Thin or fine hair has special needs of its own, but it shouldn’t be the bane of your existence. Knowing which haircuts can make it look its best and which are guaranteed to only draw more attention to sparseness on the scalp and thin strands is an important factor when considering how to approach thinning hair. The goal is always to make your hair appear denser and healthier — and that might involve losing a bit of length or swapping your usual bangs style for something that isn’t so heavy or cut straight across.
We’ve got three of the very best haircuts for thin hair — and three of the worst that won’t always do it justice.
1. Best: Bob
A combination of factors combine to make the bob one of your best haircuts for thinning hair. The length is perfect — it cuts off at the chin and eliminates extra weight for straggly long strands. But its shape is also key: leaving the ends blunt and adding longer layers on top (but not too many layers to keep it from looking choppy) gives you denser-looking hair that retains movement.
2. Best: Pixie
A pixie cut lengthens your neck, calls attention to cheekbones and facial features, and provides your face with an automatic lift, thanks to the removal of length. By keeping the back and sides short with more length on top, you can also position that top layer of hair so that it covers areas of sparseness along your crown and scalp.
3. Best: Lob
If you love the shape of a bob, but aren’t ready to depart with so much length, the lob is your best friend. The lob cuts off around the collarbone or slightly below it and features blunt or lightly layered ends with layers on top for body and movement. It looks especially fantastic with texture like waves and curls, which also help make hair look thicker.
4. Worst: Heavy Bangs
If your hair is thin or fine, sacrificing additional hair to heavy, blunt bangs will only make your hair look thinner and more fine. Bangs can add instant polish and style to any haircut, but it’s important to find the right bangs style for your hair type. A side-swept bang or wispier bangs may suit fine hair better.
5. Worst: Long, One-Length Hair
If you’re attached to the long hair you’ve always had, you’re not alone. But if your hair is all one length, longer than your shoulders, and straight, it could be making thin or fine hair look less healthy. You don’t have to chop all of your hair off to make it look thicker, but snipping off dead ends and adding strategic layers to long hair can help create shape and volume.
6. Worst: Too Many Layers
Strategic layering is adding thoughtful layers to your hair with the purpose of building body and movement. But when you add too many layers to your hair, you can create a choppy style that thins the ends of hair and makes it look even less dense. Talk to your stylist about your goals with your hair and opt for fewer, longer layers to boost your hair’s volume.
