My hair is old. Help.
April 9, 2024 3:01 PM Subscribe
I have gotten older and so, sadly, has my hair. I hate it. Even though it's not entirely gray, it's thin and lifeless and very flat on top. I keep seeing ads for special shampoos for the aged. I have never really been an expensive fancy shampoo person, is it worth it? Or is this a styling thing? Recommendations, suggestions, ideas?
I am an American post menopausal cis white female of northern European ancestry. I have bog standard once dirty blonde / light brown but now mostly gray hair that used to be thick and wavy and now is just flat, limp and bodiless. I don't dye it anymore or really do anything much with it and I suspect that needs to change, or maybe I need special shampoo? I have been keeping it at about shoulder length or shorter in an attempt to get a bit more body in it - the gravity theory, as it were. It doesn't seem to be doing the trick as it just keeps getting limper. When I read things about old people hair, they say it gets coarse and wiry. Mine seems to have done just the opposite - it's quite soft and floaty now but it just lies there flat on my head. It is cut in kind of a layered, angled bob, or, well, it was quite some time ago. I do have an appointment for a cut in a few weeks.
Is there any way to bring my young hair back? Or, since there probably isn't, is there any way to make my old hair look less, just, flat and blah? Have you used something that works? A shampoo bar (I have never used one) or some such thing? Should I use mousse? Do they even still have mousse?
I have no idea what I am doing when it comes to Products. I don't wear makeup, don't style my hair, don't even blow it dry. Twice a week or so I wash it, condition it, towel it dry and move on. I also live in a rural area, so if you can't buy it at Wal Mart, Kroger, Costco or the natural food coop, it probably isn't here and I would have to order it. Please just think of me as an alien from planet all bald who knows nothing and explain gently what I need to do and what products you recommend. Thank you!
I am an American post menopausal cis white female of northern European ancestry. I have bog standard once dirty blonde / light brown but now mostly gray hair that used to be thick and wavy and now is just flat, limp and bodiless. I don't dye it anymore or really do anything much with it and I suspect that needs to change, or maybe I need special shampoo? I have been keeping it at about shoulder length or shorter in an attempt to get a bit more body in it - the gravity theory, as it were. It doesn't seem to be doing the trick as it just keeps getting limper. When I read things about old people hair, they say it gets coarse and wiry. Mine seems to have done just the opposite - it's quite soft and floaty now but it just lies there flat on my head. It is cut in kind of a layered, angled bob, or, well, it was quite some time ago. I do have an appointment for a cut in a few weeks.
Is there any way to bring my young hair back? Or, since there probably isn't, is there any way to make my old hair look less, just, flat and blah? Have you used something that works? A shampoo bar (I have never used one) or some such thing? Should I use mousse? Do they even still have mousse?
I have no idea what I am doing when it comes to Products. I don't wear makeup, don't style my hair, don't even blow it dry. Twice a week or so I wash it, condition it, towel it dry and move on. I also live in a rural area, so if you can't buy it at Wal Mart, Kroger, Costco or the natural food coop, it probably isn't here and I would have to order it. Please just think of me as an alien from planet all bald who knows nothing and explain gently what I need to do and what products you recommend. Thank you!
Best answer: It’s possible you have a build-up of hard water deposits or even shampoo. You might want to try a hard water deposit cleanser for a few weeks and see if it helps. After that, consider going to a light-weight shampoo that has “volume” or “volumizer” in the name.
posted by Silvery Fish at 3:32 PM on April 9 [2 favorites]
posted by Silvery Fish at 3:32 PM on April 9 [2 favorites]
Best answer: You might like highlights. In addition to the color boost, they coat the hair and give it a little more body. I think a good stylist could help you out a lot even without highlights.
posted by jgirl at 3:39 PM on April 9 [6 favorites]
posted by jgirl at 3:39 PM on April 9 [6 favorites]
Best answer: Seconding styling powder, I like Osis+, it’s like ten bucks. You kinda tip tap a little into your hair parting and then like lift your hair a little and do the same at one more “section” each side of that, like very gently salting a boiled egg. It makes my scalp feel cool in a very odd but nice way. Then ruffle your hair a little and you should have enough volume to need to like slick it down a little, I suggest a sea-salt spray (I think it’s more sugar mind) for this, like REF.
posted by Iteki at 3:41 PM on April 9 [1 favorite]
posted by Iteki at 3:41 PM on April 9 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Since you have an appointment for a haircut in a few weeks, this is an excellent question to take to your stylist! They see hundreds, likely thousands of heads of hair every year and will have seen a really wide cross-section of hair types, whereas the advice you'll get here is mostly going to be personal and individual experience.
