The 33 Best Haircuts for Thin Hair, According to Stylists
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If you have thin hair, you might feel like styling it is near impossible. Spoiler alert: That’s not the case at all. Aside from upgrading your haircare collection (with anti-thinning shampoo and thickening serums), a spankin’ new haircut can be a good way to bring some dimension to your locks. Thankfully, we found the 20 best haircuts for thin hair to bring as inspo the next time you’re at the salon.
The Most Common Mistake People with Thin Hair Make
1. Wavy Lob
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This shoulder-length cut is ultra-popular for a reason: It’s incredibly flattering. Ask your stylist to snip it slightly shorter in the back for added lift.
2. Pixie Cut
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If you’re looking for a cut that doesn’t require much styling, the pixie is right up your alley. “This is a good hair cut for thin hair, because it lays flat on the head and doesn’t require much volume,” explains Erinn Courtney, StyleSeat hairstylist and natural hair expert. “It’s also great to cover thinning or balding areas that may be visible with longer hair.”
3. Carefree Bob
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Worn sleek and sophisticated or choppy and tousled, the bob is a versatile option that doesn’t require a ton of volume. (Oh, and texturizing spray is your best friend.)
4. Buzzcut
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Here’s your sign to try the big chop like celebs like Michaela Coel, Kristen Stewart and Joey King. “A buzzed cut is great for thin hair because any thinning or balding spots will not be as obvious as they may be in a longer haircut,” says Courtney.
5. Long Pixie
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Yes, there’s more than one type of pixie. This iteration offers more volume, especially in the front, so grab some mousse for a slick finish.
6. Curly Cut
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It’s time to give your curls some more definition and bounce. “This haircut allows curly hair to appear fuller and not lay flat against the head,” explains Courtney.
7. Sharp Layers
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If you want to keep your long locks, consider maintaining sharp, clean layers. Otherwise, lengthy hair can look limp and thinner (and that’s the last thing we want).
8. Blunt Cut
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“A blunt cut creates the sharp illusion of more depth and volume,” says Philip B, founder of Philip B Hair Care. “It also defines thin hair and prevents strands from looking straggly and unhealthy at the ends.” Simply put: Keeping the same length all around makes for a sleek, fuller look. Plus, adding a volumizing mist keeps hair soft, shiny and bouncy all day.
9. French Bob
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Nothing says chic like a French bob. The stylish cut sits right above the jaw, while bangs add a nice touch to make thin hair appear fuller.
10. Coily Pompadour
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This pompadour offers shape and body where you need it the most. If you have medium to long hair, consider adding braids on the side like Danai Gurira to elevate the style.
11. Deep Side Part
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Pro tip: An extreme side part is a surefire way to make it look like you have more hair. “Brushing your hair to one side creates the look of volume and will help add balance while drawing attention away from the top of the scalp,” says Philip B. He also recommends adding a styling gel to enhance body and add texture for a tousled look.
12. Full Bangs
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Another volumizing trick? Bangs. A little forehead fringe goes a long way in adding oomph. The key is to not overdo the lift, recommends Chaz Dean, celebrity hairstylist, colorist and founder of WEN hair and body care line. He advises using your hairdryer’s nozzle attachment and giving the root a gentle lift.
13. The Rachel
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Jennifer Aniston will always be hair inspo and her iconic Rachel cut is making waves—just look at Hailey Bieber for proof. “The layers create the illusion that you have more hair than you do,” says Laura Polko, a celebrity hairstylist in Los Angeles. “The key is [framing the face] in a way that makes the hair bouncier and more voluminous.” And if you need a refresher, Polko recommends a hot air brush (like the T3 AireBrush Duo) to create movement in your strands.
14. Asymmetrical Bob
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This uneven cut makes thin hair appear fuller and voluminous. So, forget your usual middle part and opt for a deep side part instead for some much-needed dimension.
15. Curtain Bangs
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There’s something about face-framing pieces—like curtain bangs—that are a real winner for thin hair. “With thin hair you can really tell at the hairline, so having bangs can hide it,” Polko tells us. “You can also bulk up bangs easily, so if you don’t have a ton of hair you can easily fluff them up to create a thicker, more voluminous feel.” Plus, curtain bangs can define facial features and flatters most hair types and textures. Must we go on?
16. Mid-length Cut
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A shoulder-length cut is always a good option if you’re not into a short ‘do. Keep it sleek and straight or add some waves to say goodbye to flat locks for a while.
17. Beachy Waves
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Celebs like Blake Lively have been rocking wavy tresses for years. “Beachy waves create the illusion that you have more hair, and with the new texture you are able to bulk it up,” says Polko. And if your strands seem too flat, a good ‘ol curler and some mousse can define your locks to your liking.
18. Wavy Blunt Cut
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Blunt cuts aren’t only limited to straight, sleek styles. Wavy gals can show off their natural texture with little trims to the ends.
