Thread: How to make fine hair less blah?

Hi

I have very soft fine hair (but quite a lot of it to work with - its fine not thin) which is lovely when I want it to look shiny, or when people touch it or see it up close, but I'm a bit sick of the whole dead straight and shapeless for performances.

For a photoshoot (I think might be my avatar) someone achieved good things with a ton of hairspray and a hot curling thing, but even then it only lasted a few hours, and was so full of hairspray it may have looked good in a still photo but felt and smelled horrible and didn't move like real hair!

Help! Any suggestions, I just want it to look less blah, especially the scalp end, which just flops out dead straight at present

Zafirah

Mine is the same way. I really have to get regular trims and add layers to get the volume I need. My hair does not grow more than a few inches past my shoulders but it grows up to that length fast. I also try not to wash every night (every other) and usually I end up having a better hair day whether it is for workor dance since it is easier to curl (and keep curled). I change gels, hair sprays, shampoos etc every once in a while and that seems to help also.

Hair pieces are one of your best weapons....even if it's just a small fall at the crown to give you volume. I don't know if you color your hair, but that seems to help my fine/straight/thick hair. I've been hearing good things about henna too and there's a colorless kind that you apply for conditioning.

Hope you find some more good solutions!

Try apple cider vinegar rinse after you shampoo. It detangles and adds volume. You will be able to comb thru your hair easily and it may stay cleaner longer (less oil). Also, it gives the hair more body, volume. Only use organic though, the processed grocery store variety is way to harsh. You may have to experiment on the Vinegar to water ratio. You need as little as 1tbs per cup of water (1 cup of water is enough for one rinse if you put it in a squirt bottle and apply it that way) up to useing it straight. You can rinse it out or leave in. The vinegar smell will go away if left in when it dries.

The best bonus. Very inexpensive. Good for dandruff too.

Did you see the quote from a famous dancer (I think it might have been Artemis) in last month's Bhuz Question forum? "Those who want gigs, get wigs."

Wigs and hairpieces are so affordable now, easy to wear and to maintain. Check into it.

My hair is hopelessly fine and now it's getting thinner than ever, so wigs are my lifesaver for shows.

Couple of suggestions:

Hair pieces. I have a couple of clip in style pony tails and half falls. My hair is down past my bra strap and these blend in beautifully.

Blow dry your hair upside down. This will add some lift.

Teasing your hair will give it volume.

Find a product which ads shine to your hair if that is part of the issue. You also might want to talk to a hair dresser about simply putting on a shiner which can be done with or without colouring your hair.

This is one of those areas where letting go of any preconceived notions about being authentic and real have to go out the door. Step into the fantasy! Embrace the change to fully play dress up! Buy your hair!

Oh, and I have exactly the type of hair you are talking about. But when I wear a hair piece, it always amazes me when people walk up to me after a gig and tell me how much they love my hair! Really? $18.95 downtown in the garment district!

{{{HUGS}}}

I have the same type of hair.

I also make use of hair flowers and crowns sometimes. I've got a method down though. I got one of those cheap revlon 3 barel waver curlers from target. I have very long hair, but it only takes me about 10 minutes to wave all of it. I hate hair sprays, but I spray a bit of it or moose into my hands and gently pull them through my hair. I let it sit for about 5 minutes then brush it all. This leaves me with volume and interest for a whole day... pretty much until I lay down on it and then shower the next day. Dito on the hair cut... I get many many layers put into my hair and this helps a ton with volume and interest.

Thanks for the help so far

How come when I searched 'fine hair' nothing useful came up in the first two pages, but now the 'similar threads' listed below show a billion other threads on the same thing?!!

I feel your pain. But I think my baby fine straight hair may also be thin? I've never understood the "my hair is fine but there's lots of it" idea. Those little bitty Goody Ouchless bands that are only the diameter of a dime... when I pull my hair back into a pony tail I have to twist those at least twice to make them tight enough to hold without sliding right off. I can blow dry my hair upside down, curl it, and then brush it out & spray it upside down. It'll look like a ridiculously HUGE bouffant initially, but within an hour it's flat & drab again. If I just let it air dry it's completely flat & lifeless. I always resort to my pet hair for performances. So I'll be watching this thread closely in hopes of at least being able to improve my average day look.

