Best hairstyle for very thin and lank hair!

[Junibug]

So perimenopause is giving my hair an absolute pounding - it’s always been super fine (and not much of it) but now it’s thinning badly and looks like an absolute straggly mess. I’m having to put it in a ponytail everyday as it’s just too awful to leave down. It’s naturally wavy and years of straightening has also taken its toll. Seriously, the ponytail is the thickness of a pencil, so bad.

I’ve not been to a hairdressers in years and have an appointment booked this week. I’m assuming they’re going to suggest a hard chop. I don’t want it too short though as I like to tie it up when exercising etc. Also worried if it’s short then it’ll just cling to my head. Argh! I’m nervous.

Does anyone have an experience of having very fine, dry and thinning hair chopped into a bob and being happy with the result??

It looks better than I was expecting it to. The top doesn’t actually look thin, but the ends look wispy. I agree with the choppy bob suggestion. You might need to start using mousse or a gel spray for some texture and thickening. I also agree with a PP’s suggestion of highlights in order to thicken the follicles.

Mine went like that. I had it cut just long enough to tie back. Wash it with gentle shampoo, no conditioner, no brush or comb or hairdryer, untangle it with mu fingers. Dry naturally. It’s now thicker and wavier and looks pretty good.

My niece went through early menopause and her already fine hair, thinned even more. She had a few tape extensions added and loves them. She went for a long bob but it still looked thin so the stylist siggested tapes. The extensions are for thickness not length and I must say, they have made the world of difference.

I saw this thread yesterday.
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/style_and_beauty/5426004-does-my-hair-look-fake?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=share

If OP’ s hair was like this I don’t think she’d be on here complaining of thin hair!

Mine went fine and limp (super greasy too) in perimenopause. My hormones were entirely out of whack. It actually began to fall out in huge clumps too. I ended up seeing a dermatologist who specialized in scalp disorders and was put on medication. It’s almost back to normal, but I absolutely treat it very diffidently now. Entirely different shampoos and conditioners as well as leave in conditioner & heat protectant.

It's not as fine as I thought it'd be.

You need a really good blunt haircut. No layers at all, all one length.

Ive just been through this dilemma and went for the chop. Its a short bob with a bit of layering which I put a bit of thickening cream through after a wash, and blast.

I'm just hitting the menopause and also having similar problems with my hair!

It's gone from poker straight to really wavy, but not enough to be properly curly, so it's just bloody messy and unkempt.

I've lost a whole row of hairs from my fringe so I look really bald/thin at the front, even though the rest of my scalp is OK. I've ALWAYS had a heavy fringe so I really, really hate this. The rest of my hair feels a lot thinner too.

The same happened after I gave birth, my hair was AWFUL for about a year but eventually bounced back. I'm worried that with the menopause this will be it now....

PP have mentioned biotin - does that really make a difference?

I keep getting adverts for shampoos from pharmacies that contain medication to make the hair grow/thicken - I think men use it too. Does that actually work, does anyone know?

Sorry to hop on your thread OP but I thought these answers might be interesting for you too if anyone knows!

My hair went weird post-pregnancy and again about 4-5 years ago. I had patches of different textures and wispy bits. I found a good hairdresser and she’s made it a lot better, but I’ve also now cut it very short and it’s so much happier now. A pixie should be really easy to style on your hair and look great.

Agree with a blunt cut, no layers. It will get rid of the wispy ends and stop splitting so easily at the bottom. It will hang a bit heavier so look thicker.

Wigs! I wear a human hair wig because I have thin, fine hair and a terrible hairline. It makes me feel a million bucks. Synthetic wigs can look incredible too but you'll need a high quality one to avoid the shiny fake look. Simply Wigs is the best online shop IMO if you want to go down that route.

Me too! My previously good hair is now so thin that I can never make it look nice. I plucked up courage and bought a wig and am so pleased I did. I now have a collection in varying lengths and shades of blonde and I love them and I now get compliments about my hair! I buy heat defiant synthetic which hold their style and aren’t shiny like some synthetics are. I buy from Simply and Valentine.

chin lengh or just below blunt cut with slight shaping around face.

Mine has turned into an oil slick if it's not freshly washed, I always had greasy hair before but could go 2 days 3 at a push without washing. I was thinking it was oilier because there is the same amount of grease but less hair due to thinning, but maybe it's a hormonal thing making it worse too?
I have a sensitive scalp so can't use most shampoos or the specific grease reducing ones, or most dry shampoos either - at my wits end.

Because you posted a picture of someone with great hair worlds away form what the OP described. That isn’t thin, lank hair. I can only conclude that you must have thick beautiful hair to not know why I was laughing at that 😊

I would personally suggest you have a really good hard chop.It really will make all the difference. I’ve given up trying to grow my hair, it was thinning, nasty and thin ends. Never regretted going short. It’s a nice chin length bob now. Biotin supplements are good and check your iron levels too.
Cantu shea leave in conditioner is amazing stuff.

I think you are on the wrong thread. This is not what OP has or can have.

No my hair is not good. Same issues. I just thought that cut would look ok with fine thin hair (which I also have). I guess that shows I know nothing about hair!

Oh my goodness, there's your answer. You have never used products! I have soft and very fine hair and honestly my hair would look a lot thinner and finer that yours does if I didn't use them.

There are so many great products on the market. You need to find one that works and start to blow dry your hair to put volume in it.

There's so much you can do.

Your hair looks quite thick I'd say nearest your head. You've just not known what to do with it.

Buy some travel size samples of body building mousse or spray as not everything works for everyone. Don't put in too much.

Blow dry your hair and buy a babyliss big hair which will add volume and smooth the hair out. I think you should have some layers for volume.

Don't be put off by what happens at the hairdresser. They usually (for my hair) overprocess it when blow drying after a cut and it looks flat (but shiny). I always wash (water only) and use my own products after being in the hairdresser and know how to blow dry it myself.

Echo all PPs re the blunt bob/lob.
I use heat protection spray (loreal) every blow dry, dreamcoat once a week and dry shampoo to give it some oomph if needed!

This is what I use. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mitchell-Super-Sculpt-8-5-Ounces-Bottle/dp/B002RS6J1W/ref=sr_1_9?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.zCGAcYWeXZcjuX1nngpNmX-VxxsOFOLUu5RyJwMt7qfRpiTVKCPSSTQ-eIMjsB5uvjePAmhnGpZ0VNfEIh8hxnu7BIRi43wXhRAW0YdR2IrvtcczZ17H-i5lFuE_UNukKJQ0zRYsKdHCDM9V4w6O9Q0rBbI4FxpujFL4T5UQCwN9h9Uq_1PVE_9n9R1o_mb69WcFk4in93d4QV8kdhYfIFxRnki2Frb8YmYS2q7DA7o1dhsizRy0vEa4jvEirl7FCXfmOIpt5TP1eC6DY2xJ94mLMxJoyeSsjgQA4_Qfqk0.Cthe6_RXz4QB-JE2nJ4CZwWbIDCPekqHnDk9OBWtXzI&dib_tag=se&keywords=paul+mitchell+travel+size+set&qid=1760523070&sr=8-9

Kerastese Densifique shampoo is really good for thickening.

Actually your hair looks quite dry and able to be backcombed a little. I have very soft hair. its in very good condition (even if I say so myself!) but it has no body.