One of life’s most enduring beauty questions is “how to get thicker hair”. However thin or thick we perceive our hair, we always want more of it. And it makes sense: studies show that thicker hair contributes towards being perceived as better looking, however unfair or vain that might seem. Many of us have spent hours scrolling through social media looking for tips and products that can max out our volume and density, trying out lotions and potions that claim to contain the secret to long, flowing hair.
But before you waste more of your time and money on broken promises and disappointing gimmicks, we’ve gone straight to the top trichologists, who specialise in treating scalps and hair, to ask what actually works and where to focus our energy.
Below, they explain why our hair may feel thinner than we’d like in the first place and how to boost thickness so you can actually see and feel a difference…
Meet the experts:
“Why is my hair so thin?”
Before we get on to how to make hair thicker, it’s a good idea to understand why your hair is the way it is in the first place. “It’s important to remember that our maximum hair thickness is fundamentally dictated by our genetics,” explains Eleanore Richardson MIT, trichologist at Fulham Scalp & Hair Clinic. “So, if you have always had thick hair, it’s probably not a miracle hair product that is responsible. Equally, if your whole family has thinner or finer hair, expecting dense hair is unrealistic for the parameters your body can work with,” she says, “but you can improve your chances of enjoying the maximum thickness you are naturally capable of,” she adds.
Anabel Kingsley, consultant trichologist and brand president at Philip Kingsley, agrees. “Hair texture is pre-determined by our genetics, and therefore being born with fine hair does mean your hair will generally be like this throughout your life,” she says. “Fine hair refers to a specific hair texture characterised by the diameter of individual hair strands. It often has a small diameter, which means the individual strands are thinner and more delicate compared to other hair types. Fine hair often lacks volume and can appear limp and flat, especially when it grows long,” explains Anabel. “However, we can use a variety of factors to reach your individual optimal hair thickness,” she says.
Alongside your hair’s natural thickness, thin hair can be caused by environmental reasons, such as over-styling and excessive traction, it can be down to your diet and it can be due to medical reasons.
“How can I increase hair thickness?”
Once you’ve identified why your hair isn’t as thick as you’d like, you can take steps to tackle it. There are a number of ways to do this.
Density
First, look at density – for instance you may have thick strands, but just not many of them. You can improve density by “taking care of the scalp (cleansing frequently), making sure to eat well (three balanced meals a day, including proteins and carbohydrates), as well as using targeting products and supplements such as biotin, vitamin b12, vitamin d, zinc and iron,” says Anabel.
Volume
Second, you can look at volume. If you’re pre-determined to have finer strands, there are ways of inflating and boosting them to encourage the appearance of thickness, which is where styling and cuts come in.
Elle Turner
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