I, too, have fine, straight hair. I'm not fond of wigs and even for a ponytail it's hard to match my hair color properly. I also have the Revlon 3-barrel waver and it's perfect when I want mermaid hair. The waves stay in my hair through two 25 min. sets, even in the summer, and beyond. I use mousse at the roots and sometimes a bit of setting lotion.

If I want curls (leave them tight or brush them loose) I mist my hair with water and roll it up in pillow soft curlers. I need about 3 hours for my hair to dry naturally, which yields the longest-lasting curls. I recently purchased Bumble & Bumble styling lotion and I think it really works to keep the curl in my hair.

Sometimes I want a straight hair look and will experiment with my part plus will use a large barrel curling iron to curl under the ends and even curl it a bit at the crown, by the part, for some lift/volume.

Check out suggestions via video clips on YouTube. I've learned so much about make-up there!

Originally Posted by Lesedi

I have the same type of hair.

I also make use of hair flowers and crowns sometimes. I've got a method down though. I got one of those cheap revlon 3 barel waver curlers from target. I have very long hair, but it only takes me about 10 minutes to wave all of it. I hate hair sprays, but I spray a bit of it or moose into my hands and gently pull them through my hair. I let it sit for about 5 minutes then brush it all. This leaves me with volume and interest for a whole day... pretty much until I lay down on it and then shower the next day. Dito on the hair cut... I get many many layers put into my hair and this helps a ton with volume and interest.

Originally Posted by Chayliana

I feel your pain. But I think my baby fine straight hair may also be thin? I've never understood the "my hair is fine but there's lots of it" idea. Those little bitty Goody Ouchless bands that are only the diameter of a dime... when I pull my hair back into a pony tail I have to twist those at least twice to make them tight enough to hold without sliding right off. I can blow dry my hair upside down, curl it, and then brush it out & spray it upside down. It'll look like a ridiculously HUGE bouffant initially, but within an hour it's flat & drab again. If I just let it air dry it's completely flat & lifeless. I always resort to my pet hair for performances. So I'll be watching this thread closely in hopes of at least being able to improve my average day look.

This is me too, and to make matters worse it's getting even thinner as I get.. you know.. older. I'm afraid I'll wind up at Hans Weiman someday.

For performance I also resort to bonus hair. Even if I can MAKE my hair pretty, it's not going to stay that way for 3 minutes if I sweat even a little.

For everyday, I *finally* have a haircut I'm happy with. My latest stylist suggested layering ONLY the crown, in order to give me a little lift & fullness but still keep as much hair as possible at the bottom. I also like bangs & layers around my face, so we were joking that I'm now a blonde Joan Jett. But it's WORKING and I'm happy with my everyday hair for the first time in ages.

Originally Posted by Lauren_

For everyday, I *finally* have a haircut I'm happy with. My latest stylist suggested layering ONLY the crown, in order to give me a little lift & fullness but still keep as much hair as possible at the bottom. I also like bangs & layers around my face, so we were joking that I'm now a blonde Joan Jett. But it's WORKING and I'm happy with my everyday hair for the first time in ages.

Is that the cut in your avatar pic or did you change it more recently? I absolutely MUST have bangs. Can't stand my forehead without them. And I need a little something going on between my temples & jawline to add interest because if it's just hanging straight through that area it just lengthens my already long, thin face. So I'd be interested in seeing a pic of your current style to see if it's something that might work for me as well.

I have a lot of baby fine hair too...and I have also tried hairspray with the same result...it works in that it looks good if you need to hold a curl in/make it look heavier for a picture...but a head full of hairspray isnt my favorite way to walk around.

I like Aveda products...their shampoos and conditioners work pretty well on volumizing and bulking up hair

I'm in my forties and I'm a blonde with very fine, slightly wavy hair. I have exactly the same problem everyone else is describing. I've tried all kinds of shampoos and conditioners and treatments and styles and I am at my roots ends!

Most recently I have just been putting my hair up in a ball at the back of my head for class and for everything else. It's just so much easier - but not particularly pretty or glamorous.

Last night I tried one more time to have it out and down and loose but within the first ten minutes of class I was sweating and my hair was wilting and I was constantly pushing my bangs out of my eyes and my limp, damp hair back out of my face.

