Whether you've noticed your hair is beginning to thin and you've tried hair growth products, or your hair has always been on the finer side, it's understandable why you might want to switch things up to with hairstyles for thin hair to make your hair appear thicker, after all, we always want what we can't have when it comes to hair.
Forking out for supplements or hair growth shampoos can get pricey, so a haircut can be a longer term solution to giving you that bounce back. If you're planning your next salon trip and want to try something a little different, we've rounded up some cool and stylish cuts which are ideal if your hair is on the thinner side, to help regrow thinning hairand make it look a little thicker and more voluminous.
It's also a good idea to chat to your hair stylist about how to make your hair look thicker, they may be able to recommend the best hairbrush for thinning hair.
Best hairstyles for thin hair
Layered long bob
If you've always had longer hair and think a good chop will help it look thicker, this longer bob style is a great idea. Just add some layering to make your hair look even thicker.
Choppy bob
This bob is slightly shorter in length, and the hair is styled in a choppier style to add some movement to the locks, meaning it's a lot less effort to style on a daily basis.
Long wavy bob
If you've got a natural wave or curl in your hair, it's understandable why you might not want to chop it all off. This style also has plenty of layers and some beachy highlights too, making it ideal for the summer months.
Sweeping thick fringe
Curtain bangs or fringes are everywhere at the minute, and they're great for adding some thickness at the front of your hair.
Choppy crop
If you feel more comfortable with a shorter style, this choppy crop style with layers makes the perfect relaxed every day style.
Sleek long bob
If you have straighter hair, this longer bob style will look super stylish, and you can simply blow dry into place everyday. We also love how chic it looks in grey.
Layered long hair
Not ready to give up your long locks just yet but worried it's looking a little thin? Add some layers throughout your hair and maybe some highlights to add something extra.
Face framing layers
If you're concerned about thinning at the front, you could add some face framing layers. Not only will this flatter your face shape, but it'll add some volume at the front.
Curly short bob
Bobs can look just as stylish with curly hair as they do straight, and this short, curly bob will look effortless and cool, and can be styled beautifully.
Sleek shoulder length hair
Sometimes all you need is a nice blunt cut to make your hair feel a lot thicker and healthier. If you're keen to keep the longer hair, make sure your hair gets a regular chop.
Flipped out ends
It seems that this nostalgic look has made a comeback, and it’s easy to see why when you consider the benefits for thin hair. Giving your ends some movement with this easy to achieve flip will create a thick look, adding oomph to your usually limp ends. Try adding this fun flip to your do with a blow-dry brush.
Deep side part
Fine, flat hair gets a real boost with a deep side part. It will give an illusion of a fuller hairline.Flip your hair to one side and as it settles into place, you'll recognize an extra lift at the roots to complement your new part.
Pixie cut
A pixie haircut can be a great choice for thinner hair, as it can create the illusion of more volume and thickness. Consider it can also work well with a square face shape, as such a hairstyle effortlessly softens the sharpness of a prominent jawline.
Shag
The shaggy haircut is a great style option for fine hair, as it gives the hair plenty of volume and movement. If you are looking for a modern shag haircut that will work well with your fine hair, ask your stylist for a cut that is layered throughout and bangs to flatter your face shape. Skilfully cut layers will ease your styling, accentuate texture and boost volume.
Pixie with bangs
A pixie hairstyle is cut short with pointy layers. Throw in some bangs, and you can make the pixie cut look ever-so-versatile. Blunt bangs to look edgy, wispy bangs to look French, side-swept bangs to look modern – the options are never-ending.
Angled bob
Angled chin-length bobs create the illusion of fullness throughout the back, but still have clean straight lines. By keeping your bob longer in the front, you can frame and soften your face.
Beachy waves
Adding a few soft curls or waves is a great way to give your look more life and dimension and it doesn't have to take hours either. Curls add width to your hair, making it look instantly thicker, as well as giving your locks plenty of bounce and body.
Buzz cut
Easy to style and even easier to manage, a buzz cut is a perfect option if you have thinner hair on the top of your scalp. If you have hard features, a buzz cut will make them even stronger. Soft features are best for a buzz cut; in fact, it can give soft features more definition. You also really have to consider your personal style. If you are very feminine, this is going to be hard to pull off and probably not appealing to you! Contrary to some rumours, a buzz cut will not affect hair growth, so don’t be expecting your hair to grow back magically thicker.
A-line cut
An A-line bob haircut is when your hair is shorter in the back and gradually gets longer towards the front. The angle of the cut typically starts from the back of the neck and works its way straight down between the chin and the shoulders. A-line haircuts are a good style for people with thin hair as angling the hair to be shorter in the back will create volume.
