conditioners and other products for fine and thin hair available. But how do you decide exactly which type is best for fragile strands? Here are a few tips.
Choosing a shampoo and conditioner
Innovation in product formula has made previously difficult-to-find ingredients like alternatives to silicones, bonding agents, B5 vitamins and proteins easier to access.
When deciding on shampoos and conditioners, Solis says that oil-based formulas may be too dense for fine hair, so it’s best to avoid those unless it is a deep conditioning treatment.8 Look for a gentle, volumizing shampoo and a moisturizing conditioner.9 These products typically contain ingredients like biotin, B5 and protein.10
Consider such products as Pantene Pro-V daily moisture renewal shampoo, Mielle rosemary-mint strengthening shampoo and .
It’s important to note that even the best shampoo and formulation for fine hair can still be damaging if you wash your hair too frequently.11 It’s recommended to wash your hair only when needed and avoid brushing or styling it while wet because friction in the drying and styling process can lead to damaged hair.12
Choosing styling products
People with fine hair should avoid applying heavier products like gel or mousse directly to their roots. For added oomph to flat strands, consider a volumizing or texturizing spray that can give the appearance of thickness.
Consider such products such as TRESemmé ultra-fine mist aerosol hair spray, Sun Bum texturizing sea salt spray and TRESemmé volume thickening spray.
Choosing products that serve multiple purposes
A product that does double (or triple) duty will always be a great choice. For example, leave-in conditioners can add volume, make hair smooth and shiny and diminish frizz.13
Consider .
Lifestyle habits to help improve the health of fine hair
Hair care products are only part of the story of taking care of our hair and scalp health. To have healthy hair, it’s also important to focus on the daily habits around what you eat and drink.
Healthy diet to support healthy hair
A diet that helps hair health isn’t much different from one you would choose to promote optimal overall health. To give your hair the nutrients it needs, prioritize a diet that includes a variety of protein, healthy fats, and plenty of fruits and vegetables.14 Medications and hormones can also play a role in hair health, so it’s best to work directly with your medical care team to address specific concerns you may have related to hair health.15
Role of hydration in maintaining healthy fine hair
While there isn’t much evidence that drinking water can help grow your hair, hydration protects the hair you’ve already grown. Ensuring proper hydration may help prevent hair from becoming brittle and breaking.16
Regular trims for healthy-looking fine hair
A hair trim may feel counterintuitive for those on a hair journey, especially if you’re trying to grow your hair out.
However, fine hair can appear even more sparse as it grows out. Stylist Mario Solis recommends finding a haircut that works with, not against, your natural hair type for a cut you’ll truly love. “When it comes to haircuts, more blunt cuts can make finer hair appear more full,” he said.17
Fine hair can be difficult to maintain correctly. In addition to shampoo, receiving regular trims for split ends, using heat protectants and limiting excessive color treatments and bleach all help support healthy hair. With the proper hair care routine focused on supportive ingredients, you can feel confident that your fine hair is clean, protected and looking its best.
This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Consult your health care provider before taking any vitamins or supplements and prior to beginning or changing any health care practices.