How to Style Fine & Thin Hair Types

If you have fine or thin hair, you might find it difficult to maintain volume or keep your styles in place. When it comes to haircare for fine hair and thin hair, your locks are extra delicate, so it’s important to tailor products to your hair’s specific needs without weighing down your strands. If you’re struggling with haircare for thin hair or fine hair, we’ve got you covered! Continue reading as we walk you through our top haircare and styling tips to give you the appearance of fuller, more voluminous hair. 

Fine vs thin hair – what’s the difference?

 

You might have heard ‘fine hair’ used interchangeably with ‘thin hair’, but they’re actually a little different. Fine hair refers to the diameter of each hair on your head, while thin hair is determined by your hair’s density – the amount of hair on your head. You can have fine hair but have a lot of it, so it appears thicker. Whereas other people with thin or thinning hair could have naturally fine, thick or course hair. While you can’t change the diameter of your strands, hair density commonly changes throughout our lifetime as we age or if we experience chronic stress, hormonal changes, post-partum, nutrient deficiencies, etc. This is where specialised haircare for fine hair and thin hair becomes important.

Styling and maintaining fine and thin hair types

 

With these differences in mind, we also need a distinct approach for maintaining and styling fine and thin hair. 

For thin hair: Shorter styles usually work best to give the look of more hair. In women, diffuse hair thinning starts in the central part of the scalp, so you may want to part your hair on the side to cover sparser areas. It’s also important to avoid weighing down the hair with product, otherwise the hair can lay flatter and exacerbate the look of thin or thinning hair.  

Fine hair: Long layers give the appearance of fullness without taking away from volume. A short, blunt cut also gives the illusion of thicker-looking hair. Fine hair can be prone to oiliness, especially if it’s straight or wavy. This is because the shaft of the hair is usually smoother and less porous, so oil collects more visibly on the strands.

Haircare for fine and thin hair 

 

Though fine and thin hair are different, they do share a common goal when it comes to haircare: boosting volume. There are a few ways to do this: 

  • Use a volumising shampoo and lightweight conditioner (just on the ends). 
  • Avoid oil-based products that are going to lay heavy on the roots, such as hair oils, creams and serums. 
  • The best haircare for fine and thin hair includes products that absorb oil and add texture – dry shampoo, sea salt spray and volumising mousse. 
  • Make sure you’re washing your hair every few days to avoid product buildup from weighing down the hair.  
  • Fine and thin hair gets easily tangled, so use a soft bristle brush or wide-tooth comb on your hair. 
  • Towel-dry using a microfibre towel to minimise friction and breakage. 
  • Avoid tight hair styles that tug the hair and opt for a silk pillowcase.  

 

Styling fine hair vs thin hair 

 

Both hair types are prone to breakage, so avoiding excessive heat is essential when styling thin hair and fine hair. This means always applying heat protectant before you style your hair, and using tools that avoid high heat and minimise scalp discomfort. Whether you’re straightening, curling or simply drying, read on as we break down our top styling tools and techniques for delicate hair types that amplify volume while preserving the health and shine of your hair.

Using the FlexStyle

When styling thin hair and fine hair (especially hair that’s naturally straight or wavy), curls are a great way to add texture and volume. The Shark FlexStyle is a no-heat-damage, multi-styling hair tool that allows you to curl, smooth and dry while boosting volume from the root. Temperatures are regulated 1000 times per second so that your Flexstyle maintains a consistent temperature while you dry and style.  

The FlexStyle has 5 different attachments to help you achieve volume on fine or thin hair, minimising heat damage: 

    • Auto-Wrap Curlers: Attach the auto-wrap curlers to your device to curl hair pieces in different directions for a full-bodied effect. For long-lasting curls, use on slightly damp hair with your favourite volumising mousse. 
    • Styling Concentrator: This rotatable nozzle gives you precise drying and styling. Use a soft-bristled round brush that won’t tug your strands. 
    • Curl-Defining Diffuser: If you have fine or thin curly hair, this diffuser attachment can be used to preserve the natural shape of your curls while reducing frizz. Enjoy fast, even drying from root to tip without scalp discomfort. 
    • Oval Brush: Perfect for lift, volume and bounce, this attachment can be used for wet-to-dry styling on fine hair and thin hair.  
    • Paddle Brush: Powerful airflow and mixed bristles (boar and nylon) help to detangle and smooth the hair while boosting shine. Ideal for sleek, straight styles. 

    Using the SmoothStyle

    Designed for both wet and dry hair, Shark SmoothStyle uses heated comb technology to deliver a voluminous, smooth, shiny finish. The machine straightens and dries with low temperatures, so you don’t damage your hair strands. 

    • Wet Mode: Ideal for boosting volume at the root while you dry your hair. Nylon and boar bristles shape and smooth the hair, eliminating frizz. 
    • Dry Mode: Great for straightening and smoothing hair once it’s dry.  Since fine hair can become oily very quickly, the SmoothStyle is perfect for refreshing day-two styles when the hair is looking a little limp. 
     

    Using the SpeedStyle

    Fine and thin hair types will love the Shark SpeedStyle  for ultra-fast drying and a high gloss finish without heat damage. This hair dryer is powerful, lightweight and self-adjusts heat and airflow settings when you attach any of the five stylers. 

    For styling fine hair and thin hair, we recommend a combination of the brush attachments and the RapidGloss attachment. 

    • QuickSmooth Brush: Using medium heat and airflow settings, dry, smooth and volumise the hair.  
    • Express Touchup Brush: Designed to create gentle waves or curl fringes, as well as smoothing wayward ends and layers. 
    • RapidGloss: Using the same Coanda Technology as the FlexStyle, the RapidGloss attachment locks in high-shine and tames frizz for a beautifully polished finish.

    Styling naturally curly hair presents unique challenges compared to styling fine straight hair. Explore our tips next.  

    Citation:

    1https://www.ccjm.org/content/ccjom/76/6/361.full.pdf

    2https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28722458/

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