Having thin or fine hair can present styling challenges, but the right haircut can give the illusion of more volume and movement.
Short haircuts in particular can be ideal for those with thin or wispy locks, as taking length off can help hair appear fuller.
Let’s look closer at TOP Hairstyles.
The Classic Bob
The classic bob is a timeless short cut that flatters all face shapes and works well with fine hair. Going short immediately gives the appearance of more thickness and body.
Ask your stylist for a bob cut to just above or below the chin, with slightly layered ends for movement. Have them point cut the ends rather than blunt cutting for softness.
A good leave-in conditioner or volumizing mousse can help give a boost of volume at the roots when styling. Flip heads upside down and scrunch product in for maximum lift.
Let hair air dry for a naturally tousled texture.
A wave or bend can be created with a curling iron by just wrapping mid-lengths around the barrel and releasing.
Finish with a lightweight hairspray to hold the shape and add texture.
The bob is versatile enough to wear sleek and straight, tousled and piecey, or with soft waves or curls.
The cut works well with any density of hair and is flattering for oval, heart, square or round face shapes.
For especially fine hair, ask for subtle face-framing layers around the front to prevent the bob from appearing too heavy.
The Pixie Cut
Nothing says fun and sassy like a short pixie cut.
Removing bulk gives the impression of thicker strands, so it’s an ideal look for those with limp, delicate hair.
Go for a longer, softer pixie with choppy layers cut to around two inches in length if you have an oval or heart-shaped face.
Or try an even shorter cropped pixie with longer side-swept bangs if you have a round or square face to elongate the shape.
A key to achieving volume with a pixie cut is to create lots of texture on the ends.
Use mousse and scrunch hair while drying to boost body and movement.
Then add definition with styling paste, wax or light hold gel, rubbing it between your fingers and hands and scrunching it into the ends of the hair.
Finger-style and mess it up a bit for that “undone” look.
For special occasions, a pixie can be smoothed out and sleeked down with the help of some styling cream.
Just apply from roots to ends on damp hair and blow dry straight using a round brush.
Pixies are fun, flirty and feminine, perfect for making a bold statement and playing up delicate facial features.
The Inverted Bob
Also known as the graduated bob, the inverted style is shorter in the back and gradually gets longer toward the front.
This clever cut makes fine hair appear thicker by removing bulk from the bottom and keeping more length near the face.
Ask your stylist for an inverted bob reaching about chin-length in the front, trimmed to an inch or two above the nape of the neck in the back.
Blow drying upside down gives tremendous lift to the roots of an inverted bob.
Concentrate on drying the back section completely smooth using a paddle brush before flipping upright to style the front and sides. Use your fingers to muss up the ends for extra fullness and texture.
Piecey, broken up waves soften the inverted line and add movement.
For special events, an inverted bob can be ironed pin-straight for a sleek look.
Use a smoothing serum before blow drying from roots to ends, then finish with a flat iron if needed.
The graduated shape is ideal for heart-shaped, oval and square face shapes. Be sure to maintain regular trims to keep the graduated shape of the inverted bob sharp.
The Wavy Bob
Having some bend to a bob cut can help give the illusion of volume and touchable texture.
Ask your stylist for a shoulder or chin-length bob and have them point cut or razor the ends to remove bulk and encourage soft waves.
Use a curl-enhancing mousse when hair is damp and either air dry or diffuse with a blow dryer using your hands to scrunch hair as it dries.
To bump up the volume even more, flip hair upside down and diffuse until completely dry.
Let hair cool off before flipping upright to finish styling.
Define pieces of the hair by gently twisting shorter sections around your finger to create spirals and coils. Finish with a lightweight hairspray just at the roots for lift.
If your hair is naturally straight, add soft waves to a bob using a one-inch barrel curling iron.
Section hair horizontally and wrap mid-lengths around the iron, leaving the ends straight. Vary the direction of the curl for a beachy, imperfect vibe. Run fingers through the spirals to break them up once cooled.
The wavy bob suits oval, heart and round face shapes beautifully.
Try a side-parted version to frame the face or a piecey center-parted style for a vintage 60’s feel. Regular trims will keep ends healthy and prevent tangling in the waved texture.
The Textured Pixie
Embrace your inner pixie with an edgy textured cut that embraces natural volume.
Ask your stylist for a pixie with length of two to three inches overall, slightly longer at the crown.
