Don’t be afraid of opting for a shorter hairstyle if you have fine or thin locks. While it may feel daunting to cut off hair that you’ve been nurturing for a while, actually, a short haircut can make your hair look much fuller, more voluminous, and thick, whether it’s density and/or hair loss you’re struggling with, or the actual width of each strand. (Some of us have naturally fine hair, but lots of it, for example.)
Tips for Styling Thin Hair
Hairstylists agree that one of the best hacks to ensure finer hair looks abundant and thick is to ensure the style is cut with a blunt edge—this keeps the silhouette robust and creates the illusion of fullness. You don’t necessarily need lots of layers either, but they are worth considering in some cases – and bangs can also help, adding detail and shape around the face.
Celebrity hairstylist and Dove partner Lacy Redway says pixie cuts, layered bobs, bowl cuts, shags, blunt cuts, and textures cuts are all great options for thinner hair. And don’t be afraid to play around with your parting – simply flipping it to the side can lend extra oomph, no styling needed.
Of course, styling can play a big role in creating body and volume, and there are myriad clever formulas on the market that make it easy, and save time. While density-boosting scalp treatments are brilliant for daily use to help promote growth and thickness, it’s styling products we’ll focus on here.
Start with a shampoo and conditioner duo that promises to pump up the volume. When it comes to styling, seek out mousses and texturizing sprays to add grit and body at the root, and for excellent volume that stays put throughout the day. Celebrity hairstylist David von Cannon swears by a good volumizing spray, like the Phyto Volume Volumizing Styling Spray, or a mousse, like the Crown Affair The Texturizing Air-Dry Mousse, to give hair movement and body without weighing it down. “For fine hair, I think the key is not to do too much to it,” he says.
So whether it’s a simple, blunt-cut bob or a mussed-up mullet, follow these celebrities’ lead for inspiration.
Vera Anderson1/25Flared Lob
Subtly layered, Emma Watson’s lob delicately sits right past her shoulders. The long layers add depth and creates more volume to the entire look.
Steve Granitz2/25A-Line Bob
All the pros agree: blunt cuts are the way to go if you’ve got thin, fine hair. Mila Kunis wears her blunt bob with a deep side part to fame her face quite nicely.
John Shearer/Getty Images3/25Wavy and Blunt
Looking to add more body to a bob cut? Opt for beach waves like Olivia Wilde. It instantly gives her blunt cut more texture and volume.
Dave Benett/Getty Images4/25Blunt Bob with a Middle Part
A win for Gen Z, a middle part can pair wonderfully with a bob cut when done correctly. Hailey Bieber’s fine hair is loosely tousled and has a bit more bend to it so it doesn’t lie completely flat.
George Pimentel5/25Side-Swept Curls
Adding curls is a guaranteed way to create volume for thin short hair. Bella Hadid sweeps her hair to one side to create more movement and dimension.
Amy Sussman/Getty Images6/25Mid-Length Blunt Bob
New York City-based celebrity hairstylist Marc Ballance loves a mid-length cut that frames the face to keep hair looking full without it feeling too stiff. Scarlett Johansson wears her bob with loose waves for a really pretty look
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images7/25Boho Lob
Alexa Chung wears her long-layered lob with piecey waves for that effortless “I-just-got-out-of-bed” vibe.
Steve Granitz8/25Preppy Bob
What Ballance calls a “Preppy Bob,” this is a blunt cut at the chin that still gives you volume. Constance Wu wears her’s with rounded edges to give her bob more movement.
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images9/25Pixie Bob
Delicate and sweet, Karlie Kloss’s blunt cut flares at the ends for a more dynamic bob cut.
Steve Granitz10/25Rocker Mullet
Leave it to Miley Cyrus to make the mullet chic. She wears her’s with loose waves and brow-grazing bangs to give it that rocker edge.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images11/25Layered Pixie
Queen of the pixie cut, Michelle Williams wears her’s with side bangs. If you want to freshen your pixie cut throughout the week to keep it from getting oily and flat, Redway recommends a product like the Dove Volume & Fullness Dry Shampoo to give your cut more volume.
Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Getty Images12/25Sleek Finish
For a more put together look, take some inspo from Laura Harrier. With a slicked back and sleek finish, Harrier’s bob is the epitome of chic.
Mike Marsland13/25Rounded Lob
The inbetween phase of a bob and a lob doesn’t have to be an awkward one. Zoe Saldaña styles her blunt lob with rounded ends for more volume.
Sebastian Reuter/Getty Images14/25Wet Mullet
The wet look works with any cut, so why not pair it with the mullet? Kristen Stewart wears her’s layered for more depth.
Gregg DeGuire15/25The French Bob
Hitting right below the ears, the French Bob is a classic. Tessa Thompson wears her’s with fine waves and a side part.
Amy Sussman/Getty Images16/25Flipped Ends
An easy way to change up your blunt cut is to give it flipped ends. Jennifer Hudson wears her bob straight and sleek with flipped ends and a deep side part.
Rodin Eckenroth17/25Face-Framing Layers
Ballance says a cut right about collarbone length with face-framing layers will add shape and movement to your short thin hair. Case in point: Billie Eillish and her cool girl-esque layers.
Alessandra Benedetti - Corbis/Getty Images18/25Micro Bob
Minimal and razor sharp, Taylor Russell’s micro bob is a bold bob. Ballance says to opt for a side part instead of a middle so that hair doesn’t look too flat.
Mike Marsland19/25Wet Waves
Looking to elevate the wet hair look? Add some waves. Jourdan Dunn wears her blunt wet bob with slight waves.
Gilbert Flores/Getty Images20/25Short Bob
Soften a short blunt bob with rounded ends for a more romantic vibe. Lily Collins wears her short bob with soft flips at the ends and a deep side part.
Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Getty Images21/25The Wavy Bixie
Part pixie, part bob, the bixie is the best of both worlds. Charlize Theron wears her’s with slight waves for added volume.
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images22/25Bobs and Bangs
A bold cut with a bang? Sign us up ASAP. Kerry Washington wears this combo with a tousled vibe for something more effortless.
- Steve Granitz23/25
Cropped Pixie
Add some texture and layered pieces to a cropped pixie like Zoe Kravitz for added dimension and fullness.
- Phillip Faraone/Getty Images24/25
Curtain Bangs
One can consider curtain bangs as the universal bang—everyone can pull them off. Jenna Ortega styles her lob in a half-up half-down hairdo to add volume and showcase her signature bangs
- Savion Washington25/25
Major Boost
Echoing Von Cannon's styling tip, Ballance says a volume spray or mousse will give your hair lift and density. Just look to Gabrielle Union's voluminous wavy bob with major lift and body.
