How Can I Add Volume to My Thin Hair?
When you reach 40-plus, your hair thins, and the reasons why this happens vary. Your ethnicity and genetics play a significant part; however, as time catches up, the quality of your hair changes. Hair cortex protein levels drop, follicle sizes contract, cuticle layers diminish, and you are left with fine or wispy hair.
These unwanted aging changes can ding your confidence and plummet your self-esteem. The good news is there is hope for your thin post-40 hair. Add oomph and volume to your thin hair by eating healthy, taking vitamins, practicing proper scalp care, and using superior hair care products designed for your aging hair biology.
Reasons Your Hair May Be Thin
Unless you were born with fine hair, the microscopic, hormonal or biochemical changes that impact the follicle can thin out and weaken your hair.
Over time your once thick hair goes on an unwelcomed diet because the biology of your hair evolves. Your hair strands thin out due to ever-shrinking follicles, and your melanin production declines to cause thinner pigment-free hair. Many of your hair follicles slow down or become inert, shutting down hair production entirely.
Reasons your hair may be thinner include:
- Genetics — Genetics is the greatest determiner in the strand diameter of your hair. If your mom and dad had thin or wispy hair, you probably do, too.
- Radiation therapy — If you receive radiation therapy head, your hair may grow in thinner or a different texture than you had before.
- Medical disorders — Graves’ disease, lupus, or thyroid disorders can cause your immune system to attack otherwise healthy cells in your hair follicles.
- Environmental conditions — Pollution, temperature fluctuations, UV and humidity levels, and other environmental conditions all mess with your hair texture.
- Smoking tobacco — Smoking can cause oxidative stress on your body, which can accelerate hair and follicle aging. Smoking also depletes your body’s vitamin C levels, a nutrient that builds collagen proteins in your hair.
- Aging — Menopause-related hormonal changes and aging can cause hair density and hair diameter changes.
Qualities of Hair Volume
The method you choose to add volume to your thin hair will depend on whether you want to boost its tensile stiffness, boost its overall health, or expand your strand diameter:
- Stiffer hair is more volumized — The measurement of stiffness and flexibility in your hair is known as the bending modulus. A greater bending modulus will mean that your strands can stand up on their own, intensifying volume. Limp and floppy hair looks thinner and has a lower bending modulus.
- More hairs equal more volume — The more strands you have per square inch, the more your hair appears thicker. As you age, some of your follicles stop producing hair.
- Thicker strands equal more volume — The larger the diameter of each of your hair fibers, the more bulk your hair will have.
Methods to Volumize Your Hair
Many women with aging hair add one hair product after another in their quest for a fuller do. The heavy residues and moisturizers in these products flatten thin hair and damage cuticles, intensifying the problem.
When seeking out ways to add lift and density to your thin hair, focus on lightweight, easily absorbed products — these work by lifting your hair without leaving behind a film to weigh it down.
Start With Your Scalp
A thriving scalp paves the way for thicker strands.
- As you age, your scalp loses the ability to retain the nutrients necessary for repairing injured locks and germinating dense hair. Using a serum such as Better Not Younger’s Superpower Fortifying Hair & Scalp Serum on the regular delivers nourishment to the source for stronger and more plentiful strands.
- Flush your pores using New Dawn Activated Charcoal Scalp Cleanser. This clarifying agent nourishes the scalp with powerful vitamins and argan oil for healthier hair.
Shampoo and Condition
The particular needs of your thin hair require volumizing shampoos and conditioners specially tailored for your maturing tresses.
- Volumizing shampoo is an indispensable part of your haircare routine. Choose one like Wake Up Call Volumizing Shampoo with bamboo silica to fortify your hair and shore up moisture retention. Hearty sage, burdock root, and hops gently feed your mane without harming your cuticles.
- Over-conditioning can make your thin hair flat as a pancake. Use Wake Up Call Volumizing Conditioner to give it a jolt. This light conditioner imparts nutrients and moisture while plumping your hair to new heights.
Follow-Up With Hair Thickener
Hair thickeners add volume by coating your thin strands with fibers or polymers — this can be tricky because bulky sprays can damage your delicate cuticles.
- Select a breezy volumizing spray like Lift Me Up Hair Thickener that protects your cuticles with ceramide-NG and rebuilds keratin with niacinamide.
Fortify Your Diet
Your body synthesizes protein, iron, biotin, omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, and vitamin A to create your hair; however, as your cells age, it becomes increasingly difficult to retain these building blocks. Offset this issue by eating wholesome foods and supplementing your diet for max hair growth.
- Load your diet with heart-healthy protein, iron, and vitamin-rich foods, including beans, nuts, Greek yogurt, poultry, fish, and spinach.
- Boost your nutritional intake with Significant Other Hair Fortifying Vitamins and Power Within Skin & Scalp Collagen Gummies. These potent vitamins and tasty gummies are brimming with the essential elements needed for vibrant, voluminous hair.
Let Better Not Younger Add Volume to Your Thin Hair
Over the years, your hair transforms in style, color, quantity, and texture. Thin hair is one of those transformations that may happen gradually — but you don’t have to let it steal your joy. Eat well and take care of your scalp and hair by consuming healthy foods and adding quality hair care solutions to your beauty regimen.
Kick your hair care into high gear by using Better Not Younger’s Wake Up Call Volumizing Shampoo and Wake Up Call Volumizing Conditioner. Swing by our online shop and peruse our full selection of hair care products.