Internal layers
Internal layers are inside of the established shape, creating air pockets that expand the hair and create volume. This technique is not about removing weight, it’s about being strategic for the hair that is left_._ Internal layers are perfect for finer-hair because it isn’t blunt or boxy and allows you to maintain a defined perimeter but also have soft, subtle movement within without compromising their density further.
Vintage curls
If you have thin hair, then you know what a struggle it can be to get curls to stick around. The good news is that these vintage curls were styled way before styling tools, good old-fashioned rollers can help you avoid damaging thin hair, while still getting that glamorous curl.
Balayage
A well created balayage can make thin hair look thicker. As well as creating the illusion of thick hair looking lighter. This is all because a balayage plays with light and dark tones, creating different visual effects.
Blunt cut
Simply put, a blunt haircut is a cut without layers — sleek on women who have naturally straight and fine hair, or more textured for hair types with a bit more body. The blunt lob or bob is very flattering for fine hair, the more geometric and blunt you make these cuts, the fuller the density appears.
Blowout
If your thin hair is a little limp or weighed down, a good blow-dry can be a lifesaver. It's a better option than air-drying, as the extra weight from your water-soaked strands will just cause the hair at your roots to dry flat. However, use a cooler setting and make sure to apply a protective product to prevent heat damage on your delicate hair.
Bixie (bob x pixie)
The bixie is a combination of the pixie and the bob haircut. Blending the two cuts gives the fullness of a short pixie while keeping the length and versatility of a bob. If you have fine hair, a bixie cut will still work for you! Soft, long layers create the look of more volume while adding beautiful texture. Don't forget to use hair products to your advantage, too.
Long fringe
When you have fine hair, a fringe can make it look instantly thicker simply because the front section looks fuller when shorter. A fringe is perfect for boosting your hairstyle's volume as it adds substance on top. Whether a grown-out longer fringe or some subtle feathering around the face, incorporating a fringe into your do can help make your hair look thicker.
Sculpted shag
A short razored shag cut is full of texture and carved-out pieces that make it youthful and fun to wear. Short layered haircuts often look undone or lived-in, so it works well for a low-maintenance woman who is not looking to shampoo and style their hair often.
Texture on top
Texturizing spray works for all hair types, but it's especially good for fine hair! It's absolutely essential for adding grip and hold to fine or thin hair without compromising texture or movement. Use it to add volume and lift to fine hair, create instant waves, or create a tousled look.
Centre parting
A middle part can help conceal certain hair concerns such as thinning and hair loss, particularly if your hairline is sparse around your temples. It tends to work best on faces that are more or less symmetrical, but can also help elongate shorter, wider face shapes. A middle part gives a slimmer look. For heart shape, it will balance features, such as your forehead or chin, while softening your cheekbones.
Flipped in ends
The flipped bob is a timeless haircut that has been reworked for 2023 with slightly more polish. Flipping in creates movement and gives the illusion of thickness and length.
Hollywood waves
Hollywood waves enhance volume and texture because creating smooth waves makes it possible to create an illusion of thicker and more textured hair. Moreover, this style is perfect for those with fine or thin hair as it offers the much-needed volume without the need for excessive product application.
Blunt long hair
If you have a finer hair texture but like to keep your length long, try out a blunt haircut. Blunt cuts have a solid, clean line at the perimeter of the hair that gives the appearance of fuller hair. By maintaining a more blunt cut, the hair will look fuller and thus, more youthful.
Long with invisibe layers
Invisible layers work to create texture and fullness. Invisible layers around the face will take out just enough length without making fine hair look thinner. In fact, this technique can create the illusion of more hair as it adds movement to the cut. You create invisible layers by cutting into sections of the hair, removing some (but not all) of the layer. This means there are no lines or definite layers visible. Originally intended for fine hair, this popular texturizing style has become a go-to for all hair types.
Collarbone bob
This cut is a little bit longer than a bob, with enough length to still wear your hair in a ponytail. Collarbone-length hairstyles are perfect for those looking for a feminine yet low-maintenance mid-length cut. Fine hair tends to be more fragile and less voluminous or bouncy than medium or coarse hair. That's why bob haircuts for fine hair are such a great choice. Whether you spring for a lived-in layered bob, a trendy stacked bob, or even a versatile shoulder-length bob, you can look forward to more volume and movement.
Face-framing layers
Face-framing layers are shorter pieces of hair, strategically placed around the face to help accentuate or soften your features. They're very flattering and the way the layers fall can even help to slim and contour your face. They’re also ideal for adding volume.
