51 Hairstyles for Fine Hair That Add Instant Volume
Layers are your friend.
I'm intimately familiar with the pain points that come with having fine hair. My hair goes flat to my head in humidity, refuses to hold a single curl, and gets greasy faster than it should. (My dry shampoo collection is elite.) That being said, I've spent years testing out the best hairstyles for fine hair—ones that air dry with ease, boost volume, and hide greasy roots so I can squeeze an extra day out of my blowout.
From beach waves (with an exorbitant amount of hairspray) to undone chignons and slicked-back buns that are key when the humidity is high, there are tons of options at my disposal, depending on the length and cut of my hair. But the real key to maximizing my style comes down to a well-curated product regimen filled with volumizing shampoos, dry texturizing sprays, and hair oils and serums that hydrate without weighing my hair down.
To get inspo ahead of summer, scroll ahead to see the 51 top hairstyles for fine hair, with inspiration from Lily-Rose Depp, Zoë Kravitz, Jennifer Aniston, and so many more celebs. Screenshot away.
The Best Hairstyles for Fine Hair
How Do I Know If I Have Fine Hair?
You can have a lot of hair and still have a fine texture—it's about the individual strands. "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.
It's also lighter, flatter at the root, and often more prone to breakage than coarser hair, explains Cicely Shillingford, MD, and Director of Product Development at Amika.
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 "genetics, hormones, age, nutrition, and environmental impacts like sustained heat damage all play a role," he explains.
How Do I Style Fine Hair?
The biggest styling tip for fine hair is to boost volume whenever possible using products that emphasize body, bounce, and root lift. "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."
Why Trust Marie Claire
For more than 30 years, Marie Claire has been an internationally recognized destination for news, fashion and beauty trends, investigative packages, and more. When it comes to the products Marie Claire recommends, we take your faith in us seriously. Every product that we feature comes personally recommended by a Marie Claire writer or editor, or by an expert we’ve spoken to firsthand.
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 out some shorter pieces for an undone yet 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 hot rollers, adding a wave to long, fine locks helps create the look of voluminous hair.
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.
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).
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.
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.
Asymmetrical Bob
Asymmetrical cuts are in—and Willow Smith is here to prove it. This style allows one side of your hair to bear 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.
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 way the loose ends fall perfectly in the front.
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.
Long and Wavy
This sleek Karlie Kloss's look is a classic for fine hair. Try parting your hair on a different side or blow-drying it upside down for 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 for a little while. For an easy update to long strands, 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 with 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 styling 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 achieve more body, blow-dry your hair at the roots and use a round brush to gently brush the ends inward for added 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 a bit of time with a hot tool. You'll probably need to use a higher temperature to achieve the desired curl hold, so apply a heat protectant beforehand to prevent any lasting damage to your hair.
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.
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.
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 complicated style. Braid your hair in two long plaits and pin it up. The mini braids can be crafted from leftover strands or can be added via a hairpiece.
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.
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."
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.
