VA-VA-VOLUME

The 48 Best Haircuts for Thin Hair, According to Stylists

Bobs, pixies, layers, and bangs — these haircuts are strategically designed to help fine hair full-fill its potential.
Jamie Chung Jourdan Dunn Jasmine Tookes haircuts
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The appearance of thin hair can change dramatically under the power of the humble scissor — and a trusted cutting hand, of course. Done correctly, the best haircuts for thin hair can take fine strands and create the illusion of cool, woke-up-like-this volume without extensions.

If you're someone who has thin hair, rest assured it's not uncommon: "There are so many more celebrities and models out there with thin hair than we realize," says Lisa Weller, hairstylist and owner of Twirl Salon in San Antonio. Yes, friends, in this case, the stars really are just like us. And just as they can fake a fuller head of hair with the magic of shears and razors, so can you — even if you're not working with an A-list bank account.

A quick note of caution: If you notice your hair becoming thinner, it could be a result of many factors including heredity, changes in your diet, even aging, to name a few. Be sure to check with a doctor to get to the bottom of noticeable changes before booking your hair appointment.

Then, hit the salon. The first step to faking extra volume starts with the right cut, and the options that follow span a variety of lengths. Here, we chat with the pros about how to get it just right.

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  • Jourdan Dunn's onelength haircut short sideswept bangs and deep side part are excellent for making fine hair look thick...
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    Short and Side-Swept

    Jourdan Dunn's one-length haircut, short side-swept bangs, and deep side part are "excellent for making fine hair look thick," says Devin Toth, hairstylist at Salon SCK in New York City. "The style creates a heaviness at the bottom and where her bang is."

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    Barely There Layers

    If you're looking for a subtle change, consider asking your hairstylist for barely there layers like Gemma Chan's. Long layers are an excellent option for thin hair, says Toth, because the look "preserves most of your hair's thickness while still allowing for some movement and volume around the face."

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    Choppy Pixie

    Jasmine Tookes' showstopping pixie is "one of the best haircuts for thin hair," says Toth. "The shorter you go, the thicker your hair will look." But the supermodel's hairstyle goes one step further with its choppiness and texture, giving it "depth, dimension, edge, and fullness."

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    Blunt-Cut Lob

    Toth warns that a center part paired with straight hair generally makes strands look flat and thin, but Joan Smalls's long bob (colloquially known as a "lob") is the exception. Why? "It's super blunt — cut in a straight, horizontal line — and that's key to making her hair look thick," says the pro.

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    Piecey Bixie

    File this bixie (a combination bob and pixie) under amazing short haircuts for thin hair. "The hair is condensed, and that lift at the top makes her hair look so full and thick," says Toth, noting that it gives her short hair a "modern-Hollywood glam vibe."

    For this look, Toth adds, the hairstylist likely used a "strong-hold hair product to keep her hair up and away from her head all day." To re-create that volume, he recommends Kérastase Noire Hair Spray.

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    Shoulder-Length Lob

    Toth says Jennifer Garner's shoulder-length lob haircut gives her hair more width and fullness. If you want to re-create her look, the pro recommends asking your hairstylist for "really long, choppy layers in the back and at the bottom, with a soft disconnected long bang piece." Here, it’s styled in a deep side part, with waves you can achieve using Virtue Create Hair Texturizing Spray.

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    Long Bangs

    If you need an excuse to get bangs, consider it done, thanks to this look from Nicole Richie. The secret to her full-looking strands is her long fringe, says Toth. "Her bangs are great because they are long enough to be styled and lifted with a round brush, which gives the illusion of thickness." By comparison, "shorter bangs would fall straight and flat."

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    Straight and Sharp

    The blunt appearance is "so effective," says Ash Therese, a stylist at the Bird House in Brooklyn. Blunt cuts are some of the best options for thin hair, and Therese's trick is to create a "point-cut" perimeter to the style, as opposed to a simple straight line. Re-create a version of Karlie Kloss's lob (which looks sharp enough to slice something) with a ceramic tourmaline flatiron like the Beachwaver Coast Pro. To style, lift the hair at the root for volume with the iron, then smooth it, curling it ever-so-slightly inward to create the illusion of width.

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    Faux Blunt

    This lob looks like it could be cut in one straight line (then styled with curls afterward), but Therese has a hunch it's just designed that way. "If you look carefully, you'll notice that most of [Mindy Kaling's] haircuts are seemingly blunt, but the perimeter has texture, giving it more movement and a better sense of weightlessness," Therese explains.