That being said, since you asked about fancy shampoos / products, I'll share my own experience. After a lifetime of using drugstore products (everything from $2 store brand to the fancier drugstore stuff that makes all kinds of promises), I've recently switched to a professional line for shampoo, conditioner and leave-in conditioner, and I can't believe the difference. The products are more concentrated, so I need a lot less product (like a 1/3 as much) to get a good effect, and my hair feels cleaner and with more body.
There are also scalp serums that claim to help with hair loss, and ingredients like minoxidil (what's in Rogaine) that seem to be effective. But yeah, talk to your stylist, they will be the best person to help you!
posted by third word on a random page at 3:47 PM on April 9 [5 favorites]
That being said, since you asked about fancy shampoos / products, I'll share my own experience. After a lifetime of using drugstore products (everything from $2 store brand to the fancier drugstore stuff that makes all kinds of promises), I've recently switched to a professional line for shampoo, conditioner and leave-in conditioner, and I can't believe the difference. The products are more concentrated, so I need a lot less product (like a 1/3 as much) to get a good effect, and my hair feels cleaner and with more body.
There are also scalp serums that claim to help with hair loss, and ingredients like minoxidil (what's in Rogaine) that seem to be effective. But yeah, talk to your stylist, they will be the best person to help you!
posted by third word on a random page at 3:47 PM on April 9 [5 favorites]
Best answer: I’ve battled thin, flat, uninspired hair my whole life. No shampoo, dye, haircut, product, or “feathering” has helped it (and in many cases, has made it look worse). Many determined hair dressers have tried and given up.
For decades I did the thing where I flipped my head upside down to blow dry, tease, and hairspray it like it’s 1987 again, but even that usually falls flat by noon (earlier if any wind or humidity gets to it).
You know what did help? A texturizing crimper. Mine’s by Voloom but there are many to pick from. I love it. I do my whole crown and sometimes the length of it, too, style it into shape, and this is the ONLY thing that has ever made my sad hair look and feel “normal”.
My own mother saw me the other day and asked me if I had gotten some kind of wig, haha.
posted by paris moon at 4:05 PM on April 9 [4 favorites]
For decades I did the thing where I flipped my head upside down to blow dry, tease, and hairspray it like it’s 1987 again, but even that usually falls flat by noon (earlier if any wind or humidity gets to it).
You know what did help? A texturizing crimper. Mine’s by Voloom but there are many to pick from. I love it. I do my whole crown and sometimes the length of it, too, style it into shape, and this is the ONLY thing that has ever made my sad hair look and feel “normal”.
My own mother saw me the other day and asked me if I had gotten some kind of wig, haha.
posted by paris moon at 4:05 PM on April 9 [4 favorites]
Best answer: Ask your stylist but you ABSOLUTELY will get better-looking hair in your case if you blow it dry and use products. (Your stylist can probably sell you some.) I look AWFUL if I air dry with no product and markedly better if I style it. The good news is that it is very easy to learn how to do this, with practice!
If your stylist doesn't sell product, then go on Sephora and order this entire Bumble & Bumble kit. It's a trial kit of their volumnizing shampoo, conditioner, and thickening spray so you can just see how you like it. It's a classic and that's a very reliable brand. Ask your stylist to teach you how to blow your hair out for volume and pay attention to what they do while you're there. But! Also there are a million videos you can watch to teach yourself this stuff. This is a good one for what sounds like your cut is?
You can definitely improve current conditions with product and a blow dry!
posted by Countess Sandwich at 4:31 PM on April 9 [4 favorites]
If your stylist doesn't sell product, then go on Sephora and order this entire Bumble & Bumble kit. It's a trial kit of their volumnizing shampoo, conditioner, and thickening spray so you can just see how you like it. It's a classic and that's a very reliable brand. Ask your stylist to teach you how to blow your hair out for volume and pay attention to what they do while you're there. But! Also there are a million videos you can watch to teach yourself this stuff. This is a good one for what sounds like your cut is?
You can definitely improve current conditions with product and a blow dry!
posted by Countess Sandwich at 4:31 PM on April 9 [4 favorites]
Best answer: The other stuff can help but the answer should include a good stylist. Good haircut. Allover color to add thickness to the strands plus life (shine) plus highlights / lowlights to add visual dimension.
