Ladies...Need product help for thin, fine hair???

[WendyZ]

You can add me to the list of women who HATE their hair!!!! I started getting it colored about a yr ago. So I haven't got a perm since (which I used to get every 3 mths). I am trying to learn how to go without one, since my hairdresser said no perm with color.
It's so fine, thin and straight with fuzzy ends. Seem no matter what I try, I have bad luck. I would like to find something to help with body and holding curls-style. Right now I use Big Sexy gel, blow dry upside down. Then if I doing it curly, which I do 90% of the time because it works the best, I use hot sets to curl. Then I comb out and spray with paul mitchell firm hold super clean. I've noticed lately this isn't even working so well anymore and wearing it straight has become a joke!

So....I'm here to see if any uses any great products they would like to share??? TIA for any tips you can offer!

 

[Southern4sure]

I have very fine hair that is limp. I have NO volume so I use to get a perm all the time. I now get my hair colored for the texture. I have not had a perm in 10 years and I use TIGI Bed Head Small Talk 3-In-1 since. It is a thickener, energizer and styler. I use about a quarter size and apply while my hair is damp. I blow dry then I use velcro rollers (heat rollers were a joke for my hair) then I spray to set the rollers. In the meantime I put on my make up and such. The last step is taking down the rollers and using a pick I pick my hair into the style I want. I then spray again and may spray one last time if the weather is really humid. I only find Small Talk in salons or order online.

I stopped paying the $15-20 a can for hairspray. I now use Salon Grafix freeezing hair spray which cost me under $4.00. I buy it at walmart. It is a white can with black wording.

Amazon no longer carries the small talk but with this link you can see what the bottle looks like and read customer reviews.

http://www.amazon.com/TIGI-Small-Thickifier-Energizer-Stylizer/dp/B00081U9QG

 

[KimR]

Maybe not what you have in mind but I have extremely thin, fine, limp hair and the only way to get my hair to look good is to wear a hairpiece. It clips on underneath my own hair and looks completely natural. Styling products help but with very little hair to begin with, there's only so much they can do, especially since I like my hair long. With my hairpiece I actually have enough hair to style the way I like.

 

[mickeyboat]

I finally decided to let my hairdresser put layers into my hair, and it has made a huge difference in volume. I also had it highlighted, which helps some with volume. I use Vavoom mousse, and dry with a round brush, making sure to lift the roots while I dry. Then I use a 1 1/4" curling iron to "curl" the roots. I separate the curls with my fingers, and spray wit Di:Fi hairspray. I can't believe how much volume my hair has, now.

I have a great hairdresser who spent a lot of time showing me how to style my hair, and it really made a difference.

Denae

 

[DMickey28]

My mom has super thin fine hair. She uses Biolage Normalizing Shampoo, no conditioner and Vavoom hair mousse. She swears by it. She then blow-dry's it and just curls it with a brush while she is drying. She has shoulder length hair.

 

[Christine]

I have very fine hair but I'm lucky in that it is not thin.

First off, you will never get the look you want if you wear it one length and totally straight. Thin, fine hair needs LAYERS and texture. I've given up even trying to wear my hair long and straight. It just looks bad.

I now wear my hair fairly short, lots of layers, lots of "choppiness". Also, get your hair highlighted also (you can do this with coloring). The highlights really "rough" up your hair and make it more coarse. I can tell when I need a new highlight because my hair gets so limp.

Right now, I use Alterna's Life Volumizing Mousse. That works really well for texture and lift. I then put in some Cibu Sticky Rice Pomade when it is dry and then spray. This is for short hairstyles though.

 

[WendyZ]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll check out these products! Hopefully something new will work!

Southern4sure...where do you buy your products online?

Thanks again everyone!!

 

[KimR]

First off, you will never get the look you want if you wear it one length and totally straight. Thin, fine hair needs LAYERS and texture. I've given up even trying to wear my hair long and straight. It just looks bad.