    At her salon, she reaches for a mousse to add thickness. (We like Living Proof Thickening Mousse for this.) "Mousse has a bit of a bad reputation, but if you have fine hair, once you use a high-quality mousse, you'll never turn back," she says. "It has the power to thicken literally every strand on your head at the fibrous level."

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    Up, Up, and Away

    By gathering her curls at the crown of the head, Ari Lennox creates inches and inches of eye-catching volume. But before throwing your curls up into this look, Therese suggests giving them a spritz with Luxju Nourishing Hair Mist. "This particular product is nourishing, moisturizing, and helps define curls without weighing them down," she says.

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    Blunt Bob

    Leave the layers behind for this blunt cut that helps achieve a fuller look. "All the hair at the bottom gets cut off so it will have the most density and look super chic," says New York-based hairstylist Jennifer Yepez. For the bluntest of cuts, like Bella Hadid's, "never use a razor unless it's a straight edge and never use any thinning shears."

    Yepez also likes using mousse to perfect a look like this. Try the Allure Best of Beauty-winning IGK Big Time Volume and Thickening Mousse. Apply it from roots to ends of hair with a comb, and et voilà! You'll have instant body without the weight.

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    Angled Bob

    "The rule is, the thinner the hair, the shorter and blunter it should be cut," says Twirl Salon's Weller. For a fun twist on a classic bob, try one with a slight angle that's longer in the front and shorter in the back, like Jada Pinkett Smith's. "The blunt ends create an illusion of weight and fullness," Weller notes.

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    Sculpted Shag

    Retro 1970s shag haircuts are back in a big way, and stars like Barbie Ferreira are making the look their own. The bangs help balance out thin, tapered ends, and Ferreira's close-cropped version makes thin hair look sculpted and chic. Says New York City-based hairstylist Sally Hershberger, "This low-maintenance cut is great for thin hair because the choppy layers provide tons of movement and texture, creating the illusion that hair is more full."

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    Classic Lob

    We like to think of a lob as the kind of hairstyle Goldilocks would choose: It's not too long and it's not too short — it hits right in the middle. At the salon, ask for a cut that's just above the shoulders, like Margot Robbie's.

    Similar to Hadid's cut, this is (surprise, surprise!) free of layers and super blunt. If you've got thin hair, consider this cut because it creates the appearance of extra weight on the ends.

    To style, go for a deep side part, apply Amika Blockade Hair Defense Serum, then flip your ends out slightly with a flatiron, which also adds a dose of volume.

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    Mid-length With Long Layers

    Here Smalls's mid-length hair has long, choppy layers, which create movement. Notice, though, that the layers are minimal, preserving the overall fullness and body. This cut works well for those with thin, naturally textured, but chemically straightened or relaxed hair, which holds shape and allows for volume to be emphasized by the various lengths.

    Look closely and you'll see that Small's layers start at the midway point between the crown and ends. To go the extra mile in making hair look thicker, Teddi Cranford, hairstylist, owner, and creative director of White Rose Collective in New York City, recommends adding a volumizing powder to your routine: "It's a great tool to give the illusion of thicker strands." Try Big Sexy Hair Powder Play Volumizing & Texturizing Powder.

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    Uniform Medium Length With Blunt Ends

    Say hello to the no-fail haircut that looks good on just about everyone. A medium, one-length haircut with blunt ends (notice a theme?) easily creates the appearance of thick hair. Plus, the longer length allows for more freedom in styling if you want to, say, pull it up in a messy bun or high ponytail. If you're unsure whether this cut will suit your face shape, Cranford isn't worried. "I think it's more about personal style and someone's overall vibe," she says. "Confidence goes a long way."

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    Chic and Sculpted

    Sanaa Lathan famously shaved her head for her role as Violet in Nappily Ever After, so it's only fitting that she showed off the post-shoot growth at the film's premiere, pictured here. (The actor has been growing out her curls, with gorgeous results.)

    Whether you're in this stage of growth or just maintaining length, this high and sculpted look above is an elegant choice. Therese recommends shaping curls with Oribe Grandiose Hair Plumping Mousse, which adds volume and structure.

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    Blunt With Curtain Bangs

    "The trend here is 'blunt,'" says New York City-based hairstylist Jasmine Burnside. "Finer hair is less dense, so the cutting technique for this type of texture is very important." Burnside suggests asking your stylist to use a scissor, not a razor, and cut a blunt line tailored to give the appearance of a thick perimeter. Keeping the hair all one length also builds shape and density, instead of hair that falls flat.

    Also, be sure your stylist is cutting a fringe that is long enough to be considered a curtain bang, but short enough that you're not left with medium-length hair and superlong bangs as it grows out.

