7 Easy Ways to Style Thin, Fine Hair

We’ve learned a thing or two about how to style our specific hair type by this point. And yet, our hair seems to have a mind of its own a lot of the time. What we’ve really learned? We can never have enough styling tricks up our sleeves. For fine-haired people in particular, achieving a full-looking style is easier said than done. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t doable!

Just because you’re born with fine, thin hair doesn’t mean you can’t make it look like it’s fuller. With the right tools, products, and techniques, styling fine, thin hair can be second nature. Here, our hair experts share how to style thin hair at home. Reach for these easy styling tricks to get voluminous hair or to add texture.

1. Go For Beachy Waves

Beachy waves are achievable for those of us with thin, fine, or flat hair, too. The key is using the right products and techniques for your hair type. You’ll need a heat protection spray, curling iron or wand, and texturizing spray.

How to Get Beachy Waves

If you’re starting from scratch, we suggest showering with a volumizing shampoo and conditioner. Our Full Shampoo and Full Conditioner maximize thickness, fullness, and volume, ​​helping fine, flat hair look, feel, and behave like naturally full, thick hair. When you start the journey to fullness in the shower, you set your style up for success.

Whether your hair is fresh from the shower or dry and ready to go, spritz it with Heat Styling Spray before reaching for your curling iron. Fine hair is particularly prone to hair damage, so don’t skip this step!

Then, to produce that perfect beach wave, it’s all in the technique.

Keep your curling iron as vertical as possible as you curl 2-3 inch sections of hair. Don’t be alarmed by the tight ringlets at first. When you run your fingers through them, your beachy waves will come to life. This technique ensures the bottom of your hair isn’t the only part that ends up being curled—thus weighing down your style. If you have short hair, use a curling iron with a thinner wand. Note: When your straight hair doesn’t hold curls, try curling on days you didn’t wash your hair—or coat your hair with mousse before using the curling iron.

Once curled, gently run your fingers through your hair to break the curls up into beautiful waves. Then, spray Full Dry Volume and Texture Spray in an upward direction as you gently tousle the waves with your fingers to give them a more natural body and bounce. Voilá, you’ve got beach waves full of volume and texture.

2. Braid It

Braids are another hairstyle that fine-haired people typically shy away from, but that shouldn’t be the case. A braid is an easy hairstyle that, with a little help, can make the hair appear fuller and thicker. Whether you wear a simple french braid, craft a halo braid, or braid back your bangs, use a texturizing spray. Spray the lengths of your hair before braiding to assist with grip, especially if you have layers that like to sneak out of the braid. Then, after you braid, spray the product onto your hair and gently pull out the edges of your braid to create a fluffy, boho, fuller-looking style.

Braiding is another way of setting your hair in loose waves when you don’t have heat styling tools. Before bed, wash your hair but skip the conditioner, as silky hair doesn’t hold curls well. Towel dry your hair until it’s almost dry. Spray styling products like the Living Proof Restore perfecting spray, and loosely braid your hair. Go to bed and let hair set overnight and unravel braids in the morning for loose waves.

3. Give Yourself A Blowout

One of the best ways to emphasize volume is by blow-drying. Heat and technique work together to create body. When you use the right products beforehand, you can create major volume—even if you have fine hair.

How to Blow Dry Hair for Volume

Wondering how to blow-dry for volume? Start with damp hair and a root lifting spray. Then, follow the steps below:

1. Spray the root lifting spray in sections at the roots of your hair and comb through.
2. Then, flip your head upside down and give yourself a rough dry with the blow dryer by gently running your fingers through your hair and shaking it at the roots. For this part, remove the nozzle of your blow dryer so the hot air isn’t focused on one area.
3. Continue to blow dry upside down until your hair is 90% dry. This will reduce damage and enhance fullness.
4. Then, flip your head back over, replace the blow dryer nozzle, and pick up your round brush.
5. Working in sections, pull the hair directly up from the root with the round brush and blow-dry from root to tip.

Finish with a bit of texture spray targeted at the roots from underneath. The result? A bouncy, voluminous blowout that will last. When you blow dry or flat iron your hair, note that overheating can damage the strands. Before heat styling your hair, apply heat-protecting hair products.

4. Embrace Your Natural Texture

Heat styling is a great way to achieve volume, but it isn’t the only way. If you’re trying to reduce the amount of heat on your hair or are simply more of the air-dry type, no need to settle for flat strands. Use volumizing products to enhance your natural texture and create more fullness and body.

On damp hair, start with an egg-sized amount of Thickening Mousse and work it through your hair from roots to ends. This will add thickness to your hair along with definition. Once your hair is dry, add texture spray by lifting sections of your hair at the root or tipping your head sideways or upside down and spraying the product in small bursts throughout. This will add instant and weightless volume and texture that lasts.

5. Use Rollers

We’re always on the hunt for the latest innovation when it comes to tools. Sometimes, the best solution is one that is tried and true. Hair rollers have been around for decades, and they’re still one of the best methods for creating volume and smooth, soft, and lasting curls. Whether you want Shirley-Temple ringlets or old Hollywood waves, rollers make it happen. The larger the roller, the looser the wave. Extra-large rollers create a simple bend in the ends of your hair that looks like a fresh blowout.

How to Style Thin Hair Using Rollers

For the best results, blow dry your hair so it’s 90% dry, and put in rollers when it’s still warm. Working in 2-3 inch sections, comb your hair smooth and wrap it around the roller from tip to root away from your face. Then, leave the rollers in until your hair cools completely. Gently remove them, and reveal beautiful curls or soft waves. You can break up the curls by spritzing them with a bit of texture spray and running through them with your fingers.

6. Bed Head, But Better

If you want to wake up and go, but your hair is falling flat, use a texturizing spray to create an “undone-but-done” look. Our Full Dry Volume and Texture Spray instantly transforms fine, flat, or thin hair while adding major volume, coveted texture, and buildable hold with a lived-in look and feel. Simply flip your head upside down and side to side and spray in short bursts near the roots for added volume. If you have second-day curls that have lost their luster, tousle your hair with your fingers while spraying the product in short, quick bursts to revive them.

7. Pull it into a Sleek Bun

A sleek bun gives those with thin hair a leg up over their thicker-haired counterparts. Fine hair is easier to manipulate into the perfect chignon. A sleek bun works well on a not-so-great hair day, or whenever you want an easy, sophisticated style.

How to Style Thin Hair in a Sleek Bun

Whether you want to form the bun at the nape of your neck or at the center of your head, start by creating a center or deep side part. Then comb your hair smooth so it lies flat against your head. Spray a flexible hairspray to help it stay in place as you comb it back. As you comb, gather your hair together at the back of your head and begin to twist it into a bun. Secure with a scrunchie or hair tie. Complete the look with a final spritz of hair spray to tame flyaways and add hold.

There you have it. Seven easy hairstyles for thin, fine hair for any occasion. Having the right tools and products on hand will make achieving any full hairstyle much easier—no matter how thin or fine your hair is.