I don't understand this, unless my hair is much, much thinner than everyone else's (which is probably true). I was complaining about my hair to my MIL and she gave me the same solution - layers. I had layers ONCE - and I swore never again. It looked awful because the bottom later was so thin and wispy the result was that it looked even thinner than before, and I didn't think that was possible.

Maybe it wasn't done correctly that last time, but my current hairdresser told me NO WAY to layers - she said I need a blunt cut to provide the maximum amount of volume. But then again, I refuse to have my hair shorter than shoulder length so maybe that is the difference? I know I NEED short hair, but it's just not 'me' - I'd rather deal with the hairpiece and get the look I want.

I really wish there was some of procedure that could be done - surgically implant a full, thick luxusious head of hair onto my scalp. I seriously would pay big bucks for this. I'm so tired of my styling options being so limited.

 

[Buckalew11]

I also think you should look into a different cut for your hair.

I do have a question for you though. I absolutely love the product by Redken called Hot Sets that you have mentioned. However, they have recently repackaged this product (better bottle--the last one was a joke!). With this change, ever bottle I have bought smells different than the old. I can hardly stomach this smell--it smells a bit like sweet maple syrup to me! Then when I apply heat afterward, it is just awful! Of course, I am spraying this on person after person throughout the day so I am getting a big dose of this horrible smell. Have you notcied a change in your Hot Sets or are you still using a older bottle. I am really hoping I bought a bad batch and this is smell shall pass. Thanks!

 

[mickeyboat]

I don't understand this, unless my hair is much, much thinner than everyone else's (which is probably true). I was complaining about my hair to my MIL and she gave me the same solution - layers. I had layers ONCE - and I swore never again. It looked awful because the bottom later was so thin and wispy the result was that it looked even thinner than before, and I didn't think that was possible.

Maybe it wasn't done correctly that last time, but my current hairdresser told me NO WAY to layers - she said I need a blunt cut to provide the maximum amount of volume. But then again, I refuse to have my hair shorter than shoulder length so maybe that is the difference? I know I NEED short hair, but it's just not 'me' - I'd rather deal with the hairpiece and get the look I want.

I really wish there was some of procedure that could be done - surgically implant a full, thick luxusious head of hair onto my scalp. I seriously would pay big bucks for this. I'm so tired of my styling options being so limited.

I would guess that your hairdresser didn't do the layers right. My hair really looks a lot fuller with layers - but I also think that styling it by blow-drying with a round brush helps a lot. It lifts the roots, and gives my entire head more volume.

Denae

 

[CathrynRose]

Layers takes off more hair....not sure if someone who has little hair to begin with, wants any more hair taken off.

OP - Have your tried a root lifter ( http://www99.epinions.com/beat-Hair_Care-Styling-All-Matrix_Amplify_Root_Lifter/display_~reviews ) Along with a leave-in conditioner that provides volume, and will also seal your ends....... like Sebastian's Potion 9 ( http://www99.epinions.com/beat-Hair_Care-Conditioner-All-Sebastian_Potion_9 )

I'd stop blow-drying upseide down. Youre opening up your hair cuticle, which is why youre frizzy.

You need to get yourself either a great round brush and blow dry with that - OR (easier) get a round-brush-blow-dryer: http://www.ulta.com/control/product/~product_id=6501630


I think you'll like the results, if you do the above.

 

[faith]

There's a new line of products by Dove called Pro Age. I've been going to try their shampoo. The ad says more volume, fullness for thinning mature hair. I'm sure you're younger than me, but in a shampoo who cares about age if it works. I saw it for $4.99, but didn't have my $1 coupon with me, so I haven't tried it yet. It's in a dark reddish brown bottle.

 

[Christine]

Ah....the "layers" controversy.

CathyrnRose is correct in that layers do take away some hair. I think it really does need to be done right. You don't want a lot of layering up by the scalp. I have this but I also have LOTS of hair, even though it is baby fine. My hair cannot take any weight. This is the problem if you don't have layers. You get a lot of weight pulling the hair down and making the stuff at the scalp pull down and look thinner.