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    Texture On Top

    Pinkett Smith has been open about her struggles with hair loss, inadvertently turning herself into something of a hair icon. "A lot of people with fine hair use pixie cuts to disguise thin or sparse areas," explains Therese. "With pixies, you can maximize shape by moving the hair in different directions and getting it to stay there."

    Here, Pinkett Smith calls attention to the texture she has on the crown of her head, and minimizes sparse areas by shaving the back and sides, all while looking like a badass in the process. Therese says heavy-hold products (like Bumble and Bumble Sumoclay) are best for making sure your style flips in the right direction.

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    Party in the Front

    Face-framing is a stylist's go-to trick to create volume. Take Zoë Saldana's classic, old-Hollywood waves, for example, which have been curled to perfection to accentuate her features. "Nice face-framing helps add density, body, and movement to make hair appear fuller so that strands aren't sitting flat around the face," says Leo Izquierdo, a Miami- and New York City-based hairstylist. "[The hair] flows more freely and hits on different areas around the hairline."

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    Deep Side Part

    Similar to Saldana's look but just a smidge farther from the center, Cara Delevingne's deep side part helps stack the hair on one side of the face, creating literal thickness and volume on the chosen side. Hershberger turns to deep side parts to give hair "extra body," then follows up the cut with her mousse. You can try the Allure Best of Beauty-winning John Frieda Luxurious Volume Perfectly Full Mousse.

    "Many people tend to think that mousse is only meant for curlier hair, but [I like to use it to] create beautiful, full-bodied blowouts on thinner hair," Hershberger says. "The best part is that it's so lightweight that it won't weigh down thin strands."

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    Layers and Texture

    Says Bailey Englert, a hairstylist at Fekkai in New York City, "I encourage my clients to go with textured looks at any length, creating the illusion of layers and keeping a one-length style to create softness and lift, adding fullness."

    "Soft" is the exact word we'd use for Jennifer Lawrence's cut and windblown texture here. Look closely and you can see a few shorter pieces up front, but this largely one-length, mid-length, middle-parted style is elevated by the addition of some energetic texture. Grab a texturizing spray, like the Best of Beauty-winning Verb Volume Dry Texture Spray to achieve and "maintain volume and fullness," as Englert suggests.

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    Long and Blunt

    The word "blunt" is often followed by "bob," so it's easy to forget that long hair looks just as sleek and dramatic (not to mention full) with straight ends. "Whether you love wearing your hair long or short, it's so important to remember to keep the ends of the cut blunt," says Jill Buck, a hairstylist at Nine Zero One in Los Angeles. "This gives the illusion of hair being thicker and healthy. Now, just because it's blunt doesn't mean you can't have layers. But again, those strands need to remain blunt." Kate Bosworth keeps things simple here with an all-across cut that works even with hair long past her shoulders.

    More from Allure
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    Medium and Blunt

    If you don't have the patience to let your hair grow as long as Bosworth's, or the courage to chop it as short as Hadid's, try a mid-length moment, as seen here on Kourtney Kardashian. "The blunt bottom of a bob gives the illusion of thicker hair (as opposed to wispy layered ends that can make thin hair look even thinner)," Potempa explains. "This cut is a classic style that offers a straight line. The precision of the angles and lines are super important to work with your face shape, so make sure to bring in inspiration pictures." Feel free to screenshot away.

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    Invisible Layers

    On first glance, Hilary Duff's hair looks as though it could be a textured, one-length cut. But look closely and you'll see some layers around the crown of her head, while the ends stay — you guessed it — blunt. More layers up top (or "invisible layers," as Izquierdo calls them) can be added across the head "to make hair appear more dense, rather than lying flat." This sneaky cut also gives Duff added body, and Izquierdo suggests lending it extra styling oomph in the form of lightweight texture and volume with a thickening spray.

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    Long, Choppy Layers

    Los Angeles-based Nine Zero One stylist Sarah Klein has a rule of thumb for thin hair: "For long hair, keep the layers long too," she says. "Layers tend to remove weight and can make hair look thinner. Long layers will remove just the right amount of weight to add volume at the root while keeping density throughout."

    Hailey Bieber's 2021 Met Gala hair is a balancing act because it doesn't fan out into layers until just past her shoulders. This helps give a bit of choppy texture and maintains volume up top.

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    Flipped-Out Bob

    If you're looking for a chop that's way, way above the shoulders, show your stylist Yvonne Orji's flippy bob. Despite the wave at the ends, it's clear the hair here is all one length, which provides the density you'd expect from a more traditional bob. Thanks to the flip, all that density is doubled, making the hairstyle look truly thick at the perimeter.