Remove bulk with point cutting and razoring to create feathered, piecy ends that tousle easily.
The key to maximizing texture in a pixie cut is all in the styling.
Apply mousse to damp hair and scrunch vigorously to boost the hair’s natural body as it air or blow dries.
Once dry, work some matte styling paste, clay or Pomade between your fingers and hands and rake it through the layers, lifting the hair at the crown and tousling the sides and back.
Finger-style it messily, letting the choppy ends fall where they may.
For nights out, try smoothing pixie hair down with some styling cream and gently blow drying straight using a boar bristle brush.
The stylishly disheveled pixie cut suits diamond, oval, oblong and heart face shapes best. Schedule regular trims every 4-6 weeks to maintain the layers and texture.
The Angled Bob
Ask your stylist for an angled bob, short and sleek at the nape with longer pieces in front reaching to the shoulders or collarbone.
Longer front layers are point cut to remove bulk, then styled forward for maximum volume and face-framing flattery.
Have the back trimmed just short enough not to expose the neck for a lengthening effect.
Blow dry an angled bob with volumizing mousse using a round brush, lifting hair up and away from the head at the sides and back.
Concentrate on creating a smooth, curved shape in the back and rounding the ends under for bounce. Let the front air dry or rough dry it with your fingers, scrunching up the ends for texture.
The angled bob can also be flat ironed super straight and sleek, parted deeply on the side for drama.
Use a heat protectant serum before ironing in one-inch sections, keeping the shape rounded and face-framing up front.
This cut is great for heart, oval and long face shapes. Maintain the precision of the angle with regular four to six-week trims.
The Textured Lob
Lobs, or long bobs, are a beautiful option for short hair, falling just above or below the collarbone.
Going shorter removes some of the weight for fine hair, while layered ends provide built-in body.
Ask your stylist for lots of textured layers cut to different lengths and incorporated slices for movement.
Prep damp hair with a volumizing mousse before blow drying upside down.
Focus on lifting the roots while creating bend in the mid-lengths and ends with a round brush.
Flip upright and scrunch in some pomade, wax or paste for separation, twisting and scrunching pieces randomly to build texture.
The textured lob can be worn sleek and straight as well.
Use a smoothing serum before blow drying hair in sections with a paddle brush. Add soft waves with a curling iron by wrapping mid-lengths around a barrel and leaving the ends straight.
This cut suits oval, long, diamond and round face shapes. Schedule a trim every 8-10 weeks to maintain the layering.
The A-Line Bob
Ask your stylist for a crisp A-line bob, cut in a precision line to the same length from the fronts of the ears down. Nape length will be trimmed shorter while side pieces angle forward to softly frame the jaw and cheeks.
Light face-framing layers remove any bulk while encouraging movement and bend in the ends.
Create volume by blow drying the roots thoroughly with a volumizing mousse using a round brush.
Lift hair up and away from the head, concentrating on getting the curve in the back smooth and round. Rough dry side pieces forward with your hands to encourage natural texture and movement in the ends.
The A-line bob can also be blown super straight and sleek. Apply a smoothing serum on damp hair before sectioning hair horizontally to blow dry from roots to ends using a paddle brush.
Part lightly on the side and tuck longer front pieces behind one ear for flair. The A-line is perfect for heart, oval and diamond face shapes. Maintain the precision of the angle with regular trims.
The Shaggy Pixie
Embrace your inner rockstar with a sexy, shaggy pixie cut.
Remove bulk and create layers by having the stylist point cut and razor your hair into a two to four-inch cropped style layered longer through the top.
Ask for lighter face-framing layers to accentuate your features.
Ruffle up texture in a shaggy pixie by working some matte styling paste or clay between your fingers and hands and scrunching it through the layers, concentrating lift at the roots.
Arrange shorter fringe pieces to sweep across your forehead for a flirty touch. Let the back fall naturally for an imperfect edge.
The shaggy pixie can be smoothed out for dressier occasions too. Work some styling cream through damp hair and gently blow dry straight back and to the sides using a boar bristle brush.
Tousle lightly with fingers once cooled for romantic, slept-in texture.
The shaggy pixie suits diamond, oval, oblong and square face shapes beautifully. Schedule regular trims every 4-6 weeks to maintain the choppy texture.
The Textured Chin-Length Bob
Remove weight in fine, limp hair with a chin-length bob cut with lots of texturizing layers.
