Hairstylist breaks down the best cuts and styles for thinning hair – opting for the right color can be a distraction

THINNING hair can be less noticeable with the right styling and color, says an expert. 

He shared his tips for creating the illusion of voluminous tresses without worsening hair fall.

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Jonathan Andrew

Jonathan Andrew is a Global Brand Ambassador for the UK-based haircare brand Fudge Professional.

Little Mix, Jamie Redknapp, and Olly Murs are among the celebrities that he has worked with.

Speaking to The U.S. Sun, he shared his advice for styling fine and thinning locks.

TRIM TRESSES

Andrew said longer styles can emphasize thinning hair because locks become “heavy” and sit flatter on the scalp.

“If you want to keep your hair on the longer side my tip is to make sure you have some nice soft layers to encourage volume,” he said. 

“From my experience with clients, I know they feel if their hair is looking thin they are more reluctant to have it cut, but working in some softer layers will make the total finished results look thicker and fuller.

“Another great tip here is having a haircut to allow you to style it with width.

“This can combat it looking thin towards the ends and brings everything out, also waves and soft curls are great styling options here.”

LIGHTER LOCKS

Andrew said lighter colors including gray can be beneficial for disguising thinning hair.

“I tend to advise clients not to go too dark,” he said.

“The reason for this is that darker hair often contrasts the scalp quite significantly and can make the hair look quite visibly thinner.”

He said lighter pieces can be worked into styles to cover up grays while creating a “softer” look. 

Alternatively, embracing graying can boost the overall appearance of hair. 

“A lot of times going gray can not only be a great striking visual look but can distract from thinning hair as it is lighter on the scalp and is a slightly different texture and can be easier to create volume,” he said. 

“Also, for gray/silver hair I would recommend using violet toning products such as the Fudge Professional Clean Blonde Damage Rewind.

“It will help keep the color looking fresh without any yellow tones and keep the hair in tip-top condition by using OPTI-PLEX technology.”

STYLISH STRANDS

Andrew advised against using products that weigh hair down, such as “certain” conditioners, hair oils, and mousses. 

Fudge Professional has a selection of styling products suitable for thinning hair. 

These include Fudge Professional XXL Hair Thickener and Fudge Professional Xpander Foam.

“The best way when styling your hair to get maximum volume is to ensure you are lifting the hair away from its natural fall,” he said.

“My top tip here is to blow-dry your hair in the stages you are comfortable with and how you would normally do it but take an inch from the side of your parting at the front of your hairline back to your crown, in a large rectangle section on top of the head.

“Then starting at the back take small sections out of the rectangle section and blow-dry hair away from the face lifting each section and blow-drying it all back. 

“Whilst maintaining as much lift as possible and making sure not to touch the hair too much until you’ve finished.”

He recommended applying a “weightless” smoothing serum to finish the look.

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