Hit me with hairstyle ideas for my sad, thin hair

[Bunnyhair]

My hair has always been very thin and very fine, and got worse with pregnancies and perimenopause. Then I went ultra low carb for three months and suddenly half of it fell out! 😱 I was clearing fistfuls of hair the size of guinea pigs off my hairbrush every morning.

When I put it in a ponytail now it’s not even as thick as my pinky finger. It makes me look like a sad old ageing roadie. I got one of those Pony-o things to make it look thicker, but my hair is so thin it just slides straight out.

Please help me find a non-frumpy shorter hairstyle that will give the illusion of more volume! My hair is poker straight and blond, with a fringe.

Any suggestions of products, colours that might add the look of thickness, etc also welcome!

Supplements - could you be low on iron?
And get your thyroid checked

Hi @minipie . Had tests a few weeks back but GP assured me my levels were ‘acceptable. Whatever that means. I’ve been taking iron & b12 just in case.

I'm interested in any feedback or advice you might get here. I also have poker straight very thin and fine hair. I've tried a long bob but it's too straight for that to look right. I have highlights through it to give the illusion of thicker hair. I eat well, plenty protein and take viviscal supplement for the past 12 months, though I'm not sure it's made much of a difference. I'm 42 now and I can't help worry how menopause will affect my hair when the time comes.

@Mindfullisa yes - a long bob looks like a very thin pair of curtains on me. There’s none of that shapely swishiness.

GP assured me my levels were ‘acceptable. Whatever that means.

It will be too low.
Ask reception for a print out of the results so you can see your actual levels and the labs reference ranges.
Ferritin has to be above 70 to support healthy hair growth but can be marked ‘normal’ at 15/20.
B12 levels are set really low in this country and you can be symptomatic at the lower end of normal.
Vitamin D also affects hair growth but isn’t a routine test so may not have been done.
Thyroid is another one that affects hair.
Ask for a print out, but bumble & bumble thickening spray is quite good.

I've always had thin, fine hair. I have highlights to give more volume.

When I was younger I had a pixie cut, and that has been the best cut for me for disguising how fine it it, I really don't think you could tell. I'm a bit jowly now for a pixie so have a chin length bob, and use a smoothing serum which seems to plump it out a bit. I hear you though on the 'thin pair of curtains', I do feel like that sometimes.

My hair is thin? fine too. I take a royal jelly supplement every day and my hair feels noticeably thicker. My hairdresser commented on it too. As a bonus, my flaky weak nails are stronger as well. Worth a try!

Has anyone tried rosemary oil for this? So many on tiktok raving about how it's made their hair grow thicker but when they're also selling what they're raving about, it makes me a little cautious!

This. Needs a full thyroid panel too, not just TSH.

Try Nioxin products.

I've tried a few thickening products. The best is The Inkey List Peptide Volumising Hair Treatment.
Old fashioned gels and mousses help.
I don't really like dry shampoo because it makes my hair static.
Also using the Revlon One Step hair dryer (I have the smaller version) helps
Can't help with hairstyles, mine is the much derided bob.

@Jewelanemone I'll look into royal jelly.

I have thin hair. Watermans shampoo&conditioner definitely made my hair fuller/thicker.
I'm going to try nioxin too.

Silica, biotin, Vit D (check levels) and Iron (check levels). Castor oil and Rosemary oil can help too.

I second the need for a print out! NHS requirements for acceptable iron/ferritin levels are so so so low.

I recently visited a tricologist for my thinning hair and she recommended a supplement called Floresine. It's ferritin, along with a protein and vit c to help carry it through your system and do what it needs to! When you see regrowth, just remember that it will take time to come back - perhaps a year.

Hope that helps!

NHS labs won’t do a T3/T4 without an abnormal TSH.

The OP had had the same type of hair all her life so hormonal imbalance is not going to be the main cause. It might conceivably be exacerbating the thinness but it won’t be the main reason. If it’s lifelong, it’s genetic.

I use Aussie volume shampoo and conditioner (only now and then, and only apply conditioner to ends and not roots. Too much conditioner doesn’t actually help). I also found a hairdresser who was similar age (40’s) and she is fantastic and really understands what I want to achieve, a good haircut for fine hair. It is a Bob but slightly angular, no layers (which I thought would help but apparently didn’t).
I do take biotin supplements from Amazon too. Not sure if working but maybe slightly improved from last year, I guess it all takes time though, regrowing or growing stronger etc.

What about a slightly asymmetric shorter bob? I think when it's shorter you can use waxes and putty and other products to give it more texture.

I'm with you on poker straight hair. Straighter than straightened hair!!

Good hair extensions are a life saver

Defo highlights to thicken. Sea salt spray works for volume
Tbh most of the time I just have mine up in a claw clip as ponytail doesn't look good and I try and make my fringe look nice! Also have been wearing hairbands more which make me feel cute.

My hair's too thin to even put hair extensions in
I thought I was getting away with the ones on a wire until I saw photos and the wire is obvious
Absolutely hate my hair
I've never found anything that improves it

I know you've said you've tried a bob, but i have very fine poker straight blonde hair and i definitely think thin hair is better short as you really need hair to be thick when its long. Mine is currently just shorter than shoulder length, highlighted, all one length. I usually tonge some waves in it if I'm going out.
I do think my hair improved with ferrous fumarate i was on for low iron.
I also wash my hair before bed and use dry shampoo and volume powder on clean hair for volume. I like to keep my hair blonde as you can see my scalp in parts and my skin is pale so i think (hope!) its less obvious with blonde hair ....

I have thin fine blonde hair. Also peri meno. I had long hair. A long pixie (pixie everywhere but longer side fringe) has transformed me. Lifted my whole face. Easy to care for. More volume where I need it. I look 15 years younger.
I look at pics of me with me longer hair and I look awful.
Short! Do it!

What about a hair topper? Not as full coverage or as hot as wearing a wig.

m.youtube.com/shorts/_vwZy8URAiM

I've got something like this.