19. Mixie
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One of the hottest hair trend of 2022 is great for thin hair. The shag and pixie combo features choppy layers, tapered ends and bangs to bring the whole look together.
20. Curly Tapered Cut
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Give your curls some shape and definition like Amandla Stenberg. It highlights your pattern and provides a chic short cut behind.
Fine Hair vs. Thin Hair We Asked the Experts to Explain the Difference
21. Sculpted Shag
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“The layers within this version of a shag create fullness and body for thin hair,” explains Jacelyn Bautista, a stylist at NYC THE TEAM. However, she warns that the edgy look does require maintenance, recommending an appointment every ten to 12 weeks. When styling, use a lightweight texture spray or balm to separate the strands.
22. Full Fringe
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A full fringe is a great haircut for thin hair because it can help give the appearance of fullness, especially if your hair is particularly sparse around your face. “A deeper fringe can help your hair look fuller and thicker,” Dean says. He recommends a depth of one to 1.5 inches from the hairline to boost face-framing volume. Then, keep the remainder of your hair styled at one length. “Use a mousse and medium round brush to add volume and fullness,” Dean advises.
23. Classic Lob
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While the classic lob can work well for thinning hair, Bautista cautions that you want it to complement the length at which your hair is most dense, so be wary of a lob that’s too long.
24. Long Layers with Deep Side Part
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There are two secrets to pulling off this haircut and style. The first is to make sure your stylist cuts longer layers, as chopping too much will decrease your hair volume. Then, Dean explains, you want to part your hair by bringing the fuller side over to the thinner side to bulk it up. He says that in his 25 years of styling, most of his clients tend to have fuller hair on their left side. Don’t make the mistake of parting the thinner side over the fuller side of your head, as you’ll just exacerbate the appearance of the lack of density.
25. Long Sweeping Bangs
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“If you have those wispy pieces and they aren’t doing much for you, creating a slightly fuller section to marry it together would be best,” Bautista recommends. “It gives the haircut a different shape and a softer feel. It does require a little bit of styling—blow dry it with a one-inch round brush.”
26. Blunt Bob
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Cut correctly, layers can give you a volume boost, but don’t discount the blunt bob as one of the best haircuts for thin hair. “Because your hair is all one length, you're not removing any weight,” Dean says. When you style it, he says it’s crucial to build volume in the roots. He advises lifting and drying your roots in the opposite direction that your hair will fall—it gives a fuller, sleeker look.
27. Kitty Cut
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The kitty cut is everywhere and lucky for the thin haired folks: You can wear it, too. Fabio Scalia, owner of Fabio Scalia Salons in New York City, recommends separating your hair top and bottom when styling. When drying and styling the bottom half, position the hair dryer so the airflow blows on top of your hair. With the top sections, blow from below to create lift. You can finish the look with dry texturizer on the ends.
28. Angled Bob
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"The angled bob instantly creates fullness and a very chic, precise shape,” Bautista says. It’s also low maintenance; it doesn’t require much styling and is versatile. If you feel like doing it up, she recommends using a flat iron to smooth it out and accentuate the shape or do beach waves to create more texture.
29. Choppy Pixie
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Dean calls the choppy pixie and “incredible” haircut for thin hair because of its ability to build tons of volume and body. To style it, he recommends applying a leave-in conditioner and mousse to help build volume. You can also incorporate a water-soluble pomade for texture. Set with a light finishing spray.
30. Soft Long Layers
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Keeping your layers long allows them to blend more easily than a choppy cut. “Thin hair doesn’t hold a style for long so when curls or waves fall, you want to make sure it still looks cohesive with the haircut,” she advises.
31. Faux Blunt Cut
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“Use a mousse that will provide density but also hold and grip for the brush,” Scalia advises. “[You want a] medium to large brush. If curly, use a brush with more bristle.” As you dry your hair, do so in horizontal sections, starting from the bottom up.
32. Lob with Side Bangs
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To maximize volume and the exaggeration of the lob shape, Dean recommends using a large round brush. Focus on lifting the roots and “overdirecting” the hair. That means, as he mentioned above, lifting and drying your hair in the opposite direction that it’s going to fall.
33. Lob with Layers
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This haircut for thin hair works best if your locks are slightly wavy, according to Dean. “[Waviness lends] movement and texture, [helping to build body]. [You want to create] the illusion of it being slightly longer in the front and shorter in the back. If you have waves, you should have enough weight in there to create the illusion of the lob but also give you texture.”
The Five Best Styling Tips for Thin Hair
When considering your next cut, Bautista says you want it to bring your hair to the length at which it’s most dense. While layers can work, depending on your hair density, you may want to avoid them if your hair falls past your collarbone. “If you have hair down the middle of your back, you want to tend to avoid that because it's taking fullness and volume out of your hair,’ Dean adds. The cut, he continues, is only half the equation—styling and products play a big role in giving you the volume boost, he continues. Here are five tips:
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