Tips for thin and fine hair
(previously published in The Experts Magazine)

A: It seems that no matter what type of hair a person has, there are always problems of some sort. Believe it or not, a person with very thick, coarse hair, probably has as much trouble as you do, it's just the opposite type of problem.

If your hair has been thin and fine all your life, you can blame it on genetics. If it used to be thicker (more of it) and it seems that you don't have as much anymore, you could be suffering from hair loss or alopecia. There are many reasons for this disorder, ranging from male patterned baldness to hormone changes in women. If you are losing hair, it's best to check with your physician.

First of all, let's make sure that we mean the same thing when we use the words thin and fine to describe hair.

Thin describes the amount or number of hairs on the head. Fine is all about the diameter of each hair.

There are several ways to deal with this hair type:

1. Haircut: The proper length and shaping can make a huge difference for thin fine hair. In fact, it is the single most important factor. There is an ideal length for your hair - too short and you can look nearly bald, too long and it just hangs limp. If you have long hair and wish to keep most of the length, try some long layers to break it up and lighten the ends. Creating a weight line for a medium or shorter length can add volume. Your hair stylist can help. Just make sure that you have your hair trimmed on a regular basis to keep the shape.

2. Perms can add extra body and/or curl to your hair. If you like to "wash 'n wear," or let it dry on its own, you will likely need a medium to soft curl. If you style your hair and just want extra body to help hold the style, you may opt for a soft curl or a body wave.

3. Color can be your best friend when it comes to adding volume to your hair. It can actually make it feel thicker and more manageable.

Adding highlights and/or lowlights can also add dimension and create the illusion of more hair.

4. Last but not least are the styling products. Most companies carry a special line of product just for fine hair. For instance AG carries Thikkwash Volumizing Shampoo which has ingredients that actually thicken each hair strand to maintain fullness. Thikkrinse Volumizing Conditioner provides incredible volume and structural support by "plumping" the hair shaft without leaving a residue. Build body with Spraybody soft hold volumizer. Maximize volume at the scalp area with Bigwig root volumizer and Plastique extreme hold volumizer. See, there are lots of products for fine hair, and this is just one company we are talking about.

Your hairstylist can help you with choosing the right product and how to use it properly.