If your hair is weak and fine, try these hair stying tips to get fuller tresses with minimal fuss
With 74 per cent of women in the UK complaining of thinning hair, and 8 million suffering from noticeable hair loss, it’s safe to say that nearly all of us are longing for healthier, thicker and glossier tresses. Key factors such as age, stress, hormones, diet and illness can affect the texture and fullness of our hair.
‘As you pass the age of 40, the natural diameter of the hair shaft shrinks a bit,’ explains A-list hairdresser Charles Worthington. ‘So that means while you don’t necessarily have less hair on your head, your hair feels thinner, and giving it that extra volume is really vital.’
Charles recommends investing in some tried and tested thickening products and using them to custom build a regime of shampoo, conditioner and a styler that suits you. ‘Used in conjunction with each other, they will give you fabulous-looking hair.’ he says.
Paula Hansley, Phyto’s UK Buisness Development Manger agrees; ‘With age, skin may become lined, but hair is something we can improve the look of without drastic measures.’
With that in mind we’ve scoured the beauty shelves and expert tips for an answer to every hair niggle faced by those with fine tresses, starting with four top tips from trichologist Sally-Ann Tarver.
That healthy head of hair can be yours for the taking…
Loosen up
“Constantly pulling hair into a tight ponytail, wearing hair extensions and excessive blow drying will cause strain on your follicles and could cause traction alopecia,” says Trichologist Sally-Ann Tarver. “If you have thinning hair, choose a loose hairstyle rather than a tight up do, avoid having hair extensions and give your hair a break from excessive styling.”
Listen to your body
“Thinning hair can be caused by thyroid conditions,” says Sally-Ann, “particularly hypothyroidism which is seen in postmenopausal women. Left untreated, the condition can cause hair to thin and become dry. Other symptoms include weight gain, dry skin and tiredness.” If any of these symptoms sound familiar, pay a visit to your doctor. “This condition is best monitored and treated by your GP,” says Sally-Ann.
Try Laser Phototherapy
“Laser phototherapy offers a lotion-free, pill-free method of improving hair structure and growth,” explains Sally-Ann, “with no side effects, scalp irritation or damage to hair structure. The theradome LH80 Laser Helmet floods your scalp with photons to energise your hair follicles. It’s easy to use; you just put it on your head every other day for 20 minutes. Laser phototherapy stimulates blood circulation, nutrients and oxygen to the hair follicles and helps to produce stronger, healthier, faster-growing hair.”
Up the vitamins
“Nutritional deficiencies such as low B12 and Vitamin D can slow down hair growth and they can cause hair thinning.” says Sally-Ann. “Dietary B12 deficiency can be easily resolved by increasing your intake of meat, fish, eggs, dairy and by taking a good quality B Complex. Vitamin D deficiency is on the rise and is definitely a test to ask your GP for if your hair is thinning.”
Smooth away static strands
Yes, some old wives’ tales are true: we can’t believe we are saying this, but gently running a Bounce tumble dryer sheet, over static hair or hair brushes before you use them will stop your hair standing on end. Another alternative is rubbing the dryer sheets on your pillow before going to bed.
Wash your hair less
“Over washing strips away the lipids (oils) that, with age, you now need more than ever to boost shine and prevent breakage,” says hairstylist Nicky Clarke. “This is often problematic after menopause when many women find their scalp produces less oil. So now’s the time to update your haircare routine.”
Instead of washing your hair every day, Nicky recommends washing every second or third day to keep it looking its best. Hair is most fragile when it’s wet, so always use warm water: too hot or too cold isn’t good for your hair. Try to be gentle: don’t over-rub it and use a treatment mask once a week.
“Top tip: Condition is key,” says Aussie’s Tiz Law. Women with fine hair often skip conditioner in an attempt to avoid overloading limp hair but this leaves it dry, brittle and more susceptible to breakages.
Reduce the heat
“Women aged 40+ tend to style their hair too much,” says Tina Farey, editorial director at Rush. “This can damage the hair cuticle, leaving hair susceptible to breakage. Overuse of heat-styling tools also dries hair out, so always use a heat-protection product.”
The current trend for undone, fuss-free hairstyles should make it easier to skip the blow dry and put down the straighteners. “The over-styled, over-blow-dried look is just simply over. If you’re adopting the unstructured go-to, style of the moment you’ll be reducing heat anyway,” says Josh Wood.
Eat protein
“Gelatin is excellent for hair condition and also hair loss,” says Shabir Daya, co-founder of victoriahealth.com. “There’s also a vegetarian supplement called Hairjelly Protein Capsules.
Tame those flyways
Stray flyaway hairs are the broken, shorter strands that gather along your hairline and lift off from around the face. BAFTA’s hairstylist, Charles Worthington, tames A-lister flyways before they walk the red carpet by spraying a comb with Charles Worthington Style Setter and running it through their hair from root to tip. Affordable and effective – we’ll be trying it at home.
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