That's what I do. Right now my highlights are grown pretty far out and I can't stand how flat and lifeless the top half of my one-note medium brown hair looks. I go about every 10 weeks for a trim plus base color that is pulled through from the roots a little to avoid the ends getting too light. I get subtle highlights less than once a year. I ask for a wash-and-go haircut so, for my fine hair, this is all one-length to or just past the shoulders. I use an air-dry cream after shampooing for smoothness and will blow dry or flat iron for special occasions. I use Amika The Kure shampoo, those natural shampoos or bars will dry too much.
Since my gray roots show starkly against my brown hair that is flat, close to my head and make my hair look thinner and finer with the gray at my scalp, I color my gray roots every couple weeks at home with a mix of two L'Oreal Excellence colors. I use a kitchen scale to mix about 10% of one color tube in grams (plus a little more for the darker color to really cover my grays) plus about 10% of the lighter color tube (minus a little) plus 20% of the mixer so I get 5 root colors from 1 box (or really 10 root colors from two boxes) and use a small paint brush to mix and brush it on my roots (or at least most of them that show). Hey I color my eyebrows while I'm there for a few minutes since they've faded and that helps frame the face. This sounds like a lot but I just do it then read for 1/2 hour then take my shower. I asked my hairstylist about going gray, she said she would not do it, that it would age me 15 years.
posted by RoadScholar at 4:50 PM on April 9
That's what I do. Right now my highlights are grown pretty far out and I can't stand how flat and lifeless the top half of my one-note medium brown hair looks. I go about every 10 weeks for a trim plus base color that is pulled through from the roots a little to avoid the ends getting too light. I get subtle highlights less than once a year. I ask for a wash-and-go haircut so, for my fine hair, this is all one-length to or just past the shoulders. I use an air-dry cream after shampooing for smoothness and will blow dry or flat iron for special occasions. I use Amika The Kure shampoo, those natural shampoos or bars will dry too much.
Since my gray roots show starkly against my brown hair that is flat, close to my head and make my hair look thinner and finer with the gray at my scalp, I color my gray roots every couple weeks at home with a mix of two L'Oreal Excellence colors. I use a kitchen scale to mix about 10% of one color tube in grams (plus a little more for the darker color to really cover my grays) plus about 10% of the lighter color tube (minus a little) plus 20% of the mixer so I get 5 root colors from 1 box (or really 10 root colors from two boxes) and use a small paint brush to mix and brush it on my roots (or at least most of them that show). Hey I color my eyebrows while I'm there for a few minutes since they've faded and that helps frame the face. This sounds like a lot but I just do it then read for 1/2 hour then take my shower. I asked my hairstylist about going gray, she said she would not do it, that it would age me 15 years.
posted by RoadScholar at 4:50 PM on April 9
Best answer: I find it makes a big different if I braid my hair or twist it up into a clip after towel drying. Gives it a bit of body. But truly, the real texture and body comes hair color and a decent cut. Talk to your hair person about all this.
posted by bluedaisy at 5:04 PM on April 9 [1 favorite]
posted by bluedaisy at 5:04 PM on April 9 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I am on this journey! Professional products do make a huge difference. I recently started following most of the recommendations from YouTube hair guy The Blowout Professor and I am AMAZED at how much better my hair looks. It’s a lot of different crap to put in your hair and I was never the type to do that, but I am now, I guess.
posted by HotToddy at 5:15 PM on April 9 [4 favorites]
posted by HotToddy at 5:15 PM on April 9 [4 favorites]
Best answer: You and I are quite possibly the same person, hairwise. Everything you describe, I have / do / don't do, down to me not even owning a hairdryer.
The only thing I have found that works to give me anything but a scattering of limp spaghetti is only using the tiniest bit of conditioner very rarely and (whisper it) going to bed with wet hair and brushing it next morning. Which will probably make lots of people wince but it works for me.
I use shampoo bars as well - Ethique do a purple one (here) that I am currently scrubbing into my head when I shower. My hair is about shoulder length now and really needs a cut as well but the harsh regime seems to suit it and the body is somewhat back.
Hang in there, my Sister in Hair Hell.
posted by Martha My Dear Prudence at 5:17 PM on April 9 [7 favorites]
The only thing I have found that works to give me anything but a scattering of limp spaghetti is only using the tiniest bit of conditioner very rarely and (whisper it) going to bed with wet hair and brushing it next morning. Which will probably make lots of people wince but it works for me.
I use shampoo bars as well - Ethique do a purple one (here) that I am currently scrubbing into my head when I shower. My hair is about shoulder length now and really needs a cut as well but the harsh regime seems to suit it and the body is somewhat back.
