Anybody else with fine hair???

[SeansMom]

Lately my ultra fine hair is giving me fits. I'm wondering if anyone else with fine hair has suggestions for styling products that will help hold a style (from flat iron to curling iron to towel dry and go)? For reasons unknown, it seems my hair is becoming "stringy" looking just a short time after I brush/style it, and if I use a hair dryer much it looks really damaged. Help! and Thanks in advance for any suggestions

 

[Mickeyflower]

I do have fine hair, not ultra fine, but I have learned a few tricks.

#1= Keep the length no longer than your shoulders and keep it layered. The layers give your hair movement and texture. It also doesn't look stringy. It gives it a playfully messy look.

#2 = USE A HEAT PROTECTION SPRAY!!! Ive used everything from expensive salon brands, to cheap drug store brands and they all work the same to me. Save money and use the drug store brand heat protection spray before blow drying.

#3= After rinsing the conditioner out of your hair, follow with a COLD WATER rinse. This seals up your hair shaft, and helps reduce fly away hair.

#4= I use a smoothing style aid after blow drying. NOT CREAM it's way too heavy. Currently, I use Kenra Platinum Silkening Gloss. For styling aids, I have found that salon products work LIGHT YEARS better than drug store ones. This stuff, you only need about a dime size and apply it to the ends of your hair. It's a bit pricey, but one bottle will last at least a year.

#5= When you blow dry your hair, DO NOT use the hottest heat setting. Use Medium or low. It will take longer, but it's much better for your hair. I also use a wide tooth comb, NOT a bristle brush. I found that bristle brushes caused MORE flyaway hair and took the natural shine away.

Hope these tips help.

 

[SeansMom]

I do have fine hair, not ultra fine, but I have learned a few tricks.

#1= Keep the length no longer than your shoulders and keep it layered. The layers give your hair movement and texture. It also doesn't look stringy. It gives it a playfully messy look.

#2 = USE A HEAT PROTECTION SPRAY!!! Ive used everything from expensive salon brands, to cheap drug store brands and they all work the same to me. Save money and use the drug store brand heat protection spray before blow drying.

#3= After rinsing the conditioner out of your hair, follow with a COLD WATER rinse. This seals up your hair shaft, and helps reduce fly away hair.

#4= I use a smoothing style aid after blow drying. NOT CREAM it's way too heavy. Currently, I use Kenra Platinum Silkening Gloss. For styling aids, I have found that salon products work LIGHT YEARS better than drug store ones. This stuff, you only need about a dime size and apply it to the ends of your hair. It's a bit pricey, but one bottle will last at least a year.

#5= When you blow dry your hair, DO NOT use the hottest heat setting. Use Medium or low. It will take longer, but it's much better for your hair. I also use a wide tooth comb, NOT a bristle brush. I found that bristle brushes caused MORE flyaway hair and took the natural shine away.

Hope these tips help.

Thanks...I've never used a heat protection spray. It always sounded like voodoo But I'll pick some up and give it a try Some of the rest I already to (like low heat to dry my hair). I'm wondering if my stressssss levels are affecting my hair. Blech!

 

[MizTink]

Thanks...I've never used a heat protection spray. It always sounded like voodoo But I'll pick some up and give it a try Some of the rest I already to (like low heat to dry my hair). I'm wondering if my stressssss levels are affecting my hair. Blech!

stress? what stress???
i just turned 40 and have always had pretty thin/fine hair. i just went to my dermatologist in a panick last week because i'm LOSING HAIR!!!!
it's become very noticable (to me at least). first thing he asked was if i've been under much stress......he ordered lab work too, but i know stress is an issue.

 

[My2CrazyGirls]

Lately my ultra fine hair is giving me fits. I'm wondering if anyone else with fine hair has suggestions for styling products that will help hold a style (from flat iron to curling iron to towel dry and go)? For reasons unknown, it seems my hair is becoming "stringy" looking just a short time after I brush/style it, and if I use a hair dryer much it looks really damaged. Help! and Thanks in advance for any suggestions

My hair is very fine....it is like baby hair! I cannot let it get much past shoulder length. I use "big sexy" brand root pump as it is a light mouse and does not weigh hair down. Don't use gel.

 

[hsmamato2]

I use as little product as possible,no matter what it is, it weighs my hair down and it looks icky IMO-
I use a very light sulfate free shampoo,and condition the ends
Also about once a month I use an apple cider vinegar rinse, which completley removes any buildup and residue for sprays,etc and seals the hair shaft and makes it shiny.(condition after doing this)
I personally feel chemicals and sprays with silicones,etc are my fine hair's enemy.....
I only blow dry my hair no more than 3x per week to minimize damage
Get a good haircut (it's worth the cost) that maximizes volume for your face shape- for some,that's a well cut bob,for others, a few layers. Layers though tend to enhance the 'fineness' of hair,so you have to be really careful if you like that look- IMHO,and my hairdresser agrees that a lot LESS layering,and some really well placed understated layers volumize way better....
for example, I want medium length hair, but my hair is fine, so lots of layers are out, but I NEED some layering at the crown to keep it from falling flat....I found a stylist that had the capability to do all of that- not all of them do! ( I switched from one that couldn't)
So we do as few layers as we can for thickness,but a few for volume....

