Having a head of thick, luscious hair can be a symbol of health, beauty and glamour in women. However, many of us are dealt the thin hair card either by genetics or other reasons. Aging, post-natal hair loss and stress can cause your hair to decrease in thickness, leaving you with flat and lifeless locks.
Ideally, there would be a magical product for attaining an ample amount of hair, but the ones on the market seem to be a waste of money with no results. For years, we’ve purchased product after product like shampoos, thickening sprays, protein treatments and we’ve spent thousands of dollars on hair extensions. What many don’t realize is that finding a solution to your thin hair woes doesn’t lie in what you put in it, it’s how you cut it.
For thin hair, wearing it very long will accentuate the lack of hair you have. It appears stringy and the weight of it can completely eliminate any hopes of volume at the root.
Shortening your thin hair to a medium or shoulder length look doesn’t seem to add any bulk either. Thin hair is the result of fewer hairs growing out of your scalp, so even a bob haircut won’t disguise it.
In the past couple of years, short hair has become more popular in women’s styles. Celebrities such as Sharon Stone, Rihanna and Jennifer Lawrence have popularized various versions of pixie cuts and short shags. What was once a masculine length, is now appreciated as feminine and even sexy.
How To Choose A Short Haircut
Going for the big chop can be a huge decision, but there are factors to consider which will ensure that you end up with a beautiful haircut that suits you.
1. Consider your face shape
If you have a round face or full cheeks, a style that has a long bang will create a diagonal line which can be slimming. You’ll want to avoid a straight across bang or a very round haircut because they will accentuate a circular shape.
A thin or long face shape will benefit from a fuller or wider haircut. Styles that adds some width to the shape of the face like flippy pixie cuts and fuller bobs will be the most flattering. Having bangs can break up the long proportions of a thin face, while cuts that have a lot of height and no bulk on the sides will, unfortunately, thin out your face further.
At this point, you’re probably noticing the connection between the appropriate styles for fuller and thinner faces. They require opposite style components and shapes to achieve the desired oval face shape.
The oval face shape tends to be the most desired because it can pull off any haircut, shape and style. This allows people with an oval face to explore more options for short haircuts which is most helpful when you have thin hair. Choosing a short haircut can be based on a current trend or even just a low maintenance ‘do, if you wish. The options are really endless for those with an oval face shape.
2. Consider Your Hair Texture
With the introduction of high quality and easy to use hair tools in the past few years, it’s become much easier to style your hair against its natural texture. Straightening curly hair and curling straight hair isn’t a huge feat like it used to be, however, it could be more difficult on your new short hair cut.
If you’re basing your new cut off of a photo then make sure to choose one that resembles your hair texture. Avoid falling in love with a curly haircut if your hair is pin straight and difficult to curl, and vice versa. Keep in mind that hair tools like irons and brushes are usually more difficult to maneuver with very short hair. Which brings us to the next point…
3. Decide How Much Styling Time You Will Spend
Some short cuts completely harmonize the hair type and style so that just a bit of finishing product is all that’s required. If your thin hair requires some blow drying and manipulating to look fuller, then the time involved should be considered. Ask your hair stylist how much time and effort your new look will take before you make the cut!
4. Keep Maintenance In Mind
While keeping long hair in shape may require a trim every few months, short hair requires more frequent maintenance. Since hair grows, on average, half an inch a month – your haircut may be in need of a touch up more often. With thin hair, you likely won’t have an issue with your haircut bulking up, but neglecting your hair and going too long without cuts will result in an un-kept look. Short hair is known for being chic and daring so keeping that style in-tact will require cuts every 4-6 weeks. Ask your hairstylist if they offer complimentary clean-ups in between haircuts to trim your hairline or your bangs.
How To Style A Short Haircut
Now that your thin hair is cut into a suitable style, you’ll notice that time spent on it is majorly decreased! No more curling, teasing, and hair spraying upside-down for an hour every morning to fluff up your lack-luster locks. Having thin hair means that your hair dries quickly anyway, so achieving your desired style on a well done short hair cut is simple.
-Purchase appropriate styling aids
Your hairstylist can assist you in choosing a styling lotion or gel and a finishing product if needed. Usually the products that they use on you will be ideal. Whether you are blow drying your hair straight, air-drying, or enhancing curls, most short cuts will benefit from applying some sort of gel on wet hair. Available in various degrees of hold and consistencies, these products will provide your hair with shine and frizz control, aiding in the finished style.
A finishing product is almost always necessary to use on short hair. Pomades, waxes, balms and hairsprays are ideal, depending on your desired look. For a funky, texturized style, a defining pomade with a lot of hold will help you put each piece where you want it, while a hairspray can simply keep a softer style in place for the day.
-Use your products properly
Remember that with short, thin hair – a little goes a long way. Particularly with good quality products, using a small amount of product at a time and running it through your hands before applying will ensure that it’s distributed evenly. It can be tricky to emulate what the stylist did, but with practice and experimenting, it should become effortless over time.
Get used to using much less shampoo and conditioner, even if you have to wash your hair everyday. The size of a quarter of each should be more than enough to do the job and using more will be wasteful and expensive (and don’t skip conditioner since it closes the hair cuticle).
– Experiment with styles
Short hair can be easier manipulated than longer hair because it lacks weight. Not only that, but since it won’t take as long to style, you can really have fun playing around with it. Try switching your part or adding some curl or flip – even spiking it up can be trendy and sexy. Since long hair generally has more styling options, its easy to forget that not being able to wear your hair in a ponytail does not mean you need to wear it just one way. Hair accessories are also great for short cuts! Adding a bit of bling or a hair band can glam up your style for special occasions.
Hair Color For Short Haircuts
Your hair will require different color effects and techniques when it’s shorter. While long hair can pull off chunky hilights and ombre, short hair tends to look better with a solid color or fine, natural hilights. With fine hair, going lighter can add just enough ‘damage’ to hair to provide more volume and expand the hair follicle. A very blonde, spiky pixie cut has been popular for years because of its style versatility which is due to bleaching the hair.
If you have an issue with frizz in your short style, coloring your hair darker with a semi-permanent dye will provide your hair with a glossy finish and disguise fly-aways.
Since short hair is generally trimmed frequently, this is your opportunity to experiment with hair color. Try something that you’ve always dreamed of and don’t worry too much about damaging the integrity of your hair. As long as you are having your color done by an experienced professional hairstylist, have fun with it!
Living with thin hair doesn’t mean it has to LOOK thin. Keeping it long can provide some with security, but will result in many bad hair days and a general unhappiness in regards to your style. While the initial cut may produce some shock and regret in some, the adjusting period will be quick and the compliments you receive will boost your confidence. Spending less time styling your hair and more time rocking it is the best perk of it all!