Hang in there, my Sister in Hair Hell.
posted by Martha My Dear Prudence at 5:17 PM on April 9 [7 favorites]
Best answer: The original poster says that her hair is not entirely gray, implying that it's pretty gray. She does not express an interest in dyeing it. I am wondering if using heat to curl it and give it volume, as someone suggested, would be a bad choice because I'm reading that heat can turn the gray yellow.
I recently "went gray" naturally and I am struggling with this too. It's SO EASY to use a crimping tool to get "beach waves," which look GREAT, but I'm afraid of the heat.
For myself, I don't blow dry (because of the aforementioned HEAT), but I squeeze my hair when it's damp to give it some curl and volume. I like to use a leave-in conditioner after I wash it to give it some more oomph.
posted by DMelanogaster at 5:38 PM on April 9 [1 favorite]
I recently "went gray" naturally and I am struggling with this too. It's SO EASY to use a crimping tool to get "beach waves," which look GREAT, but I'm afraid of the heat.
For myself, I don't blow dry (because of the aforementioned HEAT), but I squeeze my hair when it's damp to give it some curl and volume. I like to use a leave-in conditioner after I wash it to give it some more oomph.
posted by DMelanogaster at 5:38 PM on April 9 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I have fine, limp, grey hair that is past my shoulders, I do not blow it dry or use heat on it except flip up the fringe around my face a bit to give it some height. I wash it with some local organic shampoo, then air dry it after rubbing in a handful of mousse. When it dries with the mousse in, I brush it well with a boar's hair brush to stimulate my scalp. I only wash my hair once a week, but I brush it well twice a day. It looks pretty fluffy after this routine. I feel pretty good about how I'm taking care of it these days, and I get compliments on my hair often.
After menopause I started to lose my hair. I saw a dermatologist and found out I am borderline anemic. I now take iron every other day, probiotics every other day, and stress b vitamins daily. My hair loss has stopped and my hair is back to being healthy.
posted by furtheryet at 6:11 PM on April 9 [3 favorites]
After menopause I started to lose my hair. I saw a dermatologist and found out I am borderline anemic. I now take iron every other day, probiotics every other day, and stress b vitamins daily. My hair loss has stopped and my hair is back to being healthy.
posted by furtheryet at 6:11 PM on April 9 [3 favorites]
Best answer: I don't have particularly thin hair, but when I go to bed with freshly washed (still damp) hair I wake up with a big, messy bed head. My hair can also get pretty bushy and hair metal-y when I wash it, turn my head upside down and give it a good go-over with a hair dryer. It's something some vintage rock star talked about in an interview (maybe Rod Stewart?) and I tried it and it worked.
I had a friend whose hair was getting thin, and she used to braid it up before bed. She'd unbraid it when she woke up and she'd have spectacular, wavy, shampoo commercial hair. It eventually turned out she had a thyroid problem. If you haven't had your thyroid checked, it could be a good idea.
posted by Ursula Hitler at 7:28 PM on April 9
I had a friend whose hair was getting thin, and she used to braid it up before bed. She'd unbraid it when she woke up and she'd have spectacular, wavy, shampoo commercial hair. It eventually turned out she had a thyroid problem. If you haven't had your thyroid checked, it could be a good idea.
posted by Ursula Hitler at 7:28 PM on April 9
Best answer: A good cut that allows you to look nice without meaningful styling and limited products would be a great start. You need to make sure your stylist understands you will only style under extreme duress…..
The only way for me to have effortless volume and a style that looks good with me running my fingers through my hair is to have short hair, cut every 6, max 8 weeks. By the time we get to week 7/8 it definitely benefits from blow drying with a brush to make it lay nice, i.e. to maintain something mildly intentional looking. Until that point, as long as I comb it when towel dry to make sure it lays nicely and use a styling cream to create a bit of texture I am good to go.
I don’t feel the need for conditioner when my hair is short like that.
posted by koahiatamadl at 8:46 PM on April 9 [2 favorites]
The only way for me to have effortless volume and a style that looks good with me running my fingers through my hair is to have short hair, cut every 6, max 8 weeks. By the time we get to week 7/8 it definitely benefits from blow drying with a brush to make it lay nice, i.e. to maintain something mildly intentional looking. Until that point, as long as I comb it when towel dry to make sure it lays nicely and use a styling cream to create a bit of texture I am good to go.