I'm seriously considering buying some hair, whether that means purchasing both bangs and a fall for the back, or investing in semi-permanent braided extensions. (Although considering I've got about 20% gray growing in, the colouring of the roots in addition might make things even more complicated and expensive).

Not sure exactly which would be the best way to go - clip in hair, or braided in extensions...

The Jessica Simpson stuff seems truly awfully expensive...

At least with the braided in extensions they would not be at risk of flying off during a performance.

Hmmmmm....

TRICKY Spray - UNITE

I stock up on this stuff. It's great! Makes my fine hair not so slippery. You've GOT to try this.

Runa -

For me, in class, it's all about getting my hair out of my way! Pony tails, bun or French braid or twist! Off my neck and face.

IRL, I tend to wear it up as well, or just brushed. I don't even own a curling iron at this point. that'll change soon.

For performance, it's all about the pet hear. I have both 1/2 falls and clip ins. II go through phases where I like one more than the other. Of course, it also depends on what I am doing. For folkloric, candle tray and shamadan, since I am bundling my hair under a scarf or in a snood ala Aunt Rocky, the falls are the only thing which work.

{{{HUGS}}}

Originally Posted by tahiradancer

Runa -

For me, in class, it's all about getting my hair out of my way! Pony tails, bun or French braid or twist! Off my neck and face.

IRL, I tend to wear it up as well, or just brushed. I don't even own a curling iron at this point. that'll change soon.

For performance, it's all about the pet hear. I have both 1/2 falls and clip ins. II go through phases where I like one more than the other. Of course, it also depends on what I am doing. For folkloric, candle tray and shamadan, since I am bundling my hair under a scarf or in a snood ala Aunt Rocky, the falls are the only thing which work.

{{{HUGS}}}

Thanks for sharing your more experienced insight on this Tahira. This sounds like the way to go for me.

Happy Spring Equinox! Woo Hoo! Spring is here!

Runa -

You are welcome. And in class if you want to make things more interesting, you can add flowers, fancy hair clip, head bands. As one of my former teachers once suggested, never take a class without lipstick which you can see across the room! I agree with Princess Farhana - it's fun to dress the part! but there is a practical side as well. In class we sweat! Alot! So unless it really calls to you, wearing a fall, etc., can be more of a bother than it's worth!

Either way, have fun!

{{{HUGS}}}

Originally Posted by tahiradancer

Runa -

You are welcome. And in class if you want to make things more interesting, you can add flowers, fancy hair clip, head bands. As one of my former teachers once suggested, never take a class without lipstick which you can see across the room! I agree with Princess Farhana - it's fun to dress the part! but there is a practical side as well. In class we sweat! Alot! So unless it really calls to you, wearing a fall, etc., can be more of a bother than it's worth!

Either way, have fun!

{{{HUGS}}}

Tahira, Thanks again for your extra tips! I have been making an extra effort and doing the lipstick (+ sparkly jewellery) thing before class lately and I find it really makes a difference! Not sure about putting the flowers in my hair as we cool down on the floor and roll about quite a bit. LOL!

And yes, I'm having FUN and totally loving every class. I'm doing four classes a week right now, and they are never long enough, and I'm always disappointed when they end and I have to go home.

Ooops. Sorry! I'm hi-jacking the hair thread! Will zip it now! Ok. Hair. Thin hair. Limp hair. Pony tails, buns, or "pet-hair" (but not my cat's hair). Got it. Check.

FWIW if you have a family tendency to go grey, your hair will get way coarser. Well, the white ones will.

I agree with Tahira re drying upside down - that can help a lot with volume.

How well does your hair respond to wet setting? Whether or not this is for you depends on whether you like curl and wave. You can use barrel tongs, hot rollers etc for curl, but setting the wet hair and getting it bone dry before you take it out *does* work and should last longer. I'm not sure how quickly sweat destroys a nice set, however.

If you like the idea of smooth retro set looks see if you can find an OLD hairdresser, because they know how to set them and how to brush them out, and they would be able to start you off on doing it yourself. If you want lots of OTT curls rags and bendy rollers are fun.

I never had the patience to set my hair but it can be done.

Originally Posted by tahiradancer

Couple of suggestions:

Hair pieces. I have a couple of clip in style pony tails and half falls. My hair is down past my bra strap and these blend in beautifully.

