The 51 Best Hairstyles for Fine Hair Will Never Fall Flat

Fake-it-'til-you-make-it volume.

Alexa Chung showing off her fine hair texture.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Having fine hair is no walk in the park. It refuses to hold a single curl, inevitably falls flat by midday, and gets greasy by three in the afternoon. We won't gatekeep the secrets to securing volume. You need to find a volumizing and detoxing shampoo for your hair type, consider a celebrity-inspired haircut for fine hair, and choose the best hairstyles for fine hair. Do all three, and you'll be able to create the illusion of texture and body.

"Fine hair feels really soft and silky to the touch. You’re supposed to be able to roll one or two strands in between your fingers, and if you can’t really feel any friction, then that’s a good indicator that you have fine hair," explains Lacy Bennet, a hairstylist and colorist at Lrn Beauty known for “cool girl” hair.

Just because your hair is fine, doesn't mean body and volume are out of the question. You'll need some solid hair products by your side, but a wide range of hair looks are at your disposal. To get a little inspiration on the best hairstyles for fine hair types, we looked to stars like Lily-Rose Depp, Zoë Kravitz, and Jennifer Aniston. 

From beach waves to undone chignons, they constantly serve fine hair inspiration on the red carpet. Ahead, we're sharing 51 of the best hairstyles for fine hair—plus expert product recommendations and styling tips.

How to Tell If You Have Fine Hair? 

"Fine hair is hair that is smaller in diameter, resulting in hair that is lighter, flatter at the root, and often more prone to breakage than coarser hair," Dr. Cicely Shillingford, Director of Product Development at Amika, tells Marie Claire.

What Causes Fine Hair? 

Fine hair is very different different than thinning hair. According to Hardik Doshi, MD FAAD, lead hair restoration surgeon at Ample, fine hair can be the result of many causes. "Genetics, hormones, age, nutrition, and environmental impacts like sustained heat damage all play a role," he explains. 

How to Style Fine Hair

"Hair that is fine, thin, or both does require special care to give the appearance of more volume and thickness," notes Dr. Shillingford. "To tackle volume, consumers should choose products that provide body and bounce, are ultra-lightweight, and that clarify the root to deliver root lift while maintaining moisture."

"The way products act to thicken hair is by depositing certain molecules such as proteins and conditioning agents onto the hair," explains Dr. Shillingford. "The outer layer of the hair is naturally negatively charged; we can use this property to deposit positively charged substances onto the hair's surface because opposite charges attract. Conditioning agents and proteins that are positively charged molecules will then stick to the hair, creating a coating that thickens and reinforces the hair strand, while also resulting in hair that looks and feels thicker and fuller."

The Best Hairstyles for Fine Hair

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Sophia Vilensky
Freelance Writer

Sophia Vilensky is a Freelance Beauty Writer at Marie Claire with a beauty, wellness, and entertainment journalism portfolio that includes contributions to Byrdie, Bravo, Teen Vogue, and Us Weekly. Growing up in a family of beauticians—and through her own personal studies—she developed an in-depth understanding of aesthetics, cosmetic product formulation, and beauty treatment development and has also held roles as a senior copywriter, content strategist, and proofreader for top beauty and wellness brands. Even so, you'd be hard pressed to find her with her hair and makeup actually done. Sophia is based in Minneapolis and is a 2019 graduate of the University of Minnesota, where she majored in English and minored in cinema studies. During her time at the university, she was the Arts & Entertainment Editor for the Minnesota Daily, earning the 2019 Editor of the Year award for her work. She connected deeply with the Twin Cities arts scene, collaborating with leading beauty professionals, designers, and artists. Graduating Summa Cum Laude, her thesis—a close-reading of Vanderpump Rules—was featured on NPR. When not immersed in writing or testing new products, Sophia enjoys watching reality TV, reading, and exploring the newest woo-woo wellness trends. Keep up with her on Instagram @sophiavilensky.

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