I often feel like when people talk about long hair, they immediately assume it must be super thick and voluminous, but that’s not always the case. In fact, one of my best friends has the most incredible long hair, but always complains about how thin and flat it feels, especially at the roots. She’s definitely not alone, and you only have to look at the amount of volumising mousses on offer to know that lots of us are wanting to make our hair appear thicker and fuller. Although these products are great for thin, fine hair types, there are also a number of hairstyles you can try to help get your desired look. What hairstyles could these be, I hear you ask? Well, luckily for you, I reached out to Louis Byrne, L’Oréal Professionnel UK editorial artist, to ask him what long hairstyles he recommends for thin hair. He shared his top recommendations, alongside tips on how to achieve each look and what products he would use.
The great thing about each of these hairstyles is that they are super easy to recreate, so you won’t need to spend hours getting ready in the morning. That’s right, forget using endless tools such as heated rollers or blow dry brushes to try and get that 90s supermodel volume, as these simple hairstyles should do the trick. Interested? I thought so. Keep on scrolling for everything you need to know…
First up, Byrne recommends a ‘half up’ hairstyle. “This effortless and cool style is perfect to give the illusion of fuller looking hair,” he says. “Fasten the top quarter of the hair into an undone bun (or pony), you can style this right at the top of the head or slightly further back. My top tip is to use covered elastic bands to prevent from breakage.”
Byrne also recommends using a volumising spray on the roots before tying the hair up to give the illusion of added texture.
Price shown is members’ price. You could also use a silk scrunchie to recreate this look, as they are nice and gentle on the hair.
This spray is great at adding volume and texture to the roots.
As you can see here, adding a side parting to longer, finer hair can make the roots appear a lot fuller. “It’s not uncommon for women with finer hair to be sparse at the top of the head and crown,” explains Byrne. He says that a deep side part is a great way to counteract this.
“Once the preferred side has been chosen, I like to use the L’Oréal Professionnel TECNI.ART Full Volume Extra Mousse for a more elevated finish,” says Byrne. “Brush out with a natural fibre brush and use L’Oréal Professionnel Metal Detox Oil on the ends, you want to focus on smoothness for this, not root volume.”
Use a comb like this one from GHD to get a really neat side part.
Byrne recommends using this volumising mousse to get that really elevated finish.
The great thing about having longer hair is that you can switch things up with shorter layers from time to time. In order to make your hair appear fuller, Byrne recommends going for a face-framing haircut as it’s “great for finer hair and ultimately does the styling for you.” He recommends adding shorter pieces at the front and styling with a volumising mousse.
How chic does this haircut look? If you don’t like wearing your hair down all the time, Byrne says this also works great worn as a ponytail, with the shorter parts of the hair out framing the face.
To get those bouncy roots, add a little bit of this Color Wow Xtra Large Bombshell Volumizer while your hair is still damp.
Ok, I know I said that none of these hairstyles required rollers, but if you do want that Hollywood glamour kind of look, these easy-to-use roller clips are great for using on your layers.
Although both short and long hair types can benefit from adding a fringe to make their hair appear thicker, this style works especially well for longer hairstyles. “The return of the micro fringe is a great way to add face framing style to finer hair,” explains Byrne. If you want something a bit bolder than subtle, face framing layers, then this is definitely the haircut to go for.
This style really does help the roots look a lot thicker and fuller, and would also look super stylish with a long ponytail.
These mini straighteners are ideal for getting those hard-to-reach areas like a fringe.
To keep your fringe looking sleek, tame any flyaways with this handy kit from Larry King.
Last. but by no means least, Byrne recommends enhancing your natural texture for a voluminous look. “This is great if you’re looking for more volume,” he says. “Spray L’Oréal Professionnel Volume Lift through your roots when hair is 90% dry. To style, tuck your hair behind your ears and let the rest air dry. When dry, shake [your] hair out, this will enhance your hair’s natural texture and movement.”
You can also add products such as a salt spray to get a more beachy look. If you’re blessed with naturally wavy or curly hair, why not try a curl cream?
This cream works to define your hair and provide buildable hold to keep your look in place.
For those of you with curly hair, this mousse will help hydrate and define your style.