 

[girli565]

I keep my hair layered and no longer than the middle of my back. I find it gets too weighed down if I keep it any longer. I do not flat iron it, that just makes it even straighter and looks so thin and flat. My hair is naturally straight so I really dont ever want to make it look straighter.

I also use a heat protectant when I use any heat tools, especially when I use my hot rollers (which give me amazing body). Mine is from Suave, in a grey bottle and red cap.

I only wash my hair every 2-3 days because it keeps it healthy and I have to style it less. styling it with heat damages your hair so I do it as little as possible. I will usually blowdry the front straight so it won't frizz and then put in WEN styling creme to tame the rest and let it dry naturally.

 

[MickeyManiac]

stress? what stress???
i just turned 40 and have always had pretty thin/fine hair. i just went to my dermatologist in a panick last week because i'm LOSING HAIR!!!!
it's become very noticable (to me at least). first thing he asked was if i've been under much stress......he ordered lab work too, but i know stress is an issue.

I noticed shortly after turning 40 that my hair also seemed to be thinning. FREAKED me out!!! I think it was a combination of stress and hormones. Sadly I'm afraid it's just one of those "changes" we start going through. I have noticed an improvement over the last several months (I'm 41 now) making me believe it's cyclical. I work in OB/GYN so my first thought always goes to hormones.

I use Big Sexy products too. The EXTRA volumizing shampoo is amazing. I also use the root pump. As a girl of the 80's I still struggle when my hair looks too flat.

 

[Starshine]

I also only wash my hair every 2-3 days. And of course because it's so fine it tends to get stringy and greasy, so I use hair powder to give it some body and get rid of the greasiness on the "off days". I use Bumble and Bumble hair powder which is expensive but worth it I think. I also tried the Suave Dry Shampoo but I don't like it as much as the Bumble.

 

[Kellydelly]

Get a good haircut (it's worth the cost) that maximizes volume for your face shape- for some,that's a well cut bob,for others, a few layers. Layers though tend to enhance the 'fineness' of hair,so you have to be really careful if you like that look- IMHO,and my hairdresser agrees that a lot LESS layering,and some really well placed understated layers volumize way better....
for example, I want medium length hair, but my hair is fine, so lots of layers are out, but I NEED some layering at the crown to keep it from falling flat....I found a stylist that had the capability to do all of that- not all of them do! ( I switched from one that couldn't)
So we do as few layers as we can for thickness,but a few for volume....

I need your stylist. Everyone who does my hair tells me layers will give it more volume. Not. Just makes it horribly difficult to keep in a clip when I want to wear it up! I can't get the darn layers to grow out and it's making me nuts. I told my current stylist I wanted to be able to have a ponytail (which I know is a stretch for someone with my hair type) and she still keeps lopping my layers too short . I absolutely hate my hair type. I cannot just roll out of bed and put it up, I really need to wash and blow it out if I want it to look good. If I let my hair air dry I look like a poodle with a grown out perm. It's sad. I wish I could wear wigs like Kim on The Real Housewives of Atlanta . I can make it look good, just seems like it takes so much effort.

 

[NotUrsula]

Fine but thick will work with layers. Fine and thin usually will not. If your hair is thin as well as fine you are probably going to need to go with a blunt cut unless you are willing to go with set and sprayed (and if so, watch out for backlighting.)

I find the that best thing to give my hair volume is just good old-fashioned upside-down drying. I do use silicone serum in summer when the humidity is prone to cause stringiness, but I use it VERY sparingly. I put a dot the size of pencil eraser on my hands, rub my hands together, and then run my fingers through the ends of my hair. I do ALWAYS use a heat-protectant spray.

I do wash my hair every day; if I don't the roots get oily and my scalp very obviously shows through what little hair I have left. Also, if your hair is really thin, do your best to minimize the color contrast between the color of the hair and the color of your scalp -- dark hair is not a good look on a balding pale white woman. I had my moment of truth on this while on a WDW bus first thing in the morning. A lady on the bus had very carefully styled dark curled hair, cut short. It looked fine until the morning sun lit her from behind, at which point her pale balding scalp was very clearly visible under the dark halo formed by her curled short hair. Lesson? If your hair is thin, be careful of poufing it up; natural light may cause you to look very different than you do in your bathroom mirror.

 

[720L]

I also have baby fine hair---Big Sexy Hair products are the best and I've tried just about everything (I'm a hair product junkie LOL). Second would be Matrix Amplify

 

[vsimeone]

My stylist recommended the big, huge, velcro rollers. Sounds so old fashioned, I know, but dang if they don't work MAGIC!!!

