I inherited my fine hair from my mother, and it wasn’t until recently that I realized how it could both be a blessing and a curse. While fine hair is often naturally smooth and responds to heat styling well, it’s also more prone to damage, tangling, bombshell blowouts, and whatnot.
Moreover, some things are good for fine hair while other things are completely bad. There are also some misconceptions about terms such as “fine” hair and “thin” hair. Hence, I figured that there needs to be a detailed guide compiling everything to know about fine hair.
Can Fine Hair Grow Long?
So you have fine hair, and you want to grow it long. But you might be wondering if a bigger length will be good for your fine hair or not.
It’s best not to let your fine hair grow long. Because fine hair is more prone to damage than thicker hair, which is why it breaks off easily if you make it too long; moreover, keeping it long can result in frequent webbing and tangling. If you want to keep it long anyway, you will have to go through some extra work, like layering, textured long cuts, wave styling, dimensional hair colors, and other solutions.
In fact, the shorter hairstyle you have with fine hair, the better you will look. Many stylists recommend the pixie cut for people with fine hair, as it makes the thin hair appear thicker with more density and looks good on the person.
Can Fine Hair Be Permed?
Suppose you want to get a new look, so you choose to perm as the final option. But then you remember that you have fine hair, so you start wondering whether this kind of hair can be permed or not.
Yes, fine hair can be permed! There are different types of perms for different types of hair, but the ones recommended the most for specifically fine hair are-
- Spiral perm: This one produces extra volume and adds a subtle texture to your hair, thus giving you bouncy curls of different lengths. It’s recommended for short hair and for those who have a diamond-shaped face.
- Beach Wave perm: This one doesn’t give much depth to your curls, only increases the volume. So it is recommended for those who have mid-length fine hair or square and rectangular-shaped faces.
Depending on your hair type and how well you take care of it, the perm may last from three to six months. If you want perms, then just go for it!
Can Fine Hair Be Curly?
When you think of fine hair, you usually picture straight, thinning hair on a woman. So you might be wondering if the same fine hair can also be naturally curly.
Of course, fine hair can be curly too! As long as the width of your hair strands is very small, regardless of whether they’re straight, wavy, or curly, it’s fine hair, and you have to take care of it accordingly. Here are some tips for styling curly fine hair.
- Avoid a long haircut as it can pull out the curls and make the hair look finer.
- Stay away from chemical processing.
- Color your hair as it roughens up the cuticle and adds more shine and bounciness.
- Shampoo more frequently.
- Don’t use too much conditioner.
- Don’t use too many styling products, as it can weigh the hair down.
Can Fine Hair Be Thickened?
When it comes to everything to know about fine hair, this is one of the commonly asked questions. Most people prefer to have thick, full hair as it looks better. The biggest problem for people with fine hair is that it is usually thin and lacks volume. So you might be wondering if fine hair can be thickened.
Unfortunately, naturally fine hair cannot be thickened, as you can never change the size of your hair follicles. Not completely, at least. But there are some ways to make your hair look fuller and bouncier to some extent.
- Choose the right shampoo and conditioner: Choose shampoos and conditioners labeled with attributes like “volumizing,” “thickening,” or “lightweight”.
- Change your parting: If you always part your hair on the left side, and have been doing so for a while, change it to the right parting. Going against the hair’s natural fall will immediately make it look denser and fuller.
- Fake it with extensions: If you want instant thicker hair, just use temporary clip-ins. Section your hair into a few parts and add an extension at the root of each one. Combined with styles such as ponytails, updos, and braids, your hair might look even thicker.
- Tie your hair up before going to sleep: Use a metal-free hair tie so that you can avoid indents and creases in your hair. Twist it up in a high bun and then go to sleep. The next morning, you will wake up with more voluminous hair.
Can Fine Hair Be Coarse?
So you’re sure that you have fine hair, but you also think that your hair is coarse. The two seem contradictory. So you’re wondering if fine hair can be coarse.
No, fine hair cannot be coarse. Fine hair is when the width of your individual hair strand is so small that you can barely feel each strand on your fingers. On the other hand, coarse hair means the individual strands have a larger width and are easier to feel between your fingertips.
This is the difference between hair texture and hair density. The texture refers to the strand’s width, while the density refers to the number of hair follicles on your scalp. So you can’t have both fine and coarse hair. If you do, it’s probably because you mistook “coarse” and “thick” as interchangeable terms, which they aren’t. However, your hair can be fine and have a thick density or can be coarse and have a thin density.