Blow dry your hair upside down. This will add some lift.

Teasing your hair will give it volume.

Find a product which ads shine to your hair if that is part of the issue. You also might want to talk to a hair dresser about simply putting on a shiner which can be done with or without colouring your hair.

This is one of those areas where letting go of any preconceived notions about being authentic and real have to go out the door. Step into the fantasy! Embrace the change to fully play dress up! Buy your hair!

Oh, and I have exactly the type of hair you are talking about. But when I wear a hair piece, it always amazes me when people walk up to me after a gig and tell me how much they love my hair! Really? $18.95 downtown in the garment district!

{{{HUGS}}}

I have the same prob. & I love your post! Do the hair-pieces ever come loose if you do a head toss, etc.?

Originally Posted by carpediem

I have the same prob. & I love your post! Do the hair-pieces ever come loose if you do a head toss, etc.?

Thank you!

I have not had any problems with my hair pieces coming out during performance and I do a lot of fast turns and even some head tosses. I do two things consistently: lots of hair pins and tight twists to put the combs into. I would never get through a metal detector at an airport with one of these suckers on!

{{{HUGS}}}

In addition to drying upside down, you could try what my stylist does. She uses texturizer in my hair and then blow drys my scalp. She makes little circles against my scalp and kind of pulls up at the roots a little. So with one hand take four fingers and gently massage roots/scalp while using the other hand to blow warm air in that area. It lifts the hair lightly off the scalp without teasing or using loads of product. It's not a huge difference, but just enough to add that something special.

Originally Posted by Chayliana

Is that the cut in your avatar pic or did you change it more recently? I absolutely MUST have bangs. Can't stand my forehead without them. And I need a little something going on between my temples & jawline to add interest because if it's just hanging straight through that area it just lengthens my already long, thin face. So I'd be interested in seeing a pic of your current style to see if it's something that might work for me as well.

I'm going in for a trim this week, I'll try to get a pic up (we'll see, though, since I'm also packing for a trip AND I haven't learned how to download pics from my new camera yet!)

Originally Posted by andalee-oriental

In addition to drying upside down, you could try what my stylist does. She uses texturizer in my hair and then blow drys my scalp. She makes little circles against my scalp and kind of pulls up at the roots a little. So with one hand take four fingers and gently massage roots/scalp while using the other hand to blow warm air in that area. It lifts the hair lightly off the scalp without teasing or using loads of product. It's not a huge difference, but just enough to add that something special.

Oh yeah, I forgot about that - it's a very 80s approach, like scrunching but in at the root.

Another good technique - in many ways these are all variants of blowdrying upside down to me because they lift the hair up as you dry it, but they are much more precise - is what my old boss used to call "using the head as a large roller", where you dry the hair against its natural root direction while, uh, using the head as a large roller. That tends to keep the length smoother and gives it a bit of curve. Sorry, it's hard to describe, but it's easy to do.

Hi, I have fine, straight hair too. Couple things work to help at pizazz and volume to hair.
1. mouse for volume then with slightly damp hair, braid into 2 braids. Coat lightly with hairspray. Let set for hours. I usually will sleep with them overnight and sometimes keep in throughout day until time to get ready for performance.
It adds super volume! Lightly hairspray again when you let braids out. I usually just comb thru with my fingers. Hairspray hair upside down.
2. Caruso hair curlers- very gentle way to curl and add volume to hair. Use the medium rollers.
Amazon.com: Caruso C97953 SalonPro 30 Molecular Steam Hairsetter with 30 Rollers: Beauty
3. clip on hair extensions- to add more volume. can get all different colors, curly or straight.

Originally Posted by dreamkitaro

2. Caruso hair curlers- very gentle way to curl and add volume to hair. Use the medium rollers.
Amazon.com: Caruso C97953 SalonPro 30 Molecular Steam Hairsetter with 30 Rollers: Beauty

hmmmm... I will have to check these out. Thanks!

You can also try new shampoos. Get an SLS free shampoo with panthenol in it. It's a protein that your hair absorbs... works great for thickening and strengthening very fine hairs. At the very least, loosing the sls shampoos will be better for your hair... those sulfates are pretty harsh and are actually linked to hair thinning in women over the last several decades.