Fine or Thick Hair: Everything You Need to Know About Hair Thickness
To begin with, the scalp is composed of numerous hair follicles.
These resemble tiny pockets in which hair grows.
Similarly, the thickness and texture of the hair depend on the size (diameter) and shape of these follicles.
In other words, it’s the size of these follicles that determines whether your hair is naturally thick or fine.
Large follicles produce thick strands, while small follicles produce fine strands.
Simple as that!
Another important point, the quantity of follicles present on the scalp determines the actual number of hairs crowning your head.
A very dense head of hair is generally associated with thick hair, while sparse hair is the result of fine hair.
On average, our head has about 100,000 follicles.
But beware, thickness and density should not be confused. Density refers to the number of hairs present on the scalp, while thickness corresponds to the diameter of a hair.
Note that your scalp can have several hair thicknesses. We count 3.
Thick Hair
Thick hair is easily recognizable, even when placed on a surface of the same color. Rolled between the fingers, the hair appears thick and dense, almost audible.
Thick hair is resilient and rich in proteins. They do not require daily protein care. An excess of protein can make the hair porous and brittle.
The advantage of this hair type is the ability to use “heavy” products: styling creams, butter, vegetable oils… in moderation, of course.
Fine Hair
Fine hair is almost translucent when held up to the light: it’s difficult to spot on a surface more than 1 meter away, even if that surface contrasts with the hair color.
To the touch, its texture is similar to silk thread, sometimes difficult to feel.
Unlike thick hair, fine hair is low in proteins. Therefore, they require regular care.
Their nature tends to stretch more quickly. They are fragile and easily damaged.
Fine hair should be handled gently and require the use of light products: gels, styling milks.
It’s best to apply products sparingly to avoid weighing down the hair.
Medium Hair
Medium hair, on the other hand, would be a combination of the two previously mentioned types.
Medium hair is similar to a cotton thread when rolled between the fingers: neither thick nor rough.
It’s quite easily recognizable, for example, on a pillow.
This means that this type of hair is quite strong, without being as resilient as thick hair. Regarding proteins, you can test the treatments that best suit your hair type.
Use the hair products that interest you and observe how your hair reacts. You’ll need to adjust if necessary.
How to Tell if You Have Fine or Thick Hair?
A simple technique to determine hair thickness is to compare it with a piece of sewing thread. The steps are simple:
Take one of your hairs,
Attach both ends of the thread to your thumb and index finger,
Stretch the thread,
Do the same on the other hand with the hair strand,
Then bring your two hands together to compare them.
That’s it!
If your hair strand seems similar to the sewing thread, you have medium-diameter hair.
If your hair strand is wider than the thread, then you have thick hair. If it seems smaller than the sewing thread, your hair is fine.
Another simple technique is to measure the resistance of the hair.
If the hair breaks very easily, it’s fine. A slightly more difficult break means it’s medium. If you struggle to break it, the hair is thick.
Do you know your hair type? If not, check out my dedicated article on this topic by clicking here.
Can You Thicken Fine Hair?
A question often asked. There are useful solutions for people with fine hair.
You can first try black castor oil in your deep treatments, without forgetting to massage the scalp.
A quick reminder: fine hair is low in proteins.
For this, add a few drops of hydrolyzed silk protein to your moisturizing milk.
As the proteins spread over the hair fiber, the hair will appear thicker.
As I mentioned earlier in the article, this type of hair is particularly prone to breakage.
No rough detangling!
Avoid pulling your hair too hard to prevent unnecessary hair loss.
Consult a Specialist if Necessary
If you notice that your hair has thinned (dull, for example), consider consulting to ensure you are not suffering from a nutritional deficiency or a previous hair trauma.
If your hair was naturally thick, you may have a vitamin deficiency. A B vitamin supplement is recommended to promote hair growth.
Limit Heat
Minimize heat hairstyles as much as possible.
When using a heating appliance, make sure to use silicone-free heat protectants containing natural oils.
Example: Kérastase heat protectants
Fine or Thick Hair: 7 Tips to Gain Volume
The spiral shape of curly, kinky, and coily hair naturally makes it more voluminous because our natural hair tends to grow upward and outward.
However, the density of your hair also plays a role in the volume your hair can create. Indeed, our hair follicles are tightly packed against each other on the scalp.
A person with low-density or fine hair cannot achieve as much volume as a person with dense and thick hair.
Despite the fact that we cannot modify the diameter of the hair fiber, creating more volume in your natural hair is entirely achievable.
Here’s how to get more volume in your natural hair:
Pineapple Your Hair
This simple trick works wonders for creating more voluminous natural hair. After applying your styling products, simply pineapple your hair by tying it up in a bun or pineapple and let it dry. Since your strands are stretched, it helps elongate the curl pattern and reduce shrinkage.
If you missed my article on shrinkage, you can find it by clicking here.
Back to the subject. Once your hair is almost dry, untie your hair, shake it out, and style as desired. You’ll get fuller hair that falls into place naturally.
A simple technique involving the use of a wide-tooth comb.
Once your hair is dry, gently grab the roots and use your comb to lift them.
Style as desired, using your comb throughout your hair.
Be careful not to comb through the entire length of the strands, as this can create frizz.
Use a Diffuser
Many women have achieved more volume with their hairstyles using a diffuser. Not only does this speed up the drying process, but it can also create voluminous hair more quickly.
As you dry your hair with your diffuser, one way to create more volume is to flip
Another method is to gently stretch your hair, then apply the diffuser to reduce shrinkage.
Use lightweight products
Using a product that’s too heavy or in too large a quantity can lead to excess product, which can weigh hair down.
And of course, this can also create less volume and even thinner hair. So, if you’re trying to achieve a fuller look, opt for lightweight products and avoid layering too many products at once.
If the style you’re going for requires more than one product, let them air-dry so that the product can be fully absorbed.
Sweet almond oil, jojoba oil or argan oil are excellent choices for sealing in moisture without weighing hair down.
Use volumizing products
If you think you’ve tried everything and nothing works for you, consider volumizing hair products.
There are hair products, including shampoos and leave-ins, that can give the appearance of thicker hair. What’s more, for people with fine hair, these products can offer more benefits.
Style hair differently
A final simple solution for added volume is to part your hair differently. Flipping different layers of your hair to the other side can give the impression of fuller hair.
Finally, remember that each hair type needs to be treated differently. As I said at the beginning of this article, frizzy hair can appear thick.
The easiest way to find out how thick your hair is is to compare a strand of hair with a sewing thread. You don’t need any special equipment or consultation to determine the thickness of your hair yourself. A sewing thread, your fingers and that’s it!
Regardless of the type of hair you have, I strongly advise you to use natural hair care products to nourish your hair without weighing it down.
This way, you’ll preserve the health of your hair while keeping it silky and shiny. Don’t hesitate to comment with tips on how to care for your hair.
