Fine-haired women don’t have an easy time of it. I envy my girlfriends who are genetically blessed with great hair. One friend I often traveled with has a thick mane of wavy hair. In the morning, all it took was for her to run her fingers through her hair and shake her curls back into place. A toss of her head, and she was good to go. Whereas I awakened with my hair flat and plastered to my head. No amount of head tossing would help.

Layered Style Didn’t Help

Until the Farrah craze of the late 70s, I was pretty much unaware of the texture of my hair. It was only after I, like just about every other young woman, rushed to the salon for the feathered and layered cut. I was surprised when my hairdresser told me that the style would not work for my hair type. She did her best to create a modified version.

What Is Fine Hair?

Fine hair, often described as silky and baby soft, is not necessarily thin hair, but it can be both, especially as we age. Composed of strands that are smaller in diameter and less porous than those of other hair types, it can get oily fast, and be easily damaged by dye and heat styling.

If you, too, have fine hair, you know the challenges that come with it. Fine hair is often difficult to style and can appear flat and limp. But, with the right products, you may be able to achieve fullness and thickness that will make your fine hair look its best.

Best Products to Make Fine Hair Look Fuller

While no product will change the texture (don’t I wish), the right products can make hair appear thicker and fuller. After years of trial and error, I have found the best products that work for me. I hope they will work for you, too. Here are some of my favorites.

Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging® Clinical Densifying Styling Mousse

One of the best ways to add volume to fine hair is to use a mousse. A good mousse will help to add body and fullness, without making it look or feel greasy. For me, the holy grail of mousse is Alterna Caviar. Having tried more brands than I can recall, I first came across Alterna about 10 years ago and knew I had found “the one.”

Now, I’m never without it in my arsenal of hair products. Marketed as a “lightweight densifying foam that thickens and strengthens hair” it does just that. And I like that it’s formulated without parabens, sulfates, and phthalates. You only need a dollop, so the product lasts a long time.

Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray

I first tried Bumble and Bumble salt spray when it was new on the market. With its salty sea air scent, it became my summer go to for that tousled beachy look. Now I use it year-round. I admit to having tried less costly salt sprays, rationalizing that “a salt spray is a salt spray,” but I was wrong.

Bumble and Bumble’s Surf Spray is by far the best, and I always return to it. I love B & B products, in general, and this is my favorite product in their line. One caveat: salt spray can be drying. So, don’t forget to deep condition.

Living Proof Full Dry Volume and Texture Spray

A few squirts of this light and airy texture spray are all it takes to add some grip to my hair. With a fresh scent, the spray doesn’t leave my hair feeling stiff or sticky. There’s a good reason why it’s on the list of Allure Magazine’s 19 Best Dry Texture Sprays for Tousled, Voluminous Hair.

I alternate between this and Bumble and Bumble Thickening Dryspun Volume Texture Spray, which works equally well, though the scent (which I like) is more pronounced.

Davines NATURALTECH Energizing Shampoo and NATURALTECH ENERGIZING Thickening Tonic

I discovered the Davines line a year ago, and although I’m sometimes reluctant to try new products, I’m glad I did. The duo is a bit on the pricey side, but worth it. I generally use the shampoo and thickening tonic in tandem. Both have a pleasant scent, and do, in fact, make my scalp feel energized, and my hair appear fuller. A review on Birdie.com described the shampoo as “an espresso for your hair as it kickstarts blood circulation in the scalp.” I couldn’t agree more.

Aveda Dry Remedy

If your hair is prone to frizz (as fine hair often is), you may want to try using a moisturizing oil. These products can tame flyaways, make hair smooth and shiny, and help prevent breakage. Aveda’s dry remedy is my favorite. All you need is a drop or two.

I alternate with Virtue’s Heal & Shine Hair Oil Duo for Dry or Damaged Hair which I was introduced to/discovered. I began using dry remedy after receiving a sample of it from Sephora. It comes in a travel size which I carry with me in my cosmetic bag. Now, humidity is my friend.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Have you tried any of these products? What are your favorite products for fine hair?