we see you out there searching for ‘how to get thicker hair’. you could have naturally thin hair or find yourself dealing with post-partum hair loss. or maybe stress has done a number on your mane? whatever the cause, the good news is that you can learn how to thicken hair by switching up your at-home routine. here’s how.
image credit: @lina_sir.fletcher
the science of thick hair
what is thick hair?
before we get to the solutions, let’s get a better understanding of what thick hair actually is. by definition, naturally thick hair is when there’s a helluva lot of hair per square inch of scalp. if your hair is naturally thick, your scalp will be barely visible. on the flip side, your scalp will be more visible if you have naturally thin hair.
why is my hair thinning?
hair not as thick as it once was? some of the most common causes of thinning hair include:
hair damage: changed up your doo to add some drama? suddenly switched from brunette to platinum blonde? added a perm, perhaps? overtreating your hair with colour, perms or relaxers can weaken hair, leading to breakage that makes hair appear thinner than usual.
pregnancy: some people experience hair loss not long after giving birth, due to a sharp decrease in estrogen levels.
ageing: male pattern baldness is a common condition that leads to hair loss and thinning, particularly at the top of the head. it affects as many as one in two men over the age of 40.
stress: an overload of stress hormones can trigger a condition called telogen effluvium that can lead to sudden hair loss and put hair follicles into a resting phase.
nutritional deficiencies: diets that are extremely low in protein or iron could lead to excessive hair shedding.
can i make my hair thicker?
soooo… this is where things get kinda complicated.
if you’re wondering ‘can i make my thin hair thicker?’, we hate to be the bearers of bad news but you can’t change your hair density.
that said, if your hair appears thinner than usual due to breakage from being overtreated, there’s plenty of things you can do to get your tresses back into tip top shape. (more on that in a moment…)
however, if there’s a pregnancy, health condition or genetics involved, it’s best to speak to a healthcare professional who can advise on the best treatment options available to you.
image credit: @hairbymarciapettman
how to make hair thicker in 5 steps
make your mane appear thicker by making the most of what you have.
1. avoid brushing hair when wet
ready to begin your journey to thicker hair? start by only brushing your mane when it’s dry.
when hair is wet, it is more fragile than usual, which can make it vulnerable to breakage. so if you brush your hair when you’re fresh outta the shower, there’s a higher chance that you’ll do more damage than good, leading to split ends and breakage, making hair appear thinner.
2. use a protein-rich treatment
prevent breakage by strengthening hair with an intense moisture or protein-rich hair treatment to improve the condition and shine of overprocessed or colour-treated hair.
3. give yourself a scalp massage
next time you’re shampooing your hair, take five to really massage the product into your scalp. studies suggest that scalp massage can help stimulate the hair follicles, which in turn, can lead to improved hair thickness and growth. that said, more research needs to be done into this area, but it’s worth a shot… right?
4. reduce heat styling and always use protection
we love a hair dryer, straightener or curler as much as the next guy… however, relying on these tools too much can dry hair out, exacerbating breakage and damage.
what to do? where possible, switch to air-drying instead. (you could go cold turkey or simply cut down on how often you reach for the hot tools.)
tip: if you do choose to style your hair with heat, be sure to lather your strands with a heat protectant beforehand, like icon welder heat protection spray, to minimise the damage.
5. use volumising products
wondering how to get thicker hair? in the short term, let’s aim for hair that looks thicker. if your hair is fine or thinning, the right products can help fake thickness by plumping strands and creating lift at the root. and the results? instant.
cleanse and condition: with each wash, gluttony volumising shampoo builds body and adds volume to the hair without weighing it down. for bonus points, follow with bride of gluttony volumising conditioner for even more volume, plus a few other benefits like, y’know, more softness, shine and uva/uvb protection.
style: to fake thicker hair, sometimes, you need to be strategic. root canal volumising spray gets to the bottom of the issue by adding lift at the roots, creating the impression of more volume all-over. blow-dry shape vixen volumising lotion in for even more lift and style support.
