Side bangs when thinning at temples - yes or no?

[StrongCoffeeandPastries]

Hi,

I have another thread running about my hair loss, but as well as hopefully slowing it down, I'm also looking at hair styles to flatter my thinning hair, specifically around my hair line/temples.

Generally speaking, my hair still looks reasonably thick (almost half what it was though) but when I move my hair away from my face, which I do a lot so my hair doesn't fall in a straight middle or side parting iyswim, you can now see just how sparse that part of my hair is. It used to be a flattering way for my hair to fall, as a harsh lined parting just doesn't really suit my face shape.

I've been considering side bangs/fringe, but I'm not sure if this would look or sit right if my hair is particularly thin in this area.....but maybe I'm wrong.

Does anyone have any tips or suggestions? I have long (almost bra strap) dark, highlighted hair, which I blow dry smooth, but not poker straight, so any advice on how to style this hair would be very much appreciated

TIA

I have very thick hair and a side part/side fringe, my DD is forever pointing out that the side with the parting on it, by my temple has thinned a bit due to having it in that style for years.

You should have a full fringe with a bit of layering/feathering at the sides.x

Curtain fringe with a centre parting is the better way to go IME. They require a bit of a styling but since you already blow dry your hair it's easy to do, you just need to blow dry them with a round brush. Minoxidil made my thinning temples grow back in btw.

@FortunesFave, hmm a full fringe scares me a bit. Not sure it would suit my hamster cheeks, plus I like to play with my hair a lot, so just not sure this would work.

@botemp, I think that's what I meant really. If I'm thinning there, would it look a little flat and limp. I need some volume! Seems weird saying that, as volume was the last thing I needed a few years ago! I was trying desperately to flatten my hair down. Oh, how things have changed

It depends how far back into the scalp your thinning goes but you blow dry up on the round brush and then work them into the sides so you have volume and that lift covers the area provided your hair at the centre parting is not thinning as well.

You want to keep the curtain fringe on the long side so that the swoop hits at your cheek bones. On my face that's not shorter than nose length or slightly shorter but I don't know if that's universal and I'm wavy/curly.

You do need to get them cut often to keep the effect, I do it myself every three weeks or so. It's not that difficult but I know a lot of hairdressers offer the service for free if you're a regular.

Also, if you hate it, it grows out pretty quickly and there's no award phase as it just looks like layers, I'd suggest layers in the front with it if you don't have those already.

@botemp, my hair is thinner at the top of my head, but my parting doesn't look wider. Hopefully it stays that way. I have quite a narrow, but far back forehead if that makes sense. When I've had quite short face framing layers, just above my chin, it looked awful as the layers kicked out where my face naturally goes out. I would have pinned them back whilst they grew out, but then that just highlights the thinning hair line again.

Yeah, that sounds more challenging and less suitable from a face POV, curtain fringes definitely are meant to flip out somewhat. I'd definitely get on Minoxidil as it helps with a receding hairline as well. Perhaps speak to a trusted hairdresser about what hairstyle will work for you. A good one who understands the challenge of thinning hair in women are rare IME, unfortunately. I initially went shorter (short for me anyhow, chin length), it worked well for disguising the thinning but I wasn't a big fan of short on me so as soon as the Minoxidil kicked in and I had enough regrowth I grew it out again.

@botemp, oh I'm always challenging! Yes, I'm really struggling to find a good hairdresser tbh. Well, a hairdresser who understands about hair thinning, colouring etc. I ask for opinions, but I always get, 'it's up to you, it's your hair' type replies, which is really frustrating, as I genuinely am open to advice!