Fine Limp Hair

Fine, Limp Hair Causes and the Best Fine, Limp Hair Treatment Products in SA

How to fix fine, limp hair

Fine hair is a common hair type in men and women. Natural oils can weigh down the fine strands, making the hair appear flat, lifeless and limp.

Hair care products formulated for fine hair can give it the volume and bounce it lacks naturally. Gentle styling techniques and short, straight cuts can give body and movement to lifeless hair.

For in-depth information about what causes fine, limp hair, see our fine limp FAQ below.

1

Fine, limp hair core solutions

Hairhouse Warehouse stocks a wide selection of salon-quality hair care products formulated for fine, limp hair. For the best results, we recommend a four-step regimen using targeted products.

2

Best shampoo for fine, limp hair

Step 1 is to use a protein-rich volumising shampoo that delicately injects extra body into the hair to invigorate fine, limp strands. This serves as an instant pick-me-up to liven up the hair and make it more bouncy and full of volume.

3

Conditioner for fine, limp hair

Step 2 is the use of a fine hair conditioner that adds weightless moisture to dull, lifeless strands to create volume, lustre and shine. Closed cuticles keep hair airy, bouncy and full of life.

4

Best hair mask for fine, limp hair

The occasional use of a light, gentle-acting hair mask is the third step that’s recommended to give body to fine, limp hair. It works by stopping excess moisture from adding weight to lifeless hair.

5

Hair oils & treatments for fine, limp hair

An array of booster products and treatments, such as hair oil, give even better results. Products that are quickly absorbed by the strands and don’t leave an oily residue are best for fine hair.

6

Heat protection for fine, limp hair

Look out for volumising heat protection serums, creams and sprays that protect the hair without locking in too much moisture.

Fine, limp hair FAQ

If your hair is fine, thinning and difficult to manage, here are key FAQs that can help you find the right styling and hair care solutions for your hair type.

Causes

Fine, limp hair naturally consists of individual strands that are thin in diameter compared to other hair types. As each strand has its own oil gland, fine hair tends to be heavier than other hair types.

Using hair care products that are rich in oils and not specially formulated for fine hair can exacerbate the problem of managing dull, lifeless hair.

Fine, limp hair causes day-to-day styling challenges that can easily be resolved by using products that promote body and bounce.

Dull, lifeless hair lacks moisture, volume and lustre. The excessive use of hot styling tools is a common culprit. Harsh, chemically formulated hair care products are often to blame.

The regular use of hair colouring products containing bleach, ammonia and PPD can strip the nutrients from the hair. When that happens, the hair looks dull and lifeless.

Try natural hair colourants and conditioners instead. They can be as effective as chemical products, but are more nourishing and gentler to the hair shafts.

Fine hair is different to thin hair. Genetics, a poor diet, certain medications, age and a wide range of illnesses and auto-immune diseases can lead to hair loss, which, in turn, results in thin hair.

Thinning hair requires a more holistic treatment and restoration plan that typically involves the use of hair care products, nutritional supplements and massage.

Hair loss treatments, which stimulate growth, can be effective, especially when used in tandem with gentle hair care products.

Vitamins and supplements, such as collagen, biotin, selenium, zinc, copper and vitamins D3, B12 and C, are known to promote hair growth.

Vigorous scalp massages can stimulate blood circulation and create the optimum conditions for a full, healthy head of hair.

Fine hair refers to the structure of the hair strands rather than the volume of hair on the scalp. The strands are comparatively thin. The hair’s texture is soft and silky.

People with fine hair can have lots of hair or hair that’s thinning. This is either due to a genetic predisposition for hair loss or any other cause of thin hair mentioned above.

As a general rule, hair strands with a diameter of less than 70 microns are considered fine.

The key difference between fine and thinning hair is volume. When the hair is parted and reveals lots of scalp, the hair is thin and sparse.

You may have lots of fine hair that closely covers the scalp. Alternatively, it can be sparse.

There’s not much difference between fine hair and greasy hair. Fine hair has more strands per square centimetre of scalp and each stand has its own oil gland, so fine hair is associated with high oil production.

As a result, fine hair can become greasy more quickly than other hair types. That said, people with thick hair can get greasy hair if they don’t wash their hair regularly.

Tips

A multi-pronged approach, using only quality hair care products, is required to restore limp, lifeless hair.

The application of pre-shampoo treatments can add volume to fine hair. They are most effective when used in conjunction with volumising shampoos and conditioners.

Thereafter, boosters and finishers can provide more texture, shine and bounce to the hair. Ideally, they should be part of the daily hair care regimen – that’s how to add body to limp hair.

With that in mind, hair care combination packs offer the best approach. They contain all the essential hair care products formulated for dull, lifeless hair. Combination packs are often more cost effective than buying individual products.

Fine hair has a naturally high oil content. As a result, fine thin hair should be shampooed and conditioned on a daily basis.

It’s also a good idea to use styling oils, serums and gels sparingly. Invest in volumising hair products formulated for fine thin hair.

The best haircuts for fine, limp hair are straight cuts that end just below the ear or chin. Bobbed hair creates an illusion of thickness.

Short cuts makes the hair lighter, more voluminous and full of life. Any short blunt cuts are the best haircuts for thinning hair.

Ideally, fine hair should not be layered. It makes the hair look thin, straggly and sparse. Short, straight cuts reduce the weight of the hair, allowing it to swirl and bounce with every movement. 

Chunky haircuts like bobs, lobs and pixie crops are popular cuts for fine or thinning hair.

Besides the limp hair home remedies covered in the earlier FAQs, styling hair to add volume is a great way to mitigate the effects of thin, fine hair.

Styling limp hair takes a bit of time and creativity but, when done correctly, it can add bounce, body and shine.

Here are a few styling tips for thin, fine hair:

  • Apply volumising mousse to the hair before blow-drying it.
  • As you blow-dry the hair, repeatedly run the fingers across the scalp to create more volume at the roots.
  • Use a round styling brush to lift the hair up and away from the scalp before blow-drying it on a medium heat setting.
  • Consider curling fine, limp hair to add movement and bounce.

Products

Hair thickening creams and heat protection treatments, alongside volumising shampoos and conditioners that don’t contain too much oil, are key products for adding volume to hair.

Hairhouse Warehouse has a comprehensive selection of limp hair products that contain ingredients that add texture, thickness and body to flat hair.

Yes, it is. In fact, colouring thinning hair can inject much-needed volume and body. The hair colouring process can be slightly abrasive to the hair shaft, causing it to plump out and appear thicker.

The extra layer caused by the colour on the hair shaft can also act like a protective sheath to prevent the strand from breaking.

Lighter shades of hair colour that don’t contrast sharply with the scalp work best with fine, thinning hair. If you prefer darker shades, try adding highlights or lowlights to reduce the contrast between hair and scalp.

There are a few easy ways to get thicker hair, one of which is to use a good volumising shampoo, followed by volumising conditioner. 

Adding gel, wax or pomade, and crunching the hair in an upward motion makes the hair stand more erect, and gives the impression of a thicker head of hair.  That, together with blow drying the hair upside down, answers the question of how to give fine hair more body.

Hair extensions, wigs and clip-ons are effective in hiding thinning hair. When applied correctly, they can make limp, tired hair look thick and healthy. They can also conceal any bald spots.

The trick is to find an extension that doesn’t damage the hair, leave it matted or tangled or cause discomfort and even pain. Tape-in hair extensions and clip-ons are recommended for fine, thinning hair. 

Hairhouse Warehouse features dozens of synthetic and human hair extensions in a variety of styles that include straight strands, curly and wavy extensions, fringes, pony tails and buns.