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
Chic Chignon
This classy pulled-back look on Lily-Rose Depp will never go out of style. For some added face-framing elements like the actress has here, pull some shorter pieces out for an undone but always chic touch.
Bold Side Part
This chin-length chop enhances the jawline like no other. Lucy Liu's dramatic bob haircut is styled with a deep side part, making her cheekbones stand out.
Mermaid-Esque Styles
Dakota Fanning's beachy, mermaid-like waves beautifully accentuate her features, while her side part helps frame the face and adds dimension.
Sleek Waves
With the help of the best curling irons or some rollers, adding a wave to long, fine locks helps create the look of voluminous hair. Katie Holmes' waves add a fullness to her hair that we love—but that doesn't mean some product wasn't necessary to maintain the look long enough for a photo shoot.
Accessorize, Accessorize
Diane Kruger opted for a chignon with loose, face-framing sections for this amazing red carpet look. For an element of glam, she added a stunning hair accessory—one of the easiest things someone with fine hair can do to add a bit of intrigue. Need hair accessory inspiration? Check out the best maximalist hair accessories from Copenhagen Fashion Week.
Slick, Pulled Back 'Do
Pulled back nice and gently, Camila Mendes's slicked hair falls down her back and makes her lovely face the main event.
Sleek Bun
If anyone knows how to pull off a chic updo, it's Keira Knightley. Her sleek, pulled-back look accentuates her pretty stud earrings.
Half-Up Look
Rashida Jones completely nailed this pretty half-up, half-down style. Her shoulder-length, slightly waved strands lend themselves to this look, with curtain bangs and face-framing pieces left out to bring attention to her eyes and jawline.
Super-Short Pixie
Emma Corrin has mastered the pixie cut, as evidenced here at the Deadpool & Wolverine premiere. Both stunning and easy to style, this cropped look makes their cheekbones stand out (and brings attention to the eyebrows as well).
Behind-the-Ear Bob
As per usual, Michelle Williams made a dramatic statement with this style. If your hair won't cooperate and you're looking to recreate the look, pin back your hair with bobby pins to keep everything nice and tight.
Wavy Ponytail with Bangs
Dakota Johnson's ponytail has anything you could ever need and/or hope for. The length, the waves, the wisps perfectly framing her face. Plus, opting for a wavy ponytail instead of a straight one will make your hair seem thicker and longer.
Wispy Updo
Leighton Meester has been hair goals for years, and the way she rocks this wispy updo is *chefs kiss.* There's something about a little hair in your eyes that just adds mystery, romance, and glamour all at the same time. From weddings to the classic Sunday stroll, this hairstyle is perfect for any occasion.
Flipped-Out Bob
If you're feeling a little sassy, may we suggest a flipped-out bob a la Florence Pugh? Channel your inner '60s girl and add some texturized waves to spice things up a little.
Deep Side Part
A deep side part instantly creates more volume. Just look at Mindy Kaling here. If you're hoping to channel this style, use the arch of your brow as a marker for where to start your part.
Loose Top Knot
Kristen Stewart is known for her punky styles, and this loose top knot is one of the best. Another plus? It helps highlight her (fabulous) brows.
Shaggy Short Cut
Malin Ackerman absolutely rocked this edgy short cut—her major layers bless her fine hair with so much volume.
If you need product help while crafting a similar style, Bennet recommends Color Wow Xtra Large Bombshell Volumizer. "It’s a weightless foam that adds bounce and shine to any blow dry but can also be used for air drying and won’t leave the hair feeling stiff or crunchy," she says.
Braided Updo
This crown braid swept into an updo looks like it was made for Lucy Hale...and it was! She's a boho princess in this elegant style. And is that a flower we see peeking out from the back?
Not only are updos photogenic if you have a fancy event on your calendar, but they're ideal for fine hair because the style adds so much shape and structure.
Asymmetrical Bob
Asymmetrical cuts are in—and Willow Smith is here to prove it. This style allows one side of your hair to borrow more weight than the other, which in turn creates unmatched texture. For a wet look like this, you need a great gel. My go-to is bumble and bumble Gel Sculpting Medium. Make sure to scrunch your ends for an effortless finish.