Choppy with long bangs
Face-framing layers are shorter pieces of hair, strategically placed around the face to help accentuate or soften your features. They're very flattering and the way the layers fall can even help to slim and contour your face. They’re also ideal for adding volume.
Windswept
Easy, breezy, casual styles are generally pretty effortless as you create a carefree look that can even minimize your styling time. Plus, if you want to mix up your straight hair with a slight wave or curve, this style is perfect to try. Adding products like mousse, hairspray, sea salt spray, putties and clays can go a long way in giving you that cool, messy look. If you have long or fine hair, stick with light products like mousses and sprays that will help give you more volume without weighing your hair down.
Stacked layers
You may think layers are just for removing unwanted bulk from dense or thick hair, but stacked layers can also be styled to add volume to thin and fine hair. While a traditional bob is usually one length, a stacked bob has stacked layers in the back, so, your hair is angled and longer in the front and shorter and rounded at the back with gradual layers for a textured, voluminous finish.
Sleek and short pixie
If you're on the hunt for pixie hairstyles that work exceptionally well on fine, stick-straight hair, look no further. This classic cut has all the flattering texture you could ask for. A deep side part, graduated cut and beautifully sleek look brings out the best of your facial features.
voluminous bob with sweeping side fringe
A natural short bob for thinning hair is the perfect haircut to add thickness. Having a one-length bob with blunt ends gives a nice solid shape, and the best part is it's one of the easiest haircuts to style. Use a round brush to give volume, or if you want a dressier look use a one-inch curling iron to create waves.
Choppy and shaggy
A medium shag with choppy bangs is a great way to give volume and movement to a shoulder-length haircut. A shaggy low-maintenance cut with bangs works well for most hair types but is best for women with natural bounce, curls, or waves.
Side-swept
Sweeping your hair to one side is excellent for making thin hair look thick, as it creates a heaviness to your hair. When you sweep your hair to the side, you’re usually going against your natural parting, so this immediately creates body and volume.
Short with long fringe
If you've got thin hair and want a style to make your hair look fuller, try a rounded bob with a long fringe. The movement and bluntness of this cut give the illusion of thicker hair density. The fringe will help draw attention to facial features such as cheekbones or eyes.
Textured ends
Textured cuts can be either short or long. The main thing to remember is that the stylist will use scissors or a razor to cut your hair at an angle. These cuts are hugely popular because this technique allows the stylist to give your hair more volume. Textured ends are perfect if you want that volume and texture to give your hair an effortless look.
Long cut with subtle layers
Subtle or ‘ghost’ layers involves cutting your hair at an angle, creating soft layers that are invisible to the eye. The final goal is to add movement and texture without sacrificing or altering the length of your strands. Ghost Layers makes thin hair look fuller, whether they’re added to bob length, medium length or long hair!
Razored bob
A razor cut bob is a type of haircut that uses a straight razor to create a textured, choppy look. This technique involves cutting the hair in vertical strokes to create a tapered effect rather than cutting the hair straight across using scissors. The best way to add texture to the hair when you want movement is with a razor. For finer hair, a razor can actually carve movement and petals into the hair.
Shattered cut with layers
Shattered layers are uneven, textured layers that have a 'shattered' appearance. These layers are usually cut at different lengths and angles to achieve an edgy and undone look. You can either go for a bob look, where it sits best just beneath the jawline, or you can keep it longer where the shattered layers will give your hair movement. The great thing about this style is that it can be worn sleek and straight, but also doubles as beachy and lived-in look when styled with curlers.
Wispy layers
If you want a lightweight and airy looking hairstyle, the wispy cut is the way to go. Wispy layers create a soft and airy movement, and these subtle layers are best for thin hair, as too many layers can make your hair appear thinner.
Piecey waves with highlights
Whether you have naturally wavy hair or not you can create piecey waves to give your hair some texture. For piecey waves, the key is curling very small sections of hair and alternating the direction of each curl. This gives a natural look for that ‘I woke up like this’ vibe, while still looking polished. If your hair is very fine, try adding a texturizing spray first. Adding highlights will also give your hair the appearance of more volume, as the contrast between light and dark colours gives the illusion of thicker hair.
Blunt bob
A blunt cut bob is a shorter hairstyle cut into a straight line at the ends. Bobs have endless variations, but one of the more popular versions of a bob is the short blunt bob because they're haircuts without layers. If you have thin hair, a blunt cut will feign thickness.
Lorna White is a Senior Digital Writer at Yours.co.uk. She was previously a writer at Yours Magazine writing features and news stories before joining the digital team. Lorna loves the great British countryside and likes to spend her spare time out and about in her home of Nottinghamshire walking her dog, Pippin.