Ask your stylist to razor in light layering throughout, with softened fringe pieces falling to brow level to frame the eyes. Take out bulk with point cutting and slices for movement and dimension.
Prep damp hair with a volumizing foam before scrunching and air or blow drying with your hands. Lift hair at the crown and flip side to side to build body at the roots.
Once dry, add definition by applying some wax, clay or paste and twisting or scrunching random sections to create coils and bends.
Special occasions may call for smoothing out the textured bob.
Use a styling cream to air or blow dry hair sleek, concentrating on creating a curved shape with a round brush.
Flat iron if needed for a super straight finish. This chin-length bob is perfect for heart, oval, round and diamond face shapes. Maintain the texture with trims every 6-8 weeks.
The Layered Curly Pixie
Fun and flirty, a layered curly pixie allows natural texture to take center stage.
Get the cut cropped close to the head at two to four inches in length, with layers longer on top to encourage curls.
Ask your stylist to soften the fringe and experiment with an off-center part for asymmetry.
Prep hair with some curl cream before air or diffuser drying, scrunching gently to form soft ringlets. Define the curls by finger twisting and coiling pieces randomly after drying.
Allow texture to fall and mingle naturally. Finish with a touch of hair oil to eliminate frizz and enhance shine.
The layered curly pixie can be smoothed out for formal events too.
Work some strong hold gel evenly through damp hair and blow dry straight using a paddle brush, root to ends.
Flat iron if needed for a super sleek look. Let curly pieces fall naturally as they dry. This lively pixie flatters oval, heart, diamond and round face shapes beautifully. Schedule regular trims every 6 weeks.
The Chic French Crop
Channel your inner Parisian and don’t be afraid to go tres chic with a cropped French girl cut.
This version is cut in a graphic, straight line just at or below the cheekbones, with lightly arched fringe styled to sweep to one side across the forehead.
The nape is trimmed short to expose and elongate the neck.
Add the signature French girl “je ne sais quois” texture by applying styling foam at the roots and scrunching ends lightly with fingers while air drying.
For added polish, try blow drying straight back from the face using a paddle brush, adding bend and movement to the ends with a round brush.
Have fun dressing up the French crop for evenings out by smoothing hair into a sleek, glossy shape.
Apply styling cream evenly from roots to ends of damp hair and blow dry with a large round brush, curling ends under.
Flat iron if needed. This chic look complements diamond and oval face shapes. Schedule regular 4-6 week trims to maintain the precision.
The Layered Pixie Cut
A layered pixie is an ideal way to remove excess bulk from thick, heavy hair and create loads of volume and texture. Get the sides and back trimmed one to two inches long using point cutting and layering to remove weight.
Crown layers should be left longer, around three to five inches, to allow height.
Pixie cuts are all about texture.
Prep damp hair with a volumizing mousse and scrunch vigorously while blow drying with a diffuser attachment. Lift hair at the roots and flip side to side.
Once dry, work some styling paste or clay between fingers and hands and pinch and scrunch pieces to create soft spikes and coils.
When worn smooth, a pixie becomes soft and romantic.
Apply a styling cream before blow drying hair sleekly back from the face using a paddle brush.
Sweep sides to the back and tuck one side behind the ear for a femme fatale vibe. Schedule regular trims, around every 4-6 weeks, to maintain layering.
The Wavy Shag
Embrace natural texture and enhance it with a wavy shag cut, left medium-long on top with short layers underneath to encourage waves, flips and movement.
Ask your stylist to point cut and razor the ends for broken-up pieces that tousle easily.
Prep damp hair with salt spray and scrunch in some curl cream before diffuser or air drying.
Allow texture to form naturally, twisting and scrunching lengths with fingers to create soft coils.
Let the piecy ends shrivel up as they dry. Finish with hair oil or serum for frizz control and light hold.
Special occasions may call for smoothing out the shag. Pair a good styling cream with heat protectant and gently blow dry straight in sections with a paddle brush. Touch up the ends with a flat iron if necessary.
The wavy shag is versatile enough for all face shapes. Help define the waves by getting a trim every 8-10 weeks.
Go for shattered ends, piecy layers, soft waves and bend to inject loads of volume and movement into fine, limp locks.
A skilled stylist can recommend the right short cut to flatter your face shape and enhance your hair’s natural texture.
Schedule regular haircuts to maintain the length and shape. With some good styling techniques, a short hair transformation can help your fine hair become fuller and more fabulous.
