What style for pathetic fine hair?

[TheCornishPickle]

Am lost in style limbo in every conceivable way - still carrying post baby weight (and then some...) so no clothes to fit and feel good, hair is thinning and straggly - was always fine but also suffering after arrival of ds. I have little money due to being on maternity leave but think a hair cut would go some way to making me feel better. Are there any experts on what to do with fine, thin around to help? At the moment it's just about shoulder length and I just tie it up all the time. I can't afford colour as well as cut. TIA.

Just read that back after posting - dreadfully worded sorry!

I have exactly the same hair. Isn't it dreary!

I went and had it cut a bit shorter - nothing worse than fine hair that's v long, it just looks worse! So a bit shorter than what you have now.

I found that getting it around that length gave it a bit more body. A few layers at the front (not sure what your face shape is) and it does look a lot better.

Good luck - I know that feeling you are feeling! Is also a shit time of year for fine hair with all the static!

Mine is also fine and limp, well it was until I had it cut into a short bob (just below my chin) also had layers put in. Massive difference it actually looks thick & loads of people have commented, probably as it looked so shite before!
I always make the time to blow-dry properly Which makes a huge difference

I really do feel shocking at the moment! Didn't know whether layers would help or made it look limper but will incorporate them. Not sure about length though as have a round-ish (fat - used to be oval!) face?

Also read on t'interweb about a style that came forward from the crown with a fringe and layers to disguise thinness or is this just crazy talk?!

Sorry to detract from the thread but I read the title as 'What Style For fine Pubic Hair?' and I sniggered.

As you were.

I also have a fat full face. So not too many layers. Otherwise I'd look like a christmas bauble.

Hahaha maybe I need some style tips there too!

Cornish. I am in the same camp as you. Post natally fat (still look 5 months pregnant), look tired (obviously!) and rubbish hair. My hair shedding started a month ago and it's strangely greasy at the roots and dry at the ends to boot (painting a lovely picture here).

Mine is just above the shoulders length. I find adding product makes it look even worse.

I am afraid my best tips are: get a blunt cut (no layers as that will accentuate straggliness), keep as clean as poss ( baby permitting) and tie back in a pony tail with side parting and smooth fly always down ( I do this with a bit of hand or body lotion- adds sleekness, I like to think).

If you can afford highlights that helps too but not essential and do not experiment with home hair dye as a mistake will make you feel worse and damage your hair more.

Blunt cut helps you control it if you blow dry and wear down.

Hth

I have very similar hair, and this is what works for me: blunt cut bob (graduated just a little) with a fringe. I wash it every morning in the shower, and rough dry it with a hairdryer using my fingers. I then spray it with John Frieda thickening spray and put in three or four heated rollers. I know this sounds like a faff but it's taken longer to type this on my phone than do it! I leave them in over breakfast and take them out, brush hair and that's it. I did this when mine were babies, too - always feel better with nicer hair!

Bob as well here. I have the most rubbish mousey find hair ever but have found a new hairdresser and am so pleased. Have stayed away for a blunt fringe as wouldn't suit my shape of face and I find layers can be very dodgy with fine hair, just a bit crap and wispy

Yeah crap and wispy definitely sums up the hair! It's a funny old time of life isn't it - feeling happier than ever and having the best time with ds but never felt so desperate looks wise! Think the way forward is a chin length bob with minimal layering. Last night I was fancying going wild and trying a fringe but in the cold light of day I think that would only serve to make it look even more sparse. Thanks for the help!