I don’t feel the need for conditioner when my hair is short like that.
posted by koahiatamadl at 8:46 PM on April 9 [2 favorites]
Best answer: In terms of product, you might want to look into some kind of beachy waves spray. That kind of product can be used to help give you more texture and keep it. You can buy fancy salon versions, but there are also cheaper versions that you can probably find at Target or Walmart to see if you like the effect.
I would also second some highlights and maybe if you're brave enough, some more fun color.
posted by brookeb at 9:25 PM on April 9
I would also second some highlights and maybe if you're brave enough, some more fun color.
posted by brookeb at 9:25 PM on April 9
Best answer: I succumbed a few weeks ago to targeted ads from Humby and bought their (purple) shampoo bar for gray hair and also their conditioner bar for gray hair. So far I have not noticed ANY change whatsoever in look, feel, texture, volume, etc.
posted by wisekaren at 3:56 AM on April 10 [1 favorite]
posted by wisekaren at 3:56 AM on April 10 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I'm 47 and I think we have very similar hair, although mine has never been thick, hah. I have very fine, thin hair with a natural wave/curl and my stylist recently suggested the Bumble & Bumble Gentle shampoo and the Thickening Volume conditioner. I've always half-thought that special shampoos and conditioners don't do much, but honestly I do think the conditioner makes my hair look thicker! I used to use their Curl line but my stylist thinks it's too heavy for my hair, especially in summer when I don't need as much moisture.
FWIW I also use a tiny bit of the B&B light defining cream from the Curl line while my hair is still dripping wet in the shower. After the shower I scrunch dry with a towel, then scrunch in a bit of Ouai air dry foam which is a light mousse. Sometimes I'll diffuse with my blow dryer, but as the name implies it's literally meant for air drying and it helps my curl/wave come out. After it's fully dry you can scrunch it again so it's not crunchy anymore, do a little flip upside down and kind of shake it at the roots, and I get pretty good body and texture that way.
I also keep my hair in a fairly short bob because it has way more body that way than if it's long.
posted by misskaz at 4:26 AM on April 10 [1 favorite]
FWIW I also use a tiny bit of the B&B light defining cream from the Curl line while my hair is still dripping wet in the shower. After the shower I scrunch dry with a towel, then scrunch in a bit of Ouai air dry foam which is a light mousse. Sometimes I'll diffuse with my blow dryer, but as the name implies it's literally meant for air drying and it helps my curl/wave come out. After it's fully dry you can scrunch it again so it's not crunchy anymore, do a little flip upside down and kind of shake it at the roots, and I get pretty good body and texture that way.
I also keep my hair in a fairly short bob because it has way more body that way than if it's long.
posted by misskaz at 4:26 AM on April 10 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I started going gray in my early 20s, which was a slow process for a long time. So I went through multiple decades of that awkward phase of mixed textures and brassiness.
Yes, a good haircut makes a difference.
I also use purple shampoo and conditioner once a week to cut down on brassiness. I also wear hats outside (silver hair is delicate, it can turn funky colors when exposed to sun).
I've learned to embrace the different colors and textures. If it wants to be a bit witchy, well, let's go with it!
posted by champers at 4:38 AM on April 10
Yes, a good haircut makes a difference.
I also use purple shampoo and conditioner once a week to cut down on brassiness. I also wear hats outside (silver hair is delicate, it can turn funky colors when exposed to sun).
I've learned to embrace the different colors and textures. If it wants to be a bit witchy, well, let's go with it!
posted by champers at 4:38 AM on April 10
Best answer: Rogain really does work. It will regrow the hair that's thinned with age to give you more to work with. You have to be consistent with it, as the new growth will fall out if you stop using it. My mom always had thin hair and after menopause she started using it and she's very happy with how her hair looks. She uses mousse and a round brush to blow dry her roots to get volume.
Use a heat protectant spray if you blow dry or heat style.
posted by ananci at 5:21 AM on April 10 [1 favorite]
Use a heat protectant spray if you blow dry or heat style.
posted by ananci at 5:21 AM on April 10 [1 favorite]
Best answer: It's annoying, but color CAN help a lot by kinda roughing up limp hair so it better holds a style, but also yes you should probably move to some kind of firmer-hold product and mousse is definitely an option.
I am not a person who has ever needed "volumizing" shampoo/conditioner, because while my uncolored hair is softy-soft, I have a LOT of it. But I have accidentally used cheap volumizing products, and they certainly seem to work enough that I'm like "what is happening on my head right now??".
For experimentation leading up to your haircut, you can try a cheap drugstore mousse, like Aussie volumizing. This video is a product comparison but she discusses how to apply the product (see also this video for root-lifting products/styling).
