Can we have a thread for those cursed with thin, fine, straight hair?

[QuimReaper]

My hair is honestly the bane of my life, and I've really lost my way with it.

I thought I'd cracked it a few years ago when I discovered heated rollers which gave it volume and shape but the shine's really worn off. It was great for a while but they absolutely wrecked my hair and now even though I've massively scaled back my usage, I have little broken bits of hair about a centimetre long all over the top of my head which looks horrific. They only lie flat if I air-dry my hair, blowdrying just makes them stand up in a halo.

Velcro rollers are good too, but they have to go on soaking wet hair and stay on for hours to work, and even then a stiff breeze takes care of all their hard work, so I can only use them when I have all day to sit around in rollers and only need to get into and out of a taxi.

I can't seem to use any kind of styling or heat-protecting product without weighing down my hair so I've always just spritzed it with water to make the heated rollers hold a curl, but I think that was contributing to the heat damage; now though, with putting the rollers on dry hair and turning down the heat on the rollers, my hair just goes flat within a couple of hours.

IT IS SO FRUSTRATING!

I think I need to go back to basics. I know there are a few of you out there, has anyone cracked it? Any hints?

The first thing I want to know is, is there a dry-shampoo equivalent for clean hair to get a bit of texture and volume going on without making the hair dull and cloggy? My hair sometimes looks its best when dry shampooed the day after styling (not always though - sometimes it just looks like a strange wispy bird's nest) but I'm loath to use dry shampoo on clean hair, I've heard it's terrible for the scalp. I'm thinking about trying sea salt spray, any recommendations? I tried that powder stuff but couldn't get along with it.

Any tips gratefully received

Thin fine wispy hair here too, OP. All I do now is tie it back in a whispy pathetic sad little pony tail. Do hair extensions really wreck your hair? Am serious considering them.

I have tried every kind of extensions there are, and wasted hundreds and hundreds of pounds over the years. NONE have worked

Lots of contradictory info about only conditioning, not conditioning, not shampooing etc.!

I think hair extensions really do wreck you hair Desperado; I remember (for some reason) reading Jennifer Aniston saying as much, which is why she always used to go from waist-length hair to horribly-unflattering-bob.

I think perhaps I should look into mousse. I know it's really retro but I remember it being pretty light.

Different things for different people I guess. I liked the sound of no shmapoo and washed with conditioner only for a while - unfortunatey it just left my hair feeling dirty and cloggy. I also have greasy hair and need to wash it every morning (or dry shampoo and put up if I want to stretch it).

As others of you have said, if I had a crop it would just flop against my scalp and look dreadful. A bob is also dreadful on me, it doesn't suit my face shape at all and makes me look like I have no hair. (Which I basically don't.)

Why is it that there is hair surgery for men and not for women? If someone could pioneer a treatment for actually putting more hair in my head I'd give them all my money and a kidney.

Mine is so thin it's awful. On the plus side it's very soft and silky to the touch.

I keep mine in a bob...i really haven't got the face for a pixie cut. I have a big spam and a chin to rival Bruce.

If you can find a decent hairdresser they can work wonders with layers.

Have you tried the babyliss big hair hot brush? I really like it. It works and it's easy to use.

I hate my thin (thinning? Not sure) fine hair. I also have a massive forehead and a flaky scalp I've had extremely short hair, various bobs, fringes, highlights, lowlights pretty much every style under the sun, but nothing looks really good and now I permanently wear a ponytail or plait. It's flat and boring and shit.

I use Got2B volumising styling powder which is good not quite as wonderful as the v expensive Aveda one that my hairdresser used.

Sponge rollers OP.
Apply a bit of serum/mousse.
Sleep in them.
Wake up to bouncy curls.
Pin up with clip, a few tendrils hanging down, or let those curls flounce and do their thing
I left mine in longer than usual the last two days, and received lots of compliments about my curls. Even if they drop, it still gives body, instead of lankness which drags my face down. I use these ones, which are so comfy to sleep in, and don't give me a ridge.
You can comb curls out for a fuller look, brush them or just finger comb them for more defined curls.
I love my curlers.

OP I've also looked at hair implants, there is such a thing! But its really for people who have balding patches rather than just fine hair. And if you don't hold onto hair for long or have a fast cycle of loss and growth its not really worth it for the cost

Sorry to hear that Veggies - in what way did they not work? Did they slip out? Or could you see them? Or something else?

I really don't want to wreck my hair

I too would give all my money and a kidney for decent hair Quim, the way mine is really gets me down. I feel inferior to other women.

Might order and try those foam rollers Beautifully linked to.

I wore extensions when I got married, and I felt amazing. I kept them in on honeymoon for about 3 days but they were so uncomfortable to sleep in and pulled at my scalp. My hairdresser advised that with such fine hairs, the clips would damage them and to keep them for special occasions.

I've tried a few things with some or little success but always a price to pay, my hair is fine and poker straight and always in some version of a bob as too long looks ridiculous as does too short...
Washing less often (looks better on day 2 but feels so dreadful, that I'm distracted by it).
Using dry shampoo and oompth powders (makes hair static)
Using texturizing spray from Batiste (pretty good actually, similar to dry shampoo but makes my hair less static)
Using root crimper from Babyliss (again pretty good but the crimps can be visible) and it's not great for your hair.
Using mousses of various sorts (OK for the first part of the day but not long lasting)
Using surf spray (not great and strong smelling)
Using shampoos for volume (no difference)
BBH (hair looks neater but no more volume)

Crumbs that looks a lot, but then I'm nearly 50. Am currently using a Vo5 texturising paste that gives me the look of hair on day 2 without the greasy feel. It's not perfect and smells a bit manly but I'm going to use it up before I try anything else.

