As fun as it can be to try all of the latest and greatest haircut trends, sometimes the best move is to pick a hairstyle option that’s right for your hair type. If you have fine hair, which many people naturally do, there are certain haircuts for thin hair to add volume and fake the look of fullness. But first, it’s important to get one thing clear: having naturally fine hair is not the same as having “thinning” hair. If your hair type is categorized as fine, it doesn’t mean there isn’t a lot of it; it just means the width of a single strand is on the smaller side.
Just because you weren’t born with that effortless, I-just-woke-up-and-look-this-good volume doesn’t mean you can’t achieve it with the right cut and hair-care routine. From the ever-flattering lob haircut to something a bit edgier like a pixie hairstyle, you have options. Oftentimes, when thin hair falls flat, it’s because 1) you don’t have the right cut, 2) you’re not using the right products, or 3) you’re not properly caring for your hair (like washing too little or too much).
Ahead, three hairstylists share the best thin-hair haircuts, from short hairstyles for thin hair to medium-length hairstyles and everything in between.
Experts Featured in This Article
Jennifer Korab is a celebrity hairstylist and colorist.
Michelle Cleveland is a celebrity hairstylist.
Drew Schaefering is an NYC-based hairstylist and Cruxe brand founder.
Best Haircuts For Thin Hair
Before we jump into the volumizing haircuts for thin hair, let’s go over what haircuts not to get. As a general rule of thumb, thin hair looks best with shorter haircuts because the styles allow your hair to maintain its shape. “Depending on how thin your hair is, [you may want to] avoid going too long and making sure to get haircuts regularly, because stringy ends can make the hair look even thinner,” Korab tells PS. Cleveland adds, “Long, one-length haircuts wouldn’t benefit someone with fine or thin hair, as all the weight of the cut would stay at the ends, creating a flat, stuck-to-your-head look.”
If you do want to keep your hair longer, all of the hairstylists emphasized the importance of adding layers – but not too many. “Volume is achieved with shorter layers being lighter and creating a different shape within a cut,” Schaefering says. “When hair is overlayered, it has the tendency to fall flatter unless there is more of a curl pattern or wave in the hair. Seamless layers are a great way to add body and volume without cutting out too much of the hair through layering.”