I have very fine hair and a round face so understand your concern's about a bob with layers making your face look bigger. I get around it by having a very graduated bob. I leave it as long as possible in the front to make my face look longer but get it cut much shorter in the bag to add movement and volume.
Something like <a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=graduated+bob&hl=en&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=z0ykyXswYWNw1M:&imgrefurl=cloud9chicago.wordpress.com/gallery/&docid=Ge9Q9MVTyMxFhM&imgurl=farm4.static.flickr.com/3244/2457839945_d6978ac27c.jpg&w=500&h=305&ei=SsnITtTdEYWy8gPL191e&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=1037&vpy=309&dur=4587&hovh=175&hovw=288&tx=168&ty=121&sig=106371188907796476498&page=3&tbnh=89&tbnw=146&start=63&ndsp=30&ved=1t:429,r:9,s:63&biw=1366&bih=598" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this or if your brave enough to go even shorter <a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=graduated+bob&hl=en&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=qJSwWbJrZF7P-M:&imgrefurl=www.studiodnasalon.com/04/28/2010/easy-hairstyles-for-girls-on-the-go-the-short-hair-edition/graduated-bob-2&docid=Zzq_hFs4OTu7vM&imgurl=www.studiodnasalon.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/graduated-bob1.jpg&w=500&h=348&ei=SsnITtTdEYWy8gPL191e&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=307&sig=106371188907796476498&page=1&tbnh=105&tbnw=148&start=0&ndsp=32&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:0&tx=55&ty=79&biw=1366&bih=598" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this

I'd get a blunt bob and use some of the crocodile clips that the hairdressers use. I usually dry mine then clip my sides up on top while around the house/in car. Then take it out when in public - it makes a mssive diff to the body of your style.
Can you see if any of your hairdressers are doing a training night and get colour cheaper that way. Or do have a hairdressing college nearby? Colouring your hair will swell the thickness a fair bit. Do it now though before the Xmas rush!

Sweetheart (feel a bit funny calling you that when we've only just met!) I love that style and used to have it about 5yrs ago - don't know if it's even a bit too floppy for that now though. I guess I could give it a go cos there's nothing to lose.

Tracey - that's a great idea about training nights - do you just ring up and ask? Am a bit shy to do that! Do you still pay some of the cost? And do you get a say in what they do to you?

Apologies TracyK for misspelling your name - can't flick back to messages on iPhone!

Reading with interest - fellow crappy floppy hair.

Well nice to meet other owners of limp barnets! In rl I feel like I only know/see people with much thicker hair than me and tbh it gets me down a bit especially when I'm not loving the rest of me very much at the moment. I've found some interesting ideas through googling, which I'd not done before so will see if I can figure out how to link.

Yes to shorter hair with minimal layers. I have just bought a babyliss root boost to big my hair up a bit without back combing.

I tried the root boost thing but unfortunatly my hair is so fine that you could see the crimped roots. I ended up selling it on Ebay

Some of the salons will have an advert in the window for training nights. Or in local papers. Or just ring up and ask - no need to be shy - they can't see you at the other end of the phone.
It might be a bit close to Xmas tho - they might be too busy for training nights.
Are you registered with groupon, socialliving, 5pm.com etc - they usually have deals each day.

Yes from me too on a short chin length bob with long layers, cut into the neck a bit. Dry upside down with a vented brush.
DIY demi-permanent colour like castings to make it all glossy.

I could have written your post. Am still on the lookout for a new hair style (shoulder length at the mo), but I wear glasses and have no patience for styling, which presents a bit of a problem regarding hair styles. Anyway, I just wanted to say that you might benefit from taking some high strength vitamin b tablets.

Also, Superdrug own brand hair colours are very cheap, but have made my hair a lovely rich brown, and didn't drip or go patchy.

I know colour is pricey, but I have the same sort of hair as you by the sound of it, and a very round postbaby face, and honestly having some good highlights put in has made a world of difference.

I had a very blunt shoulder length cut done, no layers through the length just some shaping round the face, but it is the colour that really seems to lift it. I wash my hair, put volumising mousse in (yes, I know it sounds a bit 90s but it really seems to work in my hair!), then blow dry it upside down, then straighten it once dry. Elnett on, and ready to go

With my undyed hair I tried Regaine etc. as it was so fine, shiny scalp etc. but then I had highlights. Although my hair still looks fine it's in a different league now, and I second the styles suggested i.e. shortish bob with layers up the back.
Local colleges do hairdressing for super cheap prices so you could get the colour done there and then a great cut somewhere that you know is good.