There’s no shame in hair loss or thinning hair; in fact, a lot of us choose to embrace it rather than trying to regrow it. Even if you do take the measures to grow it back, unfortunately, it’s unlikely you’ll ever have your 18-year-old hairline again. In light of that, the next best thing you can do is deploy some new products and switch up your styling tactics to accommodate for the change. Just a few quick tweaks will help you make the most of your thinning hair, buzz cuts (and combovers) be damned!
Here are a few of our tried-and-true thinning hair remedies to make everything up there look thicker and fuller.
Get the right haircut
If you’re thinning all over: you still have a ton of style options. Even if you plan to “have your hair your whole life”, it’s going to get significantly thinner over the years. The follicle itself will shrink, as will the density of the hair overall. Have your barber or stylist at 18/8 San Diego texturize your hair when you go in. He or she will snip away at the hairs to give it slightly different lengths throughout. This will do two things: It will allow the hair to fall into place without getting too bulky – especially since you can still wear your hair as-is and get full coverage, even if it’s less dense than before – but it also adds definition and texture for whenever you style your hair differently.
If you’re receding at the temples: a slightly longer style will benefit you the most if you want to cover your temples. Again, the aim here isn’t to deny your hair loss, it’s to work with it. And as long as you aren’t severely thinning up top, you won’t drift into awkward combover territory. Lastly, shorter styles should be texturized, then styled up and forwards.
SEE ALSO: 7 Tips for Communicating with Your Stylist or Barber.
Switch to the right styling product
If you’re styling it forward, pick a texturizing paste. It can be applied to wet or dry hair, which will dictate hold and shine. (Applied wet yields firmer hold and higher shine once it dries.) It absorbs excess grease and adds grit and texture to your look. This makes your forward-facing style more of a style, instead of a dull lack thereof.
If you’re styling it up or back, then actual dry shampoo is a good place to start. It texturizes the hair by stripping excess oils and should be used on days you don’t shampoo. This will make the hair look thicker overall, and on alternate days you can use a thickening cream, which will temporarily coat and boost each strand of hair for a fuller style. You can dry it with a blow dryer for extra volume.
If you’re sweeping it to one side, then the goal changes from volumizing to more movement. Try a good styling cream – it will help control frizz and direction without adding any bulk to the style.
Perfect your grooming routine
Don’t wash it every day. The natural oils produced by your scalp act as nourishing and conditioning agents for the hair. When you shampoo, you strip the hair of these natural oils. Yes, it will get greasy and need a washing; but oftentimes, just a quick rinse with water will get rid of product and excess grease without stripping it of moisture entirely. That being said, if you do wash your hair daily, you’ll notice it gets poofy and dry and is thus more voluminous. Maybe this is what you want, after all! If so, go ahead, but take note that it isn’t going to improve the quality of your hair. This is why, at 18/8 San Diego, we recommend washing it every other day, then utilizing dry shampoo on the in-between days to remove that excess grease and add a bit of volume.
Use a conditioner daily. One, this will help rinse out any product on the non-shampoo days. More importantly, however, it will fortify the hair and scalp with nutrients, keeping everything healthy, strong, and style-ready. (As opposed to dry, overly washed hair, which tends to be resistant to styling products.) On days when you shampoo, use the conditioner last, otherwise, it’s pointless. If you mix it with the shampoo or buy a 2-in-1, it’s also less effective. The idea is that it’s the last coat you put on your hair in the shower, to restore any vitality that you stripped away with the shampoo, or to reverse damage from environmental wear.
If you’re having problems with more severe hair loss, read up on our complete guide to men’s hair loss. Make an appointment with us online for a consultation or to book your next haircut!