Pulled-Back Styles
Headbands will take your hair from pretty to absolutely regal. Exhibit A? The one and only Ruth Negga at the 2017 Academy Awards. The actress has naturally gorgeous curls, but adorning them with this bejeweled headband added such an elegant touch.
Loose Braids
Nicole Richie completely owns this easy braided style. While there's absolutely nothing wrong with taking things back to the basics with a good old-fashioned pair of braids, what truly elevates this style is the loose ends falling so perfectly in the front.
Romantic Curls
If your hair is on the longer side, you can always go the classic route like Lily-Rose Depp and add glamorous soft curls to your repertoire. Face-framing layers will help add some necessary dimension.
Voluminous Bob
This style makes it hard to believe that Lucy Boynton naturally has fine hair. To get your lob to look as spacious as this, simply take a rounded brush and tease your hair—focus on your roots to lift your hair as much as possible.
Colorful Bob
Boynton again? Yes, she's so good at this! Honestly, there's nothing a cool color can't do for your hair. Coating your strands with a hue of your choice (pink is one of our favorites for summer) is an easy distraction if you have limp strands; everyone will be too busy complimenting your shade to focus on texture.
Piece-y Short Cut
Try to take your attention off of Iris Law's perfect contour for one moment and focus on her hair. The feathery styling bends breathe a whole lot of life into her fine strands.
Wet Look
Hi Barbie! The lovely Margot Robbie wore this stunning wet style on the red carpet, illustrating how transforming your texture lends so much body to limp strands.
Long and Wavy
This sleek Karlie Kloss look is a classic for fine hair. The only downside? It can get a little boring. Try parting your hair on a different side or blow-drying your hair upside down for some added volume at the roots.
"For someone with fine high-density hair, a mid-length long layered cut with some face framing is great, especially with some lived-in texturizing carved through the ends," explains Bennet.
Lift and Curl
No, we can't all have Matilda Djerf hair. But we can fake it a little. For an easy update to long strands, simply wrap your ends around a barrel iron for this swirling curl effect. This style works especially well on day-after-wash strands. Add some dry shampoo at the roots for extra lift.
Half-Updo
A half-updo is an especially elegant way to break up long, fine hair and doesn't require much time or effort. To recreate Lily Collins' satin-y style, use shine-boosting products (or a great conditioner) and smooth over any flyaways with a flat iron.
Cropped Bob
One easy way to add texture to fine hair is a shorter cut. The bob is a classic face-framing shape that, if you so choose, you can subtly add lift to by round-brushing the ends. It's also the perfect length for going to town with a straightening iron or hot tool. It'll only take 10 minutes to create a head full of beach waves or sleek strands like Julianne Hough.
This Rounded Lob
The rounded lob can be hit or miss depending on how you style it, because sometimes the length can fall flat. Lobs tend to look better on thicker, fuller hair with natural body and texture. To recreate more body, blow-dry hair at the roots and round-brush the ends inward for greater volume, or wrap your strands loosely around a hot tool for a slightly wavy effect.
Wispy Pixie Cut
One major perk of having fine hair? It looks killer in wispy, piece-y pixie cuts. Fine hair's soft, light texture gives it a gentle feathery quality, but beware of teeny flyaways. Investing in a pliable wax product to style and keep your hair in place is crucial for maintaining an ultra-short cut on fine hair—and can help you create a pretty wet look like Taylor Hill's here.
Soft Waves
Some fine-haired people may only dream of having this texture naturally. That said, recreating it only requires a little texturizing spray and some time with a hot tool. You'll probably need to use a higher temperature for your curls to hold, so spritz on a heat protectant beforehand so your hair doesn't suffer any lasting damage.
Lean Bubble Braid
If your greatest daily struggle is a limp ponytail, lean into your natural texture by trying a thin bubble ponytail instead. You can use the teeny clear elastic bands to section off hair like this look from Maria Menounos.
Floating Ponytail
If you want a chunkier ponytail like Jessica Chastain, use a texturing product on your hair to give a little lift at the roots. To make the rest of your hair appear fuller, try wrapping the ends of your hair around a curling iron. It's also crucial to prop up your ponytail if it's prone to falling flat, so secure the style with two elastic bands in a row.
