How do you treat fine hair?

Fine hair is actually quite a broad term, some clients can have fine hair and yet have lots of it, for others their hair is fine and sparse or thinner . If the hair has lost density this would be a good time to consult a Trichologist as there may be an underlying reason and this should be addressed first.

Next, find a hairdresser who enjoys working with fine hair, who can see fine hairs potential rather than its limitations. 

It is important to keep the scalp healthy, there is lots of research which concludes washing the hair more often achieves this. As long as the shampoo is suitable for frequent use. Shampooing more often also reduces the amount of oil in the hair which allows the texture to be fuller.

Fine hair can tangle more when wet, it should be carefully combed with a wide tooth comb from tip to root pulling out the knots as you go. Philip Kingsley Daily Damage Defence can be useful at this point, helping to detangle and offering protection to the more fragile fine hair from heat and sun.

There are numerous types of products for fine hair and lots or different companies producing these products.The company I favour is Philip Kingsley, their products are what is referred to as a treatment range rather than a fashion brand .This means the products focus on hair texture not just what is in fashion at the moment. This is covered in blog What are the best volumizing products for fine hair.

Blowdrying fine hair with a heat controlled dryer and a brush designed for fine hair will help with volume . The use of rollers is often underrated, the velcro ones are very easy to use and can create  root lift and body.

Most types of permanent hair colour will swell the hair shaft, actually making the hair thicker. Partial colouring techniques create visual texture. If the outline is coloured a little darker it will create a stronger look and colouring the interior lighter will look fuller.

A lot of modern haircuts have choppy softer lines, which can work well with shorter fine hair. When the hair is longer more solid lines can work better  because the hair is fine the line won’t look too heavy, meaning it will be soft enough. Where as fine hair with lots of, unless you would like to see a sharp line would benefit from lots of layers to remove weight and create texture.

Remember fine hair can be a blessing, taking less time to wash and style, products last longer, visits to the salon don’t have to take half a day. I know clients with thick hair who complain about the opposite of these points. It’s often said we all want what we haven’t got, how about we change that to let’s make the best of what we have and dwell on the advantages of our situation.