    Adam Federico, a Sacramento-based hairstylist, breaks down why this style works so well: "Generally, on thinner or finer hair, wearing the length shorter — at the collarbone or above — will give the illusion of more substance and density on the bottom edge," he says. "I would [recommend] minimal amount of layering at the crown of the head and interior, keeping the majority of density along the bottom."

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    Above the Shoulders

    Continuing his geometry lesson, Federico explains that "a very classic bob that's all one length will give the illusion of maximum density in the hair, while a graduated bob helps build a bit of fullness through the bottom edge of hair and maintains weight through the perimeter line."

    Lucy Hale has pulled off classic and graduated short styles in the past, but this look, which lands just above her shoulders, is an example of a classic bob. Federico styles similar cuts with a thickening foam (like R+Co Rodeo Star Thickening Style Foam) used from the roots to mid-shaft to create more density, volume, and fullness.

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    Texture Galore

    If you've been studying haircut options for thin hair, think of Kristen Stewart's style as the one that will get you extra credit. It combines the best features of a graduated lob, a deep side part, and face-framing layers, and finishes off with some choppy waves.

    Therese re-creates similar looks with a texturizing spray (like the Kristin Ess Dry Finish Working Texture Spray) which, she says, "adds texture to your strands, making them appear thicker and more energetic." The spray gives your hair "an almost electric energy," which is exactly what we'd say Stewart is serving in this photo.

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    Funky Pixie

    With hair this short, who can even tell if it's fine or thick? Kristen Wiig rigs the deck with less than two inches of length all around and a subtle cowlicked swoop of forehead-grazing bangs.

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    Long With Bangs

    Think of bangs as an optical illusion, helping to draw the eye away from thin ends to the coiffed hair happening north of the eyebrows. Taylor Swift's straight-across bangs add volume to the crown of the head, making this style look fuller and more intentional than it would otherwise.

    Says Englert, "If we want a longer look, I like a strong one length and lots of soft face-framing, especially around the cheekbones, to offer volume and movement around the hairline and roots, creating more fullness." Swift's style would work just as well with curtain, side-swept, or even baby bangs — choose your own hair adventure.

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    Side-Swept Pixie

    "The shorter the cut, the less ability gravity has to weigh your hair down," says Therese. Courtney Love must have a similar philosophy because this style is positively weightless. The side-swept bangs and texture up top create movement in what can feel like a very still, sculpted shape. 

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    Wave to the Side

    We hope you're not doing a shot every time we use the word "face-framing" because, friends, here it is again. Olivia Wilde uses that classic tool of the thin-hair trade (along with an actual hot tool) to curl the pieces closest to her face, adding extra movement and energy at eye level. The cut tapers out with a few layers near the ends, and the loose waves help keep the style looking full and fun.

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    Pixie Shag

    At age 83, Jane Fonda revisits one of her classic haircuts from decades earlier, proving that a combination shag and pixie looks trendy and interesting no matter when you were born. "The trick is that you've got all those [side] pieces adding volume to make those thinner tapered ends look intentional (because they are!)," says Therese.

    Here, Fonda's stylist added layers around the lengths of her bangs close to the top, then left the sides long enough to frame the face (there's that phrase again) and create the classic shag silhouette.

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    Flipped-Out Lob (With a Glitter Part)

    Okay, the glitter part doesn't technically have anything to do with Jessica Biel's hair texture, but it's just too cute to go unrecognized.

    Onto the real business: The ends of her straight-across lob are subtly curled to just the right angle. They look polished without stepping into Betty Draper territory. The hair is all one length, which keeps the style dense, and the flip adds extra thickness to the overall look.

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    Flipped-In Bob

    As DJ Casper would say, "Reverse! reverse!" Here, Jessica Alba applies the same principle as Biel: one length, finished off with a nice flip, with ends curled in for a similar, fuller-looking hair.

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    Curtain Bangs

    "If we want a longer look, I like a strong one-length and lots of soft face-framing," says Englert. Curtain bangs like Elizabeth Olsen's "offer volume and movement around the hairline and roots, creating more fullness." This bang style is definitely on trend, and Olsen makes a very solid case for heading to the hair salon.

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    Spiky Pixie

    All you need to re-create Michelle Williams's look are scissors and a strong-hold styling gel or hairspray. The beauty of this cut is that you can run your (product-covered) hands through your hair and end up fully styled. Those with fine hair can strategically swoop some strands to mask thin spots. The only challenge will be maintaining the stylishly mismatched length of your bangs, so make sure you have a stylist on speed dial.

Written by Allure Staff
KeywordsHairhaircutthin hairMargot RobbieAnne Hathawayjada pinkett smithsuki waterhousebella hadidservicebangsthicker hair
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