Layered Looks
Jennifer Aniston is famous for her layered looks (cough cough The Rachel). Why? Layers work super well on fine hair to give it shape and body.
This Asymmetrical Updo
Take a page from Lily James's playbook for a fun updo that still frames the face. The deep side part creates the illusion of thick hair, while the pulled-back ponytail ensures the style looks clean.
Texturized Style
While a lifted root may not be the norm for fine hair types, there's nothing a little texturizer and hairspray can't achieve. Also, a crimp will never go out of style.
Shaggy Side-Swept Look
Gigi Hadid knows the power of a little zhuzh. Leaning into messy, undone waves is a great way to fake the appearance of fuller-looking locks.
Braided Twists
Chloë Sevingny is an icon if there ever was one. In hair and in life. For the 2024 Met Gala, she wore her locks in Victorian Mourning Braids (they also received a nod in our favorite braided hairstyles). While it may look intricate, it's not a horribly complicated style. Simply braid your hair in two long pleats and pin it up. The mini braids can be crafted from left out strands or can be added via hair piece.
Slick Pixie
Rather than fight against new growth or tiny hairs along the hairline, embrace them. Look to Greta Gerwig's expertly executed slicked-back short style for reference—everything has it's place.
Retro Styles
For a fun hairstyle that pays homage to the '70s, recreate Natalie Portman's flipped-out look. The flipped edges create the illusion of thicker strands.
Messy Top Knot
Perfect for a night out, a chill day at home, or a trip to the gym, Olivia Wilde's bun is an amazing hairstyle to have in your rolodex. While a hair tie will get the job done, securing the pieces with a few bobby pins instead will let you create more dimension.
Bendy Lob
If your hair never, ever holds a curl, strive to achieve a loose bend instead, like Sydney Sweeney. This can be accomplished with a two-inch curling iron or by feeding chunks of hair through your flat iron.
Vintage Accessories
If a slicked-back bun or ponytail is a little too simple for you, add some intrigue with a thick retro headband a la Mia Goth (or Brigitte Bardot). It's cute and comfortable.
Glassy Strands
Is hiding unwanted grease your main pain point? Lean into the shine by going for a glassy look like Diane Kruger. Coat the hair in a shine spray, and then straighten or add some wave to every last strand.
Slicked-Back Bun (With Tendrils)
Grab your favorite hair gel and boar bristle brush; creating this Emma Chamberlain look is easy. Coat each section of your hair with product before slicking it back. While you can bring all your hair back, we love leaving two face-framing tendrils out in the front.
Slicked-Back Bun (Sans Tendrils)
Another way to go the slicked-back bun route: Slick that hair back entirely. Just look at fine hair icon (Bennet's words!) Zoë Kravitz, who can often be seen rocking the style on the red carpet or out and about in her day-to-day life. You know she has a great wax stick on deck. The R+Co Dart pomade stick, perhaps?
Blunt Chop
Carey Mulligan is far from the only actress with fine hair to opt for a blunt chop—and for good reason.
"A blunt bob is perfect for someone with fine, low-density hair," says Bennet. "A length somewhere between the ear and the chin is the sweet spot because it builds weight in the perimeter and gives a fuller appearance."
Old Hollywood-Inspired Curls
Big, bouncy curls create body in an instant. Just look to Sophie Turner for proof. Concerned about holding a curl? Make sure to prep your hair with a texturizer or styling balm and leave time for touch-ups before heading out the door.
Loose Chignon
Kaia Gerber's laidback updo works perfectly for fine hair types with a face-framing haircut. Leave the front pieces out and gather the rest of the hair into a low bun fastened at the nape of the neck.
Sleek-Yet-Voluminous Middle Part
While this hairstyle could easily fall flat, Robbie makes it work with a boost of extra volume and those classic curled-in ends. "Haircuts with blunt ends tend to make the hair look thicker and fuller. Bobs are a great cut for fine limp hair," explains Gina Rivera, hairstylist and founder of Phenix Salon Suites.