I should add that none of the products I have tried so far have been expensive. I wouldn't mind spending more if it really worked but even going from a cheap shampoo to a mid-priced shampoo hasn't made any difference to my hair so I'm not convinced that going up another price point would make a difference.

The hunt goes on though...

Same here. My hair is fine and straight. I'm sure it's thinning at the scalp (I'm 41) and every time I think about that I want to cry. I use the Got2B powder a previous poster mentioned in between washes but I might start washing it every day as it looks lank. Currently using Aussie 2in1 shampoo and conditioner.

Using conditioner first then shampoo worked slightly, might be worth a try OP.

My curls at the end of a long day at work. The curls have dropped, but are still defined, bouncy and shiny.
Using heated rollers /appliances only damage it, this way no heat is used. I sleep with a satin bonnet over it, to further protect the hair.
Take the curlers out in the morning, and voila! I don't actually roll the curler all the way to the root though, would be a Shirley Temple look for sure.
Try it OP!

Super fine hair here too. I do find a long pixie cut (by a VERY good hairdresser) is the best for me. I'm currently growing it (currently chin length), and I have to do so much more to give body. Every time it's wet (so basically every morning unless I'm on a day when I don't give a shit who sees me), I blow dry using a medium barrelled brush, separating hair into sections (basically what the hairdresser does). I start on medium warmth if still wet, then use cool air if the hair is nearly dry to try and reduce damage. Moroccan Oil helps it looking shiny, and I have a heat protector spray (just a cheaply from superdrug) which doesn't weigh it down.

My best knowledge comes from my hairdresser. She has fine hair herself, and she knows my hair really well. I basically settle down and let her do whatever she wants to it. Regular trims also important. I'm not sure how long I'll grow it for, I like the softness of it vs the pixie, but feel a bit blah without my choppy crop...

Good thread. I started one a while ago on best shampoos for rubbishy thin fine hair. The one most people liked is L'Oreal Elvive thickening shampoo. I now use that several times a week and notice the difference if I borrow DCs Tresemme.

Blow drying on a cool heat helps. And I use dry shampoo every other day. Makes your hair feel horrible but gives it body.

Watching this with interest. My thin fine hair has always hindered my confidence (only time it was ok was when pregnant and before that when I had a 90s perm). Rollers fall out so not much success with them. Would like to grow it long enough to put up in some way but it never grows long enough. Great thread - heartening to hear I am not alone with thin fine hair!

Yay! This is my thread and you are my wispy-haired people.

From a practical pov I find either very short or as long as it will go works best for me. Everything in between is a nightmare of daily maintenance to stop it looking straggly. Short pixie because i can wash it fresh every day, add a bit of texture with Batiste XL and it looks ok. I've recently grown it about 2inches below my shoulders, which is now long enough to do a top-knot with a short fringe. With dry shampoo it means I can do 3 days at least between washes, and it actually looks quite fashiony, whilst being the absolute most lazy option. (A bit like this, though bun is smaller).

I have fine , thin hair that is also thinning - never recovered from the pregnancy fallout.

My hairdresser recommend the Nioxin system which I have been using a few months and seems to make a difference. Its quite dear - but TK Max often have the very large size in stock.

www.nioxin.com/en-GB

Beautifully I never could get along with those sponge rollers, but perhaps it's worth another go - do you put them on damp hair? Surely if your hair's dry it won't make any difference?

The problem I found with them was that as you say, if you go to the root you end up with a puffy mess, but if you just put them on the ends at ear length you have textured ends and a flat top. They always just came out looking a mess when I did them before.

Will look into the Tresemme texturising spray and the L'oreal Elvive shampoo, thank you!

Eve I've heard of Nioxin and that system Aveda have too, I wasn't convinced it would do much for me since as far as I can tell my hair isn't thinning, but I suppose keeping more of it would still make a difference. Great tip on TK Maxx, thanks!

Very fine thin hair to 😩 I have given up with it now. Only thing I do is wash it. Never brush it ever. Used to dye it red that made it look better but it was just to much hassle. All my friends are jealous of my hair but I'd love a nice hair style. Back combing for a fancy hair up just doesn't work either 😩😩😩

I'm thinking of giving castor oil a go, apparently it an stimulate more hair growth.

Goodness salad, I don't think anyone on earth is jealous of my hair...!

Quim , I have got used to the rollers after a bit of practice. You can dampen the hair, I do spray leave in conditioner sometimes, but yes, I get beautiful, shiny curls with dry hair too.
I think it's the overnight wearing of the curlers, that give the curl a chance to form.
When you take the curler out, use your fingers to move the roots around.
It makes my hair look fuller in a ponytail, or twisted in a banana clip too.

I also use caster oil, overnight, mixed with coconut oil. Leaves it shiny, and seems somewhat thicker too.

I also take silica from bamboo and biotin, as well as vitamin d3. All help with hair growth.

I also cut a few layers in my hair, using my beloved you tube to guide me. Looks wonderful with the bouncy curls, and fuller.

My hair feels somewhat fuller/thicker lately, and is healthy with no split ends.
It's all I can hope for, but it'll do