10 Hair-Fattening Fake-Its Beauty & Style

10 Hair-Fattening Fake-Its

Easy ways to plump up thinning locks

Here’s the skinny: No matter how many supplements you gobble, your formerly thick hair is not returning. Thinning hair at age 50-plus is due to a combination of normal aging, genes, hormonal changes and maybe a few decades of extreme diets, heat styling and color habits. It's time for a new hair attitude and a few changes of Sally Field and Mariska Hargitay

Get long layers or ask for textured feathery ends

The variations in length add movement and the illusion of more hair. Flick out the ends, instead of smoothing them straight, as you blow-dry for separation — Mariska Hargitay and Sally Field do. of Tracee Ellis Ross and Jennifer Grey

Let your natural texture help

If your hair is thin and wavy or curly, let that spring boost body, like Tracee Ellis Ross and Jennifer Grey do. Apply mousse and scrunch locks with a diffuser as you blow-dry. Use your fingers to lift sections of hair, and keep the dryer in circular motion on a low speed. Don’t let hair get bone dry; leave a little moisture in to allow hair to bend and crimp on its own for a final finish. of Mary Steenburgen and Lisa Kudrow

Cut  bangs

A full and feathery fringe or a sideswept bang can fill in the hairline area around the face and give any length a “more hair” look fast. If you’re holding on to long hair, bangs add width to compensate for thinning, too. Check out Mary Steenburgen and Lisa Kudrow for an incentive. of Candice Bergen and Meg Ryan

Scramble your part or change its location often

Two options: Either do a jagged part so there’s no scalp showing through or keep shifting your straight part. Even moving your part a half inch over provides a lift at the roots, which can mean the difference between flat or full. Meg Ryan and Candice Bergen get it right. of Gillian Anderson and Sharon Stone

Shorten your bob or lob

The longer that thinning hair gets, the thinner it looks. The best length is somewhere between the chin and shoulder. It doesn’t have to be a dramatic switch, because taking up the length even an inch or two can change your style from stringy to swingy. This works exactly like finding the right dress length: Just above the knees can look cool, while below the knees can be a drag. of Cynthia Nixon and Frances McDormand

Alternate washing with dry shampoos

Thin hair benefits from fewer sudsing and drying routines. Real shampoos are essential for scalp and hair health, but you can stretch the days between water washes by using a dry shampoo to refresh and add tons of volume. Lift sections of hair and mist the roots, or flip hair over and spray the underside for a clean scent and look. When you do wash, use a volumizing shampoo and conditioner. Apply conditioner to ends, where there are splits and frays; damage makes hair look skimpy. of Phylicia Rashad and Halle Berry

Make the crown stand up

Shorter hair that's left longer at the top looks thicker than a close-to-the-head crop. Your hair may be gamine short at the sides and nape, but the extra lift on top makes short locks look luxurious and lush. It’s a more glamorous or irreverently sexy look, depending on how you style it. Go for a feathery effect like Phylicia Rashad or channel Halle Berry’s iconic short and tousled cut. of Jessica Lange and Blythe Danner

Wave it up with an ionic curling iron

Even the thinnest hair looks fuller when plumped up with some bend and texture. Instead of going for a perfectly smooth and sleek look, try a low-dose curling iron. Use it to fatten hair that's just roughly blown dry or between shampoos for a bigger look. It works best on dry hair that’s been bulked up with mousse or dry shampoo. Work in large sections. Clamp a section around the curler and spiral-curl it back, leaving ends sticking out and free. The higher you start the curl, the more height you’ll get at the crown. Don’t brush; just use your fingers to separate, and then shake hair slightly. Be sure to choose a curling iron with a range of low heat settings and a large barrel. of Kristin Scott Thomas and Marilu Henner

Focus on your roots and ends

This is where fat hair gets its guts. Massage strands at the scalp each time you shampoo, or add dry shampoo to encourage circulation. Use mousse for body from roots to mid-shaft before drying, but concentrate conditioner from mid-shaft to ends. Continue to use the flip-hair-over trick for a last-minute amp-up, and end by using your fingers to separate ends so they don’t clump together. of Shari Belafonte and Tilda Swinton

Make a bold hair-and-style statement

Color coats the hair shaft, making baby-fine thin hair feel and appear thicker. Combine a strong hue with an attention-getting style — like Tilda Swinton and Shari Belafonte — and wash any worries about thin strands down the drain. of ADVERTISEMENT of

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