I think it really does depend on how thin and sparse your hair is.

My DD has hair like mine and she wears her below the shoulder. It does look better with a few layers put in midway down and through the bottom. Just looks fuller. Also, as a child, she had a chin-length razor cut bob hairstyle that was "stacked" underneath and it looked FANTASTIC. However, as a 15 year old, she wouldn't be caught dead with that hairstyle.

 

[drag n' fly]

If your hair is fine and thin Nioxin works the bst.

http://www.nioxin.com/

 

[WendyZ]

Buckalew11...I do have the new hot sets. I haven't noticed any smell. The bottle is harder to hold though, I think.

Thanks guys I'll be checking out all your suggestions and talking to my hairdresser when I go again. I might get a few more layers.

 

[JunieJay]

I have thin, fine hair and I swear by long layers. Not heavy layers, very lightly layered to frame my face, and worn no longer than shoulder length. I only use conditioner once a week, otherwise it just lays flatter. Sometimes if I'm having a bad hair day I'll part it on the side, and pull all the hair to the fuller side of my head (most people have one side of their head that has more hair than the other). The thin side I tuck behind my ear, and the full side looks fuller. I also like headbands/headwraps to pull my hair off my face, that helps making it look fuller. I style with velcro curlers or a large round brush. I use Styling Infusion Thickening Creme from Graham Webb, which is a product that actually changes the texture of your hair. Its hard to get used to at first because as a person with fine hair you are also used to it being silky and smooth. This makes the hair a little more coarse, but it does thicken it up, or give the appearance of thicker hair. Before blow drying I try to squinch up my hair and only apply heat to dry. The more water you get out of the hair before applying heat, the better. The longer you leave that blow dryer on thin, fine hair the worse its going to look, trust me. Sometimes if I have a lot of time in the morning I'll put some product in my hair and comb through then pile all my hair on top of my head and let it dry that way. When I take it down mid afternoon its got lots of body. I do this mostly in the summer.

 

[Southern4sure]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll check out these products! Hopefully something new will work!

Southern4sure...where do you buy your products online?

Thanks again everyone!!

I would do a search for TIGI Bed Head Small Talk 3-In-1 and compare prices & shipping but now pop into a local salon and pick it up. My hairdress does not carry it. (new hairdress since we moved) I stock on when they run sales.

The price is about $15.00 a bottle but it lasts along time for me, maybe 2 bottles a year. It is thick so dont be surprised but it works. I never use hair conditioner because my hair gets so limp and I have to be careful because most gels and creams weigh it down.

 

[KimR]

JunieJay, where do you find that styling cream? That is exactly what I am looking for - something to change the texture of my hair. Does it also help hair hold a curl? My hair is very curl-resistant.

 

[Cool-Beans]

Clairol's Herbal Essences has a Volume shampoo for fine hair that I loved and used for years. Had to stop because the new scent gives me a headache, but I really recommend that shampoo. Haven't found one yet that works as well.

Aussie has a "Dual Personality" hair spray that is changing its name to "Hi Hold + Hi Shine" that will hold your hair in ANY position. Seriously, it would hold your hair straight up, it is that good. I can run around amusement parks all day, riding rides and my hair STAYS PUT, with the lift I sprayed into it.

The problem with the hair spray is that it is like shellac. It is a little hard to get out. I use a little Paul Mitchell "The Conditioner" on the ends of my hair or I'm not sure I could comb through it. I don't condition my hair near the scalp.

 

[JunieJay]

JunieJay, where do you find that styling cream? That is exactly what I am looking for - something to change the texture of my hair. Does it also help hair hold a curl? My hair is very curl-resistant.

I get it from my salon. I couldn't find the exact stuff I use online, but this is close:

http://www.beautydepot.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=793413171947&Category_Code=

I don't really curl my hair so I'm not sure about that. I use a really large round brush or the big velcro curlers for body, not curl. But it does change the texture of your hair, making it almost a bit sticky. If you like to run a brush through your hair several times a day this might not be the product for you. Its a little like hairspray in that way.