As with every hair type, thin hair has quite a list of plusses and minuses. On the one hand, it's generally very soft and smooth. It pretty much always dries quickly. And it looks great in bob. But there are also quite a few things you should never do to thin hair, as they can leave it looking and feeling unhealthy.
For this reason, thin hair can be tricky to deal with. While there are a dozen reasons you might have thin hair, such as stress, genetics, or a fine texture, it all results in one thing — limp hair that's difficult to style. It might get damaged easily when styling, or fall flat moments after leaving your house.
That's why the best thing to do, if you have thin hair, is to choose your cut wisely. "You should not get your hair over-texturized or over-layered in the salon," NYC-based hair stylist Jenna Mast tells Bustle. "A solid haircut will give the illusion of density and movement."
Once you've got that covered, it'll be all about maintaining the health of your hair. Here are some things you should never be doing, if you want your thin hair to look and feel great.
1. Regularly Using Hot Styling Tools
I know, it's tempting to sizzle hair within an inch of its life all in the name of extra curls and body. But do try to resist. "You should never use too much heat on fine/thin hair," Mast says. "In the salon, we very rarely use our hot tools turned all the way up and never do that on clients with fine hair. Having fine hair means that you definitely need to use a heat protector and turn the hot tools down."
2. Sleeping On Cotton Pillowcases
Instead of cotton, what you want is silk, for all that slippery goodness.
"It's a game changer," says Mast. "Very fine hair gets tugged and pulled on even by the best cotton pillowcases. Silk pillowcases really reduce breakage that thin hair is prone to."
3. Lightening Too Much
A few highlights are OK, but you should shy away from doing anything too drastic.
"Never lighten fine hair too much because it will take away from the depth of the hair, causing it to look even thinner," says celebrity colorist Michael Boychuck, of COLOR Salon in Las Vegas. "Instead, use bayalage, hair painting, or highlighting techniques when going for a lighter shade as opposed to an all over color."
4. Using Products Containing Sulfates
The next time you're picking up some hair care products, go ahead and read those labels. "Avoid ... products containing sulfates and always opt for a sulfate-free shampoo and lighter density conditioners for thin hair to avoid weighing it down," Boychuck says. You'll notice a big difference.
5. Shampooing Every Day
If you can swing it, try to wash your hair every couple of days instead of every day. "The more you shampoo your hair, the more you are removing the healthy oils ... that are protecting and keeping your hair healthy," says hair expert Amber Fillerup Clark of Barefoot Blonde and creator of Barefoot Blonde Hair. "And the less you wash it, the less you have to blow dry and straighten/curl." Which, as you know, is incredibly damaging.
6. Using Products Not Meant For Your Hair
When choosing a hair product, don't just grab any old thing.
"You should use shampoo and conditioner for your hair type," says Fillerup Clark. "Generally thin hair is flat and lifeless, so you'll want a thickening or volumizing shampoo and conditioner to give it a little bounce."
7. Overusing The Blow Dryer
Not everyone has hair that air dries into something manageable, so totally skipping a blow out can be tricky. And yet, it may be something worth looking into if you have thin hair. As board-certified facial plastic surgeon and hair expert Vish Banthia, MD, FACS tells me, too much blow drying can dry out your hair and make strands limp. The best option, if you need to dry your hair, is to use the coldest setting.
8. Drying It With A Towel
Do you get out of a the shower and rub a towel all over your head? If so, you may be causing all sorts of breakage. It's better to use a cloth (like an old T-shirt or a microfiber towel) to gently blot your hair dry. As hair expert Lisa J. Anderson Stubbs tells me, this will prevent the hair cuticle from becoming rough, which can help reduce frizz.
9. Pulling It Back Tightly
The last thing you want to do with thin hair is pull it back tightly, Mast tells me. You should avoid super tight pony tails and braids, as they can yank hair out at the root. Not good.
10. Applying Too Many Products
Thin hair is naturally a bit limp, so you don't want to weigh it down with excessive product. "Too many treatments/oils will make your hair appear greasy," Mast says. And, it'll require extra shampoos. All bad things for thin hair.
11. Cutting It While It's Dry
If your stylist usually cuts your hair dry, ask them how they feel about cutting it while wet instead. As Bernhards Ziverts, master stylist and owner of Matii Salon in NYC tells me, starting a hair cut with clean wet hair and then finishing on dry hair may help add thickness and fullness.
Avoid these mistakes, and you'll likely see a big improvement in the look and feel of your hair.
Images: Pexels (12)
