It's tempting to cling to long hair like a security blanket. However, the most flattering lengths for fine or thin hair are shoulder-length or shorter, no matter your age. It removes enough weight to give your mane a boost of fullness at the ends, and it makes it much easier to add volume to the roots.
If you have naturally thin hair or are thinning, having longer strands actually accentuates your thinning, rather than camouflaging it, Rivera says. "Thinning hair people actually have more hair present towards the root/mid-lengths area and, the longer the length, the thinner it appears," she says.
"If you have thin hair, opt for a cut that is short to medium length," advises Penna. "Thin and fine hair that's very long can often end up looking stringy when it's weighed down by the length." If you've always had long hair and aren't sure how to transition into shorter locks, try a long bob.
“Shoulder-length styles, such as my signature FLOB (Flat Iron Wave Bob), are great for finer hair types, as it gives some nice texture and body to the hair,” says Northwood. If your hair is particularly fine, you may want to go even shorter. “Pixie cuts on fine hair can look really pretty,” says Irwin.
This is because longer locks tend to cover up wrinkles and age spots on the face, creating a smoother complexion that can give off an impression of youthfulness. Additionally, long hair frames the face in such a way that it makes people look younger than they actually are.
If you've got thinner hair, having it cut short creates more volume as it's not weighed down. A precision cut and carefully placed layers can also create volume. We find that the best length for fine hair is maximum at the collar bone – and even shorter if it suits your bone structure.
Does short or long hair make you look younger? Long hair can enhance facial features by diverting attention away from wrinkles or age spots and adding volume to your hair. Short hair does not need to age you, though, as the style and texture of shorter hairstyles can add a youthful appearance.
'I think that it can be such a great idea to go short when you have fine hair', says international session stylist Syd Hayes. 'You can create a beautiful strong shape with a short haircut and that helps to make fine hair look so much thicker. Try a bob or a pixie cut that compliments your face shape.
On the bright side, your skinny strands don't need as much product to coat them. Often, fine hair is naturally silky and smooth, and responds to heat styling easily. But the downsides, on the other hand, are all too rteal. From tangles to lack of volume, fine hair sometimes takes some finagling to look great.
Subtle or light layers are best for thin hair, as too many layers can make your hair appear thinner. Subtle layers, however, can help give the illusion of fullness. You can also get interior layers to help volumize thin hair.
"If you have thin hair, you'll want to keep the ends blunt instead of feathering them," Shakir suggests. "This gives the look of density and thickness." "Overlayering and too much texture can make fine hair look thin and limp," Marjan says, agreeing with Shakir. "Blunt cuts make the ends appear fuller and healthier."
So what are ghost layers? “This is a technique where only the very top horseshoe section of the hair is layered or sliced into, to create the perfect tailored-to-you movement,” says Clarke. The ends are left blunt to “give the illusion of even thicker hair and a soft, delicate movement on the surface,” she says.
With fine hair, the size of the actual strands of hair is smaller than other types. “It's missing the inner structure called the medulla,” says trichologist Bridgette Hall, which makes the physical diameter of each strand smaller.
"Density is always a differentiating factor—fine hair means the strand of hair is smaller in diameter, while thin hair means there's simply fewer strands of hair growing, no matter how thick." Simply put, fine hair comes down to the thickness (or lack thereof) of each hair strand, while thin hair is related to the ...
– How to Sleep with Long Fine Hair
Just as stated earlier, the best way to wear hair to bed to prevent breakage while sleeping is to make sure it isn't rubbing against a rough surface. This is twice as important for those with fine hair. Get a great quality silk scarf/bonnet and silk pillowcases for snooze time.
Mitch Stone, stylist to the stars, warns, "once hair has passes your ribs, it is officially making you look older." Trimming a few inches off your locks is an easy fix for this common hairstyle mistake, taking years off your appearance and revitalizing your look.
Golden Highlights
Warm tones do an exceptionally good job at making us look younger. If you're a brunette, add some warmth to your look by asking your stylist for golden highlights. This way you'll be ready for the summer plus ensure that your hair is making you look younger, not older!
It's tempting to cling to long hair like a security blanket. However, the most flattering lengths for fine or thin hair are shoulder-length or shorter, no matter your age. It removes enough weight to give your mane a boost of fullness at the ends, and it makes it much easier to add volume to the roots.