Leah LOVES hair. So much so, she dedicated an entire website to it! One of the founders of Hair Everyday and Chief Editor, Leah enjoys reviewing all the hair products and showcasing the best. She believes her most underrated articles are her hair care tips!
If you want to know how to care for fine hair, check this out. This guide helps you maintain your long, fine hair naturally and prevent it from breaking. Also learn the difference between fine vs thin hair.
A lot of people envy and admire those lovely smooth tresses that people with fine hair have.
But trust me as someone with fine hair, I can tell you that this hair is really hard to manage.
And no, contrary to what people think, fine hair is not a “hair type”, it’s a “hair texture”.
This means you can have wavy or even curly hair which is fine. But most often then not, fine hair tends to be straight and smooth.
If you are one of those people who have fine hair or are still wondering whether your hair is actually the “fine” type or not, then this article is the perfect read for you.
Here I will let you in on everything you have to know about fine hair, how it differs from thin hair and what the best ways are to take care of fine hair
So let’s get going!
Related: How To Deal With Oily Hair
Related: How To Care For Color Treated Hair
Is fine hair the same as thin hair?
Fine hair and thin hair is often confused, but they are not the same. But it is important to note that people can have both, fine hair and thin hair as well. How is that possible, you may ask?
Well, when we talk about hair being fine, normal or thick, we are referring to the hair in terms of its diameter.
This means that while fine strands of hair will have a very small diameter, thick hair strands will be broader in diameter. So when hair is fine, we are referring to the thickness of the hair.
But when hair is known to be “thin”, then we are referring to the density of the hair on the scalp.
Also, this means that the number of hair strands on the head are lesser, but these hair strands can be fine, normal or even thick in diameter.
So what we can garner here is that people can have both fine hair that is also thin and this will mean that there will be lesser hair strands on the head, with each strand having a small diameter.
How To Care For Fine Hair
Do you often find your fine hair looking lifeless because it stands so dull and limp all the time? Well, then you probably don’t have the right hair care routine.
Here are a few tips to consider when you have fine hair and some pointers you can add to your hair care routine.
1. Be watchful of the shampoo you use
Using a lightweight shampoo that is meant for the volumizing of hair is very important.
In addition to the type of shampoo, make sure that your shampoo contains no sulfates (like SLS and SLES) and parabens.
These are harsh chemicals that are very damaging to the hair and can dry your hair out to a great extent.
When the hair gets too dry, it can lead to hair breakage and also trigger the oil glands in the scalp to overproduce sebum that will eventually make the hair become greasy and stand dull and limp.
2. Condition your hair the right way
Are you conditioning your hair the right way? What is the right way, you may ask. Well, when you condition your hair, make sure to only apply the conditioner only on the length of your hair and strictly not on your scalp.
If you condition your scalp, you’re in for trouble! When you condition your scalp, the hair at the top of your head will stand flat and limp once it dries and this is because it is over moisturized.
Remember the scalp is already sufficiently moisturized with sebum and doesn’t require any additional moisturizing.
3. Get yourself a volumizing haircut
One main problem people with fine hair usually face is the fact that while their hair grows longer they will experience hair breakage.
So getting hair trims often and switching it up by getting a good volumizing haircut, can really be helpful to you.
There are many volumizing haircuts like the pixie cut, a layered bob, the short step cut, the shoulder length layered cut or a textured bob cut with waves.
I would definitely recommend that if you’re someone with fine hair, having your hair kept short is always ideal, because the longer your hair gets, the more prone it will be to breakage and hair damage.
Also remember that trimming your hair at least once every two to three months will help reduce hair breakage and prevent the formation of split ends.
4. Avoid overwashing your hair
While fine hair tends to get greasy quite easily and washing your hair often is recommended, it is important to remember that you shouldn’t over wash your hair.
Each time you wash your hair, the shampoo will strip away all the hair’s natural oils.
And your scalp can go into overdrive and start producing more sebum because the hair gets dry once it has been washed. This means that overwashing can make your hair become oilier.
So I’d recommend that spacing out your hair washes to every other day (or as required) and using a dry shampoo between washes.
5. Stay away from the use of heat styling tools
Reduce the use of any type of heat styling tools, yes, blow-dryers included! Fine hair is very prone to damage because of its fragility and therefore if you use heat on your hair often, your hair will succumb to hair breakage over time, because of the weakening of the hair strands.
Well, when it is absolutely necessary and you do need to use a hair styling tool, then remember to use a good heat protectant spray on your hair before you start the styling process.
This will help your hair to be protected to a great extent.
6. Massage your head twice a week
Massages are not only soothing, but they are super beneficial to fine hair.
This is because massaging the roots with warm oil (make sure to use a lightweight one), will promote blood circulation in the scalp, which will help increase the thickness of your hair strands over time.
So for those with fine hair, massaging your hair at least twice a week is recommended, in order to improve and increase hair thickness.
7. Detangle your hair very gently
The fine hair type is a very delicate hair type to have because of how fragile each strand of hair is.
If you try detangling your hair in a rough manner, you will experience a lot of hair fall due to hair breakage.
So whenever you detangle your hair, make sure that your hair is fully dry (because the hair roots are at their weakest when wet) and detangle your hair using a wide-tooth comb and not a hair brush.
Also remember that the best and right way to detangle your fine hair is by starting at the bottom of your hair and slowly work your way up.
8. Use the right hair care and styling products
While buying any type of product for your hair, think of your hair type first before making the purchase.
The reason you need to do this is because not all products match all hair types. Fine hair usually tends to stand limp and lifeless.
So if you use an oil-based or a heavy product, it will end up weighing your hair down further and it will also make the hair look greasy.
So for those with fine hair, you would require to use a lightweight or non-oil-based product that can help give your hair a more voluminous look.
Also remember that, when you use your hair care or hair styling product, do not overdo it! Since you have the fine hair type, just a little product will definitely go a long way in your case.
So use only a pea-sized amount each time and gradually increase it if necessary.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about fine hair:
1. What are root lifts for fine hair?
When we talk about root lifts there are two ways it can be done. The first is you can try out the root perm, which is a permanent hair treatment, done only at the roots, in order to make the hair roots look more voluminous.
The second is a temporary method of using root lifters. These root lifters are products that are used in the styling of dull and limp hair to give it a lift and add some volume.
Similar to the root perm, these root lifters are added to the hair roots in order to create a more volumizing effect. These root lifters come in various forms from gels, to sprays, to serums, etc.
2. What is plumping for fine hair?
For those with fine hair, looking for ways to get volume to the hair is normal and of course, plumping is one of the best ways to make your hair look more voluminous.
Plumping is a good way to achieve a natural bounce.
The technique of plumping is simple. All you need is a blow-dryer and a volumizing mousse or hair spray and you’re good to go.
3. Will using a dry shampoo help fine hair?
Using a dry shampoo is good for fine hair because it can help give the hair a more voluminous look.
Also, when you use a dry shampoo, you can stay longer between washes as the dry shampoo will help absorb all the excess oil from the scalp.
4. Can I use a leave-in conditioner for fine hair?
Yes, you can. Leave-in conditioners can be beneficial to fine hair in many ways. It can help protect the hair from tangles, while also keeping the hair sufficiently moisturized.
The final takeaway on caring for fine hair
While caring for fine hair may seem like a difficult task, I honestly think that every single hair type has its own fair share of advantages and disadvantages.
So it all boils down to how each person decides to take care of their hair.
In my opinion, if you follow a good hair care routine that is suitable to your hair type, then you have nothing much to worry about.
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