I just started using them about a week ago and I am SHOCKED at the volume that I get! I just blow dry a little more than halfway and put 5 rollers on the top of my head then do all my makeup. In about the middle of my makeup routine, I blow dry the rest of the day but still leave the rollers in until I'm done. I just take out the rollers and style like I'm used to but I have TONS of volume in my hair!

Good luck with your hair. I hope you find something that works for you!

 

[pixiewings71]

I have fine hair, I wash it daily or it gets greasy and gross, I rarely use product but I rarely style my hair either. I work in a warehouse so my almost waist length hair gets washed, conditioned, brushed, twisted and put up in a clip all day.

When I style it I use product and then style, if I'm using the flat iron I just flat iron it, if I'm curling it I use some mousse and then style and spray it. I have Redken products I'm using right now, I got them free due to a promo and they've been great! I also have some Herbal Essence products I'm using as well. I'd like to find a good sulfate free shampoo/conditioner but haven't found one I like yet. I'm in the process of finding a new stylist and plan to talk to her about it. I have layers in my hair but I like them long because I wear my hair up so much.

 

[princessmom29]

I have baby fine, straight hair. Mine is SO fine that when I have it foiled, I cannot wash it the night before or the foils slip and slide. I have found that coloring my hair actually helps. It seems to have more body and look less oily and stringy. I have found that it does best if I keep it no longer than touching my shoulders with just a little bit of texture cut into the ends. I don't use any product on it, and just pull it pin striaght with a flat iron every morning after blowdrying. Product only weighs my hair down and makes it feel dirty. It doesn't actually help it hold volume or a style of any kind.

 

[MEM]

Fine but thick will work with layers. Fine and thin usually will not. If your hair is thin as well as fine you are probably going to need to go with a blunt cut unless you are willing to go with set and sprayed (and if so, watch out for backlighting.)

I find the that best thing to give my hair volume is just good old-fashioned upside-down drying. I do use silicone serum in summer when the humidity is prone to cause stringiness, but I use it VERY sparingly. I put a dot the size of pencil eraser on my hands, rub my hands together, and then run my fingers through the ends of my hair. I do ALWAYS use a heat-protectant spray.

I do wash my hair every day; if I don't the roots get oily and my scalp very obviously shows through what little hair I have left. Also, if your hair is really thin, do your best to minimize the color contrast between the color of the hair and the color of your scalp -- dark hair is not a good look on a balding pale white woman. I had my moment of truth on this while on a WDW bus first thing in the morning. A lady on the bus had very carefully styled dark curled hair, cut short. It looked fine until the morning sun lit her from behind, at which point her pale balding scalp was very clearly visible under the dark halo formed by her curled short hair. Lesson? If your hair is thin, be careful of poufing it up; natural light may cause you to look very different than you do in your bathroom mirror.

That is a good point! I have thinning hair but the hair itself is not fine. I stopped coloring my hair, let it go all silver (I'm 52) and spend the money to get a great short cut every 8 weeks. I used to be very self-conscious about my scalp showing through, when I colored my hair. Now, I can honestly say that my scalp is well-disguised by my hair color and hair style. I do wash my hair every day and use a clarifying shampoo which seems to work better than a voluminizing one.

 

[MomToOne]

After years of fighting it, I eventually gave up and cut my fine, thin, straight-as-a-board-and-won't-hold-a-curl hair short. Really short. Not quite a pixie, but close. It's been short probably 20 years now, I've changed the style here and there, but I keep it short since that's all that really works for it.

My hair stylist once talked me into growing it out. Once it got to my shoulders, I gave up and walked in one day and told her to cut it all off again. She said "Thank god!!! I wanted to tell you it looked awful, but since I was the one that convinced you to grow it out, I couldn't!"

 

[SeansMom]

After years of fighting it, I eventually gave up and cut my fine, thin, straight-as-a-board-and-won't-hold-a-curl hair short. Really short. Not quite a pixie, but close. It's been short probably 20 years now, I've changed the style here and there, but I keep it short since that's all that really works for it.

My hair stylist once talked me into growing it out. Once it got to my shoulders, I gave up and walked in one day and told her to cut it all off again. She said "Thank god!!! I wanted to tell you it looked awful, but since I was the one that convinced you to grow it out, I couldn't!"

Thanks for sharing...cute story. I really like my hair longer, mostly because I don't have to get it cut every 6-8 weeks. I work long hours, and being able to pull it up is a blessing.

To everyone else, thanks! I've gotten some good tips. Is the Big Sexy line drugstore or salon?

 

[mrsklamc]

I really like "It's a ten" conditioning mask.

 

[hsmamato2]

I use Trader joes sulfate free shampoos- (tried whole foods,Panetne,they were too heavy and gross)
The cheapest one is 2.99 per bottle, but it's a little drying,IMO- I use the step up from there, which is orange scented and costs 3.99 per bottle- I love TJ's hair stuff,it's natural,and inexpensive, and doesn't weigh down my fine hair