It sounds counter-productive, but might be an air-dry technique worth trying - I towel-dry just until it stops dripping and apply a really hard/extra-firm gel (usually Garnier Fructis or Aussie) first upside down, then upright, and then section up the crown so I can also apply a bit in the middle. Let it dry crunchy! You can even use clips to lift and extra-scrunch your roots around the crown. When it's dry, scrunch out the crunch. See if this leaves you with a more shaped/polished and less droopy look. This will also tell you if you have a bit of wave that can be coaxed out and used for good.
Also, a thing I just finally accepted for myself: the current trendy shaggy "wolf" cut is air-dry friendly and creates a lot of movement where there may not be much, but definitely confer with a stylist about whether yours is too thin to pull it off.
posted by Lyn Never at 7:17 AM on April 10
I am not a person who has ever needed "volumizing" shampoo/conditioner, because while my uncolored hair is softy-soft, I have a LOT of it. But I have accidentally used cheap volumizing products, and they certainly seem to work enough that I'm like "what is happening on my head right now??".
For experimentation leading up to your haircut, you can try a cheap drugstore mousse, like Aussie volumizing. This video is a product comparison but she discusses how to apply the product (see also this video for root-lifting products/styling).
It sounds counter-productive, but might be an air-dry technique worth trying - I towel-dry just until it stops dripping and apply a really hard/extra-firm gel (usually Garnier Fructis or Aussie) first upside down, then upright, and then section up the crown so I can also apply a bit in the middle. Let it dry crunchy! You can even use clips to lift and extra-scrunch your roots around the crown. When it's dry, scrunch out the crunch. See if this leaves you with a more shaped/polished and less droopy look. This will also tell you if you have a bit of wave that can be coaxed out and used for good.
Also, a thing I just finally accepted for myself: the current trendy shaggy "wolf" cut is air-dry friendly and creates a lot of movement where there may not be much, but definitely confer with a stylist about whether yours is too thin to pull it off.
posted by Lyn Never at 7:17 AM on April 10
Best answer: I finally went gray and my hairdresser gave me Milkshake brand purple shampoo. I only use it once a week now, leave it in while I scrub myself, and then rinse and condition lightly. The rest of the time, regular shampoo is fine.
The purple shampoo turns my hair silver and shiny. Texturing hairspray is great. Get some good advice from your hairdresser and spend a bit more on shampoo.
posted by Enid Lareg at 8:26 AM on April 10 [1 favorite]
The purple shampoo turns my hair silver and shiny. Texturing hairspray is great. Get some good advice from your hairdresser and spend a bit more on shampoo.
posted by Enid Lareg at 8:26 AM on April 10 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thanks, everyone! This is all super helpful advice and I will report back! I had to stop coloring my hair after many years of being blonde, redheaded, orange, blue, turquoise, purple - you get the idea - but anyway I am now apparently somewhat allergic to hair color, sigh. It hadn't occurred to me that I was used to seeing my hair dyed and it is now probably more natural than it has been since I was in my teens, so that might be part of the shift as well.
posted by mygothlaundry at 2:07 PM on April 10 [3 favorites]
posted by mygothlaundry at 2:07 PM on April 10 [3 favorites]
I suggest a sea-salt spray (I think it’s more sugar mind) for this, like REF.
In terms of product, you might want to look into some kind of beachy waves spray
You can make your own salt spray by literally just mixing a few teaspoons of salt into some water, and putting it in a mister.
You might also look for styling products that contain clay.
In both cases, you're basically adding a finely powdered mineral to your hair, which effectively thickens and stiffens the strands enough to add more volume.
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 6:30 PM on April 10
In terms of product, you might want to look into some kind of beachy waves spray
You can make your own salt spray by literally just mixing a few teaspoons of salt into some water, and putting it in a mister.
You might also look for styling products that contain clay.
In both cases, you're basically adding a finely powdered mineral to your hair, which effectively thickens and stiffens the strands enough to add more volume.
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 6:30 PM on April 10
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Some strategies that work for some people, from least to most invasive:
Hairspray the roots upside down to add volume
Tease the roots a bit
Use a bit of dry shampoo to rough up the roots
Use thickening powder to mkae it look thicker at the roots - it really works
Take biotin supplements
Get a topper wig - like a female toupee. If you get a good quality one, these look FABULOUS.
Platelet-rich plasma injections to the scalp
Hormone replacement therapy
posted by nouvelle-personne at 3:17 PM on April 9 [7 favorites]