By Katie Muirhead

Here are our golden rules to wash and style fine hair at home, and some pro-tips that you may not have heard of before.

When it comes to fine hair, there are a lot of upsides: it dries almost instantly, it's quick and easy to tie up and it doesn't require much product. The downside, however, is that finer hair can often appear flat and have less movement.

While achieving the illusion of thick hair may feel like an impossible task, it's totally doable with the right styling techniques, hair care products and by establishing the right dosage of product. We want to empower you to embrace the hair you’ve got, so have assembled our top advice and frequently asked questions about caring for fine hair.

1. How To Shampoo Fine Hair

We all know that the role of shampoo is to cleanse the hair and scalp, but when it comes to fine hair, not all shampoo is created equal. While the task of making the hair look good is generally the job of your conditioner, the correct shampoo for your hair type will prevent your hair from becoming dry or stripped, and ultimately encourage the shiny, bouncy wash you’re after.

While your hair may not, in fact, be super oily, it is easy for fine hair to get weighed down by the wrong products. Because of this, you should choose a gentle shampoo that mentions volumizing and is marked okay for daily use (however, try not to actually wash your hair every day!) Generally, the best shampoo formulas for fine hair are clear and lightweight, rather than thick and creamy.

Before shampooing make sure to completely wet your hair and scalp  as this encourages a gentle, even clean. Place your fingers flat on your scalp and slowly massage the shampoo to create a soft foam. Once the foam dissipates, you will know that your hair and scalp are clean and ready to rinse.

2. When, How and Why Use Conditioner

While it may be tempting to skip the conditioner for fear of weighing your locks down, fine hair has a tendency to tangle easily when shampooed. This can also be affected by your hair texture, length, condition & health of your hair, and the weather. By using a lightweight conditioner you can avoid the damage that comes from tangles, and ultimately encourage your hair to grow long and strong.

After applying your chosen conditioner, gently comb through the lengths of your hair to get rid of any knots. Start from the bottom and work your way up until the comb slides effortlessly through your hair. Hair is fragile when wet, so make sure to take your time and use enough conditioner. After detangling, ,make sure to rinse the product completely to avoid it feeling weighed down.

3. The Best Way To Use Styling Foams

If you don’t quite feel confident using styling products, we recommend to start with a foam (or mousse). Too much product can weigh down fine hair, and foam makes it easy to see how much you’re using. For most people, the correct amount of foam is about the size of a clementine or an orange.

Applying mousse to fine hair boosts the volume from the roots, sculpts your strands, and gives long-lasting volume. It also helps fight humidity and encourages shine and definition. 

If your fine hair has a tendency to frizz, apply the mousse on wet hair and distribute evenly with a comb or brush to ensure the cuticles are sealed. For more volume, wait for your hair to be semi-dry and make sure to lift the roots when combing it through. Continue styling, and enjoy the boost that styling foam can give to your fine hair.

4. Ditch The Gel & Pomade

While hard pomades or strong-hold gels can be grooming staples for many, for those with fine hair they do more harm than good. 

Hair gels may contain alcohol and corrosive chemicals that can strip the hair and scalp of moisture, making them dry and dehydrated. They can even cause breakage if the hair is forced to bend in a different direction than the way it was styled. Hard pomades have a sticky consistency, and need to be pulled through the hair to be properly distributed. This action can catch on individual strands, risking damage, breakage, and can even pull out the already-fragile fine hair.

If you really can’t live without the gravity defying powers of gels or pomades, we suggest adding in a touch of leave-in conditioner or hair oil to protect and preserve the health of your hair.

5. Your Best Friend: Dry Shampoo!

For fine hair, dry shampoo can be a quick and effective way to add volume to give the appearance of thicker and cleaner hair.

To apply it, hold the dry shampoo five inches away from hair and spray it directly at the roots. Massage it in thoroughly, and you will start to notice volume being created at the scalp. Spray some more sparingly on the lengths of your hair, lift and gently shake your hair until you feel the dry shampoo give you the desired consistency.

While it may be tempting to use dry shampoo on freshly cleaned hair to add volume, it’s important to note that dry shampoo works better on second or third day hair - the powder needs our scalp’s natural oils to grip and hold texture. These natural oils also protect the hair from drying out.

6. Don’t Forget To Nourish

The best way to revitalize fine hair and replenish the nutrients is to do a pre-shampoo deep treatment. As we’ve mentioned, fine hair can be easily weighed down by the oils and treatments that are able to deliver these vital nutrients.

By applying MAY11 treatments before bed, leaving it on overnight and washing your hair in the morning, the oils are able to deliver nourishment to your fine hair without compromising on volume or style. 

With the proper care and products, even the most fine hair can be shiny, bouncy and nourished. By avoiding products that weigh it down, flat hair days will be a thing of the past. Your hair will seem thicker than ever and be nourished to grow long & healthy,  allowing you to shine as your natural self.

Share this with a friend that struggles with caring for  fine hair!

Any questions? Connect with an expert

You MAY Love...