How to hide thinning hair
Over the years, I’ve tried countless products to hide thinning hair.
The market is flooded with hair volume products. While many promise great results, the truth is that 95% of them give you temporary volume on day one but leave your hair oily and limp by day two.
And they aren’t cheap. Over time, the cost of trying new products can add up. I have no idea how much money I spent on hair products over the years, but I am sure I could have gone on a few holidays with them!
I found most of my recommendations online, on Reddit or YouTube, and I have decided to write this post to help others who, like me, struggle to hide thinning areas.
For me the most thin area is my hair line and over the years I struggled to hide hair loss as you cannot add extensions on the top of your head.
I tried and bought toppers, but I never felt comfortable to wear them outside my house. Another complete waste of my money!
In this post, I’ll share all the products and tools I use to keep my hair looking full (well as much as it can).
My hair type
I have oily hair, which means I usually wash it every other day. While I could stretch it to three days, I almost never do because I apply topical Spironolactone, which has a weird smell and makes my hair sticky.
In the past year, my hair density has improved a lot thanks to my updated hair loss routine. However, I still have a noticeably thin part line that I cover with products. And I still cannot go without Toppik fibers.
While my roots tend to get oily, the ends of my hair are dry. To keep them hydrated, I always use a conditioner, a leave-in conditioner, and a heat protectant before blow drying.
My experience with volume shampoos
Over the years, I’ve tested many volume shampoos and finding the right one has been very difficult. I always wanted a shampoo that cleans my hair, without stripping it or removing the dye.
I also have a sensitive, irritable scalp and often experience itchiness with overly hydrating shampoos. Years ago, I stopped using drugstore shampoos because they consistently caused irritation.
For 10 years, I used the Phyto Cyane shampoo, which worked well for me to hide thinning hair. It is very gentle and leaves your hair slightly volumized. But the downside is that it is a very thin shampoo that does not lather a lot, so you end up using it up quickly.
In the last couple of years, I’ve switched to Redken Volume Injection Shampoo. It cleans thoroughly, adds the biggest volume I’ve experienced from a shampoo, and doesn’t irritate my scalp. While it’s on the pricier side, it lasts a long time.
The downside is that if you have a lot of regrowth, it makes your hair difficult to style, as all those little hairs are up on your head!
I sometimes pair it with a more affordable option like Nizoral or Ketoconazole shampoo for the first wash. This combination keeps my hair clean, volumized, and manageable without breaking the bank.
Another good but expensive shampoo I like to use is Kerastase Bain Volumifique Shampoo. It also gives nice volume but makes your hair softer and easier to style. I use it often when I have to get ready fast, and cannot battle with my frizzy hair.
The type of hair loss I have
I have Androgenic Alopecia, and I have been experiencing it since I was 16 years of age. I never had any luck with natural remedies such as oils.
I am currently using a new hair loss regimen to treat it. Read more about that in my previous post.
My hair care routine
Keep it simple
When it comes to hair care, simplicity is key. You don’t need a specialized hair loss shampoo. Any shampoo that cleans your hair well and adds volume will do the job. It’s important to note that shampoo alone won’t have a major effect on hair loss, so don’t stress about finding the “perfect” one.
I focus on finding the one that hides hair loss the best and makes my styling easier.
Avoid the urge to test every volume product on the market. I’ve tried mousses, creams, and sprays, and while they might work the first day, they leave my hair heavy and oily the next day.
Why is ketoconazole shampoo important?
Ketoconazole shampoo has become a crucial part of my routine. The most important effect is that it removes excess DHT from the scalp (which is the main cause of my hair loss) and it also cleans thoroughly, removing product buildup.
I also suffered from itchiness for years before starting this product. I now use it once a week. I massage it in and leave it on for 5-10 minutes while I am in the shower.
I use a cheap 2% Ketoconazole shampoo from my local pharmacy.
Leave-in conditioners: Choose a light formula
For leave-in conditioners, less is more. Heavy products make my hair oily and limp, so I use lightweight formulas. I use Pureology Leave-In Conditioner, which hydrates without weighing my hair down.
I use just two sprays of this product, so it lasts for ages.
Styling for thin hair that lasts
My hair is thin, but it also does not hold style well. When I go to sleep, no matter how much time I spend blow-drying my hair, I wake up with a completely destroyed hairstyle.
But once I tried out Kerastase L’incroyable Blowdry Hair Lotion for thin hair, I noticed that it keeps my style for days! And it also works as a heat protection.
I apply it right after the Pureology leave-in conditioner. It is important to use a small amount (pea size). My last bottle lasted for over 2 years!
I’ve also tested Redken Big Hair and WOW, but Kerastase works the best for my thin and soft hair.
Blow-drying for volume
For me volume is key, so this is my routine:
- I start with a standard hair dryer.
- Then, I use the Revlon Hair Brush on the lowest setting. This tool is excellent for adding volume at the roots and is very easy to use. I’ve been using it for two years, and it hasn’t caused any damage. In fact, it’s reduced my reliance on a flat iron, which has improved the overall condition of my hair.
How I hide thinning hair
Once my hair is dry, I use Toppik Hair Fibers to hide thinning hair (for me, that is mostly the top of my head). Here’s how I apply it:
- