Layers Are a Balancing Act
Ah, layers. You need them if your hair is thin or fine, but too many of them will make your hair look even thinner. What to do?
Van Ness says the answer is to strike a balance between too many and too few. You may be nervous to part with any hair if your hair is fine, but taking out no weight and having no layers can make fine hair seem even wispier, Van Ness warns. What you want to talk to your stylist about is movement — not overly layering it.
Protect Your Hair Against Breakage
This tip applies to everyone, but if you have thinning or fine hair it’s especially important: protect your hair against breakage and future damage with products like hair masks. A good mask filled with nourishing ingredients and proteins can strengthen strands and protect against damage caused by heat and styling. One to try from the JVN line: JVN Nurture Intense Hydration Mask.
Sleep With Your Hair Up
If you sleep with your hair down, your hair and scalp will be susceptible to constant friction with your pillow, which can cause damage and split ends. Add to this the fact that your scalp can become warm when you sleep and you have a recipe for hair damage that you probably aren’t even is happening. The solution is simple but important: sleep with your hair up, preferable in a loose bun with a soft elastic that won’t pull on strands.
Use Two Different Conditioners — And Apply To Your Roots
Here’s a tip that goes against everything we’ve been told: Van Ness says you should NOT neglect your roots when applying a conditioner. But there’s a major caveat here: the type of conditioner you use matters, and you may actually benefit from using more than one conditioner in the same hair-washing session.
Van Ness recommends applying a volumizing conditioner to the roots so that they are properly conditioned, but will still retain their fullness. Then, on your lower hair, where you likely have the most damage, apply a regular conditioner that’s thicker in texture to protect these more fragile strands.
Van Ness shares tons of other tips as well like applying a good scalp oil, always applying a heat protectant before styling your hair (like, always), and applying a detangler spray so that you prevent breakage while combing or brushing out your hair, as fine hair can be more prone to tangles.
There are a number of tips and tricks that can increase the fullness of your hair and make it look so much healthier. It’s all about making the most of what you have.