45 Hairstyles for Long Thin Hair That Are Far From Boring
Any fine-haired friend out there will know the struggles of finding hairstyles for long thin hair. But instead of admiring all your thick-haired friends for their voluminous locks, the key is finding the right hairstyle for your hair.
Find everything from your everyday hair staples to the best layered haircuts to try, in our round-up of the top hairstyles for long fine hair, below.
Low Bun
Top knots not really your vibe? Try the messy bun’s sleeker, chicer alternative: the low bun.
Favoured by A-listers like Kim KW, it’s the ultimate antidote for days when you’re due a hair wash and can take you all the way from the office to your post-work drinks. Credit: @brittsully
Editor’s tip: To tide you over between wash days, spray a generous amount of the TRESemmé Day 2 Volumising Dry Shampoo into your hair. It’ll give your hair a fresher look and feel, and won’t leave you with any annoying white powder marks.
Scrunchie Bun
Building on the bun trend, buns with scrunchies are a blogger favourite and it’s easy to see why. Chic and super simple to do, the scrunchie will distract from thin hair and instantly elevate any outfit.
Half-Up Ponytail
Get the best of both worlds with this super cute half-up, half-down hairstyle for thin long hair.
Wear this look with straight hair for an Ariana Grande inspired finish or to give your hair extra bounce and the illusion of fuller strands, curl the ends of your hair. Credit: @liana.vasilisinova
Bow Bun
Buns, especially messy buns full of texture, will help to give long thin hair a fuller feel. If you find regular buns a bit “meh”, add an on-trend accessory like this cute bow and it’ll look way more put together. Credit: @ginamadeit
Pigtails
We all have those lazy days where we want to look put together but can’t bring ourselves to do anything too major to our hair, which is where our love for braided pigtails comes in.
To give your fine strands extra body, try pancaking your braid by pulling on it gently from either side. This clever hair hack can be used on all braided styles and once you try it, you’ll never do a braided style without it. Credit: @olgasaroka
Half-Up Pigtails
’90s hairstyles are back in a big way and these Baby Spice pigtails are the perfect look to recreate if you’ve got long, fine hair.
French Fishtail
What could be better than a fishtail braid? A French fishtail braid, duh!
While it might take you a couple of tries to get this one right, it’s basically a combination of both the fishtail and French braiding techniques, so if you can do those you’re all set. Credit: @thegoodhairday
Editor’s tip: Fine hair types are more prone to soft, wispy hair, which isn’t the best basis for braiding.
To remedy this, we suggest spritzing a texturising spray, like the TONI&GUY Sea Salt Texturising Spray through your roots. This will help give you a little bit of extra grip to help your plaits stay put.
Half-up Bun
Of all the long hairstyles for fine hair, the hun (that is, the half-up bun) has absolutely blown up, especially on Instagram. This is partly thanks to how cute it looks, but it’s also super easy to do, too, which always helps. Credit: @tanya.gubenko
Hidden Braids
Are you someone who wears your hair down a lot? What about trying out a few hidden braids? This summery style, seen on boho queens like the Olsen twins and Drew Barrymore, adds a pretty detail to everyday styles.
You could even try colouring in your braids with hair chalk if you’ve got a festival on the cards! Credit: @ainsleyhall
Loose Braid
Long hair is the best for creating loose braids and soft, undone styles like this are the perfect way to keep your hair back during the day.
High Ponytail
Wear it high and proud with this smooth and sleek high ponytail. Channel the off-duty model look (à la Bella Hadid) by opting for a smooth and sleek finish. Credit: @liana.vasilisinova
Editor’s tip: Want to keep flyaways at bay while on the move? Add the VO5 Flyaway Touch-Up Wand to your handbag and when a frizz emergency presents itself, simply sweep the wand across stray strands to smooth them down.
Voluminous Pony
By teasing the roots of your ponytail you’ll add volume at your crown, which will not only boost the height of your style but actually give your hair more hold, so it won’t fall out. Clever, right? Credit: @emmachenartistry
Cute Pony
A beautiful and fun way to spruce up a pony without it taking too long is to add a hair clip (or 2, or 3, or…4?). It will give the style a more occasion-worthy finish and looks so good that it won’t even matter that your hair’s not the fullest.
Braided Ponytail
This braided ponytail would look good on most hair types and the accessories help ensure that it’s less schoolgirl, more fashion.
Wispy Updo
Whatever hairstyle you decide to choose, incorporating wispy, face-framing strands will give your look a whimsical, romantic appearance. The slightly dishevelled look will also help to give the illusion of thicker hair.
Half-Up Ponytail with Wispy Bits
If your hair (like many people with thin hair) can look a bit limp, getting short layers cut in around your face can help to frame your face and prevent your locks from looking weighed down.
’90s Wavy Blowout
Blowout hair looks good on everybody. To achieve this bouncy look on fine hair, we recommend using either velcro or hot rollers which will add lift and body as well as curl.
Glam Waves
Aside from the fact that waves are always on trend, they’re also a clever way to boost volume and body to fine or flat hair. These glamorous waves can be achieved with a large barrel curling wand, which will create soft waves rather than tight, defined curls.
Bubble Braid Ponytail
Bubble ponytails are all over Instagram at the moment and with stars like Tessa Thompson and Alicia Keys sporting them too, they’re only getting more popular. The best part? They’re super easy to do and a great way to make your hair look more voluminous!
’90s Hair Clip
Another ’90s hair trend coming back this season is the claw clip and we’re big fans of this practical (yet also stylish) accessory. Whether you’re working from home or going for a summer picnic, channel your inner Rachel Green with a clip updo and you’ll be good to go for any occasion.
Faux Braid
This hairstyle might look like a braid but it’s actually not braided at all! Once you learn how to do a pull-through braid (it’s pretty easy) you’ll be able to create a whole variety of intricate-looking styles that’ll trick everyone into thinking you’re a total braiding master!
Curled Ends
Sometimes less is more when it comes to styling fine hair. Case in point: Curling just the ends of your hair, or using straighteners to simply flick the hair under, gives thin hair a fuller look and feel in a flash.
Layers
If you’ve ever searched ‘fine hair’, then you’ll know that what comes up is basically just pages and pages of layered looks.
It might seem like an obvious one but, as cliche as it is, layered haircuts for fine hair can really transform your mane, giving it more shape and body, so don’t write it off. Credit: @harperpaigesalon
Curtain Fringe on Long, Thin Hair
From authentic ’70s styles to more modern, understated variations, this year is all about the curtain bangs. Luckily, they complement layered cuts like a dream, making them ideal for those with fine hair.
Swoop
Join the likes of Reese Witherspoon and Emma Stone with swoop bangs. Universally flattering, they work on hair of all lengths and can be styled in a whole host of different ways.
Wispy Bangs
Fringes are great because they allow you to change up your look while still holding onto your length – perfect if you’re trying to grow your hair. These long, wispy bangs are giving us Jane Birkin vibes but we love how the blunt ends keep it looking fresh.
Full Bangs and Layers
This fluffy, layered cut is full of texture and softness, giving it an edgy yet flattering feel.
Deep-Parted Long Haircut
Despite the Gen Z debate around side vs middle parts, there are plenty of reasons to love a side fringe – especially if you’re looking for styles that will give your hair more oomph.
Choppy Layers
Choppy layers are a tried-and-tested winner for adding volume, movement and shape to limp hair. They’re created by cutting bold, chunky layers into the lengths of the hair in order to give it an intentionally choppy look, with a blend of shorter and longer layers.
Sliced Layers
If choppy layers are too big a commitment, ask your stylist for softer sliced layers which blend in with the rest of your hair.
Layered Thin Hair with Babylights
Let those layers take center stage and enhance the multi-dimensional look using delicate babylights around the face.
Soft Layers
Create a soft and voluminous look with a ’90s supermodel twist with these soft layers.
Ghost Layers
Layers that look so natural that they’ll barely be detectable.
Blunt Layers
Generally speaking, feathered layers help to thin thick hair while blunt layers add fullness.
Thin Hair with Glam Layers
Flowing lengths and sleek layers? You won’t find a more perfect partnership.
Long Layers
Undone waves, sunkissed balayage and long graded layers, what’s not to love?
Shag Cut
The shag haircut was made for fine hair, adding texture at the crown and choppiness through the lengths.
Dimensional Colour
Having hair that’s all one shade can sometimes have a flattening effect – something you’ll probably want to avoid if your hair is lacking natural volume. Incorporating different colours into your hair with highlights or balayage livens up the hair by giving it more life and dimension.
Long and Defined Fine Curls
Is your hair fine and curly? Don’t be afraid of getting layers if you have curls – they can help to give your coils more shape and definition and stop them becoming weighed down.
Gradual Layers
Barely-there layers give this beachy look a naturally tousled flair.
Clipped Half-Updo
While creating volume is probably your top priority if you’ve got long fine hair, that doesn’t mean you can’t also make the most of your lengths, too. A half-up half-down ‘do is a great way to make the top layers of your hair look more bumped-up while also showcasing your lengths.
Layered Beach Waves
Blunt ends will make your beachy waves look more grown-up and polished.
Editor’s tip: To keep your ends looking healthy, use a small amount of VO5 Invisibly Light Hair Oil to help smooth any frizz or split ends.
Headband Braid
Headband braids are an effective styling trick for adding texture and interest to the top of your crown, making your hair look more full in the process.
Wispy Layers
If face-framing layers aren’t your cup of tea, focus on the back of your hair by incorporating wispy layers. This way, it won’t impact on your length but will add in texture through the rest of your hair.
Curtain Bangs and Long Layers
Curtain bangs have been seen everywhere and they’re the perfect way to give off the retro look we’re all lusting after right now.
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