How To Care for Fine Hair

There are some universal rules for great haircare. Getting regular trims and eating a healthy diet works for everyone, but every type of hair has its own set of needs to look its best in terms of style and health. In this article, we’re discussing how to care for fine hair by building the best collection of products for your specific needs. What does it mean to have fine hair? It’s not just about straight or curly, so let’s break it down.

Defining How to Care for Fine Hair

Fine hair can be a confusing phrase. It refers to the diameter of each hair strand rather than the number of hairs in any given area. A person can have fine hair and a full, dense mane or fine hair that’s thinning and lacks density.

Either way, it’s easy to determine if your hair falls into this category. A single hair is thinner than a sheet of paper, but there’s no need to head to the printer to compare. A strand of fine hair will feel delicate and barely perceptible between the fingers, as opposed to coarse hair with a tactile roughness. Medium hair falls somewhere in between.

Learning how to care for fine hair comes with a few challenges since it’s inherently structurally weaker. This includes:

• Being more susceptible to oiliness
• Lack of body
• Difficulty holding a style
• Less resilience to heat
• Products consistently weighing hair down

Fortunately, if you’re experiencing fine hair drama, you can solve it with the best haircare routine. Your products should work together to increase volume, balance shine, maintain softness, and add texture. From washing your hair to styling it, it’s time to reassess what your hair needs, from the shower to the styling chair, to take it to new heights.

Your New Fine Hair Care Routine

Shampoo

The first step in learning how to care for fine hair is picking a great volumizing shampoo. Fine hair types need thorough cleansing for oily-prone scalps, fortifying ingredients to support strength, and moisturizers to keep hair balanced from frequent washing. Paul Mitchell’s Extra-Body Daily Shampoo is an all-encompassing fine hair shampoo that fits the bill.

It has a high concentration of panthenol, also known as provitamin B5, that promotes hair growth and hydrates and strengthens hair from deep within. This vegan formula is rounded out with nutrient-rich jojoba oil, wheat germ oil, rosemary, and white ginger extract for a comfortably clean scalp and a thicker, fuller feel.

Conditioning

Replenishing moisture after cleansing is essential for healthy hair, and you can’t talk about how to take care of fine hair without discussing conditioner. This step can easily weigh down fine hair, but you can counter those effects with a body-building formula like Joico’s JOIFULL Volumizing Conditioner. It has rice protein and bamboo extract to thicken and strengthen. Plus, there are coconut and sunflower oils for antioxidant protection and a patented SmartRelease technology that keeps delivering protection between washes.

Have you been avoiding conditioning masks because they seem too heavy? Never fear because Kerastase’s Reflection Masque Chromatique – Fine Hair is made to address the typical concerns of fine hair, especially color-treated hair. This light and creamy mask combines nature and science to preserve your color, highlights, and lowlights for up to an incredible 40 days.

Once a week, apply your desired amount throughout the length of clean, towel-dried hair, and leave it on for just a few minutes before rinsing. Your hair will feel lightly refreshed, and your color will remain vibrant between salon visits.

Styling

Next, in learning how to care for fine hair before it dries (and it dries quickly!), prep hair for styling with a leave-in conditioner. Davines’ DEDE Delicate Hair Mist Leave-in Conditioner is a lighter-than-air spritz that strengthens, moisturizes, and allows combs and brushes to glide through hair effortlessly. If you’re worried it will be too much for thinning hair, you can use this sustainably sourced leave-in instead of regular conditioner, and there’s no need to rinse! Talk about a time-saver.

Fine hair can be tough to style, but there’s hope on the horizon. Consider your hair’s density and length when choosing how to care for fine hair with styling products.

– Short and Thinning – Shorter lengths are more flattering for thinning hair, as are weightless styling products like American Crew’s Grooming Spray.

It supplies a hydrating, buildable, soft hold that’s easy to comb through damp or dry hair. The result is controlled flyaways, locked in moisture, and a natural-looking style.

– Short to Medium and Dense –Use milk_shake’s Lifestyling Texturizing Cream to add grit and body for a tousled look that fortifies the hair with milk proteins (hence the name) and protects strands from UV damage.

All lengths of fine hair can use this concentrated cream to prep for more creative styles that last. To use, wait until your hair is dry, work a small amount of product through your hands, and mold away! Finish with a light spritz of hairspray for extra hold.

– Medium to Long – For a voluminous blowout, always prep damp hair with a heat-protecting product that increases fullness, like the UNITE Hair Boosta Volumizing Spray. One must-have when deciding how to care for fine hair is heat protection, and this airy spray works with heat to build texture from roots to ends for a soft hold.

This tropically-scented spray can be combined with other lightweight products or used on its own. Make sure to use a round brush while blow drying for maximum body.

Lastly, consider haircuts that are more flattering to fine hair. For example, layers tend to make fine hair appear thinner, so opt for a straight cut. With a little trial and error (and all this awesome advice), you’ll find what works for you in no time.

But Wait, There’s More

There’s no need to end your haircare journey here. If you want to learn more about how to care for fine hair, visit our Beauty Resource Center and get all your questions answered. There’s more to learn about other helpful products like dry shampoos, tips like what to avoid, and lifestyle factors that’ll make a positive difference in your ‘do. And remember, there’s lots of information about the latest beauty trends in makeup and skincare as well. We’ve got you covered from head to toe.