How to Style Thin Flat Hair

Co-authored by Matt King and Janice Tieperman

Last Updated: March 12, 2023 References

Flat, thin hair can be a double-edged sword—while it’s pretty low-maintenance, it can look limp after a while. There’s no need to fear! Whether you’re looking for a quick fix or a brand-new haircut, there are plenty of styling options for you to consider.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Best Products

1
Style your damp hair with a volumizing mousse. After hopping out of the shower, squirt a palm-sized amount of mousse onto a fine-tooth comb. Guide your comb through your hair, working the product from your roots through the entire strands.^{[1]
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- Try not to overdo it! Too much product can leave your hair feeling heavy.
2
Choose soft-hold hairspray. With fine hair, moderation is the name of the game. If you’d like to hold your hair in place, spritz over it with a soft-hold hairspray.^{[2]
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- Toss out any heavy hair products, like waxes or pomades—these add a lot of weight to your hair, which isn’t ideal.
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3
Try fibrous hair powder. Hair powder helps make your roots and part lines look a lot more filled in. Choose a product that matches your hair color, and spray it over the parts of your hair that are looking a little thin.^{[3]
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- Hair powders work well with all kinds of hair!
4
Spritz a salt spray over your damp hair to add volume. Once you’ve hopped out of the shower, spray the product over your roots. Grab a comb and work the salt spray through the rest of your hair. Then, dry off your hair with a blow-dryer to give it a little more volume.^{[4]
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Expert Source

Matt King
Director of Education, Fox and Jane Salon Group
Expert Interview. 31 August 2021.}
- Salt spray is a great way to give your hair some extra texture and volume.
- You can also spritz some dry shampoo in your hair along with the salt spray.^{[5]
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  Expert Source
  
  Matt King
  Director of Education, Fox and Jane Salon Group
  Expert Interview. 31 August 2021.}

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Styling Tips

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Add fullness and height to your hair with a side part. Instead of splitting your hair down the middle, comb around two-thirds of it to the side. This disproportionate look makes your thin hair look really dynamic, and offers a lot of extra height.^{[6]
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- If your hair is still looking a bit limp with a side part, part your hair to the opposite side instead.
2
Dry your hair upside-down to give your hair more volume. After stepping out of the shower, tuck your head down and flip your hair forward. Work your fingers through your hair, squeezing the water out of your hair until your locks are about 60-70% dry. Then, stand up straight and blow-dry your hair, combing it through with a ceramic brush—this will help smooth out the ends of your hair and add a touch of softness to your look.^{[7]
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3
Use Velcro rollers to add height. Once you hop out of the shower, comb your hair and divide it into small sections. Wrap each section around a Velcro roller. Turn your blow-dryer to a cool setting and blast the curled sections of your hair. Take out the rollers once your hair is dry. Enjoy your lightly-curled hair for the rest of the day!^{[8]
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- Spritz texturizing spray through your dry hair. If your hair starts to lose its curl throughout the day, massage the texturizing spray into your hair to help re-style your hair.
4
Back-comb your hair to add extra volume. Divide your hair around your crown into thin sections. Then, drag a comb backward through the hair, guiding it from your ends to your roots. Use this technique around the crown to add height. When you're finished, comb over the top of your hair in light, smooth motions to disguise the hair that you’ve back-combed.^{[9]
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5
Pull up long hair in a large bun. Center this bun along the back of your head, making it as round and dynamic as possible. This helps your hair look taller and bigger.^{[10]
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6
Secure your hair in a loose braid. Leave the front sections of your hair loose and untucked, so they can frame your face. Weave the rest of your hair into a loose braid, creating a casual but stylish look.^{[11]
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- You can give this look a little more texture with a small flat-iron.
7
Wear your hair half-up and half-down. Leave the bottom half of your hair draped over your shoulders and back. Then, divide the top half of your hair into 2 sections, and clip it on top.^{[12]
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- You can create an elegant, satin-like effect by treating your hair with shine-boosting products.
8
Split your hair down the middle with curtain bangs. Part your hair directly down the center, letting your bangs sweep in opposite directions. This gives your hair the appearance of volume without any special styling products.^{[13]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Haircut and Color Options

1
Try a pixie cut. Short cuts are a great look with thin, flat hair, and pixie cuts are no exception.^{[14]
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Expert Source

Matt King
Director of Education, Fox and Jane Salon Group
Expert Interview. 31 August 2021.} Trim your hair close to the forehead and ears, leaving your cheekbones and brows completely visible.^{[15]
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2
Go for a classic crew cut. Leave your hair a bit longer along the top of your head, while clipping the sides short. This easy style gives your hair a little more volume.^{[16]
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- If you’d prefer a quicker solution, opt for a buzz cut instead.
3
Comb over short hair. Work a little bit of pomade into your hair, and part your hair to the side. Guide the sides of your hair downward with a comb, and comb the top of your hair horizontally.^{[17]
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- You can also use clippers to fade your sides into an undercut.
4
Opt for a sleek bob. Trim your hair into a short bob, with your hair falling just below your cheekbones.^{[18]
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Expert Source

Matt King
Director of Education, Fox and Jane Salon Group
Expert Interview. 31 August 2021.} For a really smooth look, tuck part of your hair behind your ear while letting the rest frame your face.^{[19]
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- You can also experiment with a longer, neck-length bob—it’s up to you!^{[20]
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5
Add layers to wavy hair. Long hair can be tricky to manage, especially if it's naturally wavy. Style your hair into a shorter cut with lots of layers—this helps emphasize your natural waves.^{[21]
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6
Point-cut curly hair with a few layers. Don’t get too many layers, or else your hair may look a bit out of control. Instead, opt for a few layers, using a point-cutting technique to give your locks a soft edge.^{[22]
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- With point-cutting, you trim the hair vertically instead of horizontally.
7
Experiment with choppy bangs for a fuller look. Don’t worry about your bangs looking polished and perfect—instead, let your bangs look a bit tousled and unkempt. This is a great way to make your hair look a little less thin.^{[23]
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8
Opt for a balayage if you color your hair. Balayage is a special, gradient type of highlighting that creates dramatic accents in your hair. Stop by the salon, or pick up an at-home kit to recolor your hair. This is a great way to give your hair some extra texture without adding a new product each day.^{[24]
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Clip in some extensions to add length. Pick out extensions that are a close match to your hair color.^{[25]
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