Lank, limp locks? Not on our watch!
Silk, wine, dining – the word ‘fine’ has plenty of positive associations. But when paired with the word hair, well… it’s got a bit of a bad rap. Fine hair is often thought of as flat hair. It’s confused with lank, limp or lacklustre locks. But, with a few simple volume-boosting tricks, hair doesn’t have to be curly or thick to look mighty fine indeed.
Want bigger, better, bouncier hair by next Wednesday? Then stop panic-googling pixie cuts and read on. Here are 7 of the most common fine hair mistakes to avoid. How many are you making?
1. Sticking with your year 7 haircut
Hey, we love long strands as much as the next gal. But if you’ve been rocking Rapunzel-like lengths since 7th grade? It might be time to move on. Particularly if your hair’s ultra-fine, lank, or looking a little past its best-before date.
As any snipper worth his salt will tell you, shorter, blunter cuts are the fast-track to instant lift and volume. What’s more, by losing those vulnerable, often-damaged ends, your hair will look healthier, shinier and happier all-round.
2. Using too much conditioner
Replenishing moisture, detangling strands and improving manageability, conditioner is a super-important haircare step. However, there’s such a thing as too much of a good thing, and those with fine hair need to be mindful of how much they’re using.
Full of nourishing oils and wondrous ingredients it may be, but conditioner can quickly weigh hair down. So, make sure you steer clear of the roots and apply a small amount to the ends and mid-lengths only. And always opt for a formula that’s free from de-volumising silicones, like the Coco & Eve Super Hydrating Conditioner with hyaluronic acid.
3. Applying too many styling products
Two volumising products will give double the volume, right? Wrong. While we’re crazy about hair cream, mad about mousse and smitten with hair serum, fine-haired folk need to go easy on the styling prods. Applying too many, or using overly heavy formulas, will only weigh hair down and potentially trigger an oil slick.
Stick with lightweight products, invest in a root lift spray and try a volumising mouse. Avoid thick creams altogether and be a bit careful with shine sprays and serums. These can still be used – especially if they double as a heat protectant and frizz-fighter like the Coco & Eve Miracle Hair Elixir. But stick with a drop or two and work through the mids-to-ends only, giving your roots a wide berth.
4. Thinking you should avoid layers
Hold up – aren’t you meant to skip the layers if you have fine hair? Well, yes. And no. Here’s the reason. The RIGHT type (and number) of layers can give your hair shape, lift and movement, while the WRONG kind will leave you with a ponytail that resembles a pencil. (Been there, done that, bought the t-shirt).
It’s important to realise fine hair does not always equal thin hair. Fineness is to do with hair diameter, whereas thickness is about the number of strands. It’s very possible to have a thick head of fine hair – and the way to style it and cut it will enhance or rob your do of volume.
So, speak to your hairdresser about the pros and cons of layering. And whether the Rachel really is the best idea for you.
5. Skipping the scalp care
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again – haircare starts at the scalp. Exfoliating the scalp once or twice weekly helps remove the excess oils and product build-up that can leave fine hair limp and lacklustre. And the easy way to do it is with a soothing, invigorating scalp scrub.
Formulated with cooling peppermint oil and stimulating caffeine, Coco & Eve's Deep Clean Scalp Scrub creates the perfect environment for healthy hair growth. Gently removing dead skin cells and impurities with coconut shell, volcanic ash and AHAs, it’s the perfect pre-shampoo treatment.
6. Over-washing your strands
If your hair is fine, it’s easy to get into the habit of over-washing. Especially if it’s also oily. And fun (frustrating) fact: fine hair does tend to be oilier. What’s more, even if you’re producing the same amount of oil as coarser hair, there’s less surface area to mop it up. Meaning? You’ll look greasier sooner.
So, what should you do? Firstly, make sure you’re using the right shampoo for your hair type. This will enable you to wash less frequently to avoid stripping your strands – and inadvertently prompting your scalp to compensate with MORE oil.
Also try to stretch your wash out by an extra day by using a good-quality dry shampoo on your roots. This will also have the bonus of creating some sexy texture, grip and root lift.
7. Blow-drying the wrong way
The fastest way to fake a full, thick head of hair? With a killer blow dry. This means you need the right technique when blow-drying your skimpy strands. And you want to do everything in your power to achieve maximum root lift.
Start by squeezing excess moisture from your hair (use a microfibre towel to avoid damaging vulnerable strands), then apply a volumising spray and tip your head upside down. Roughly blow-dry your hair until around 50–75% dry, then finish with a round brush – lifting hair up and away from your roots to achieve buckets of bounce.
And if you’re bothered by dandruff or looking for ways to detangle matted hair? Check out our Haircare range at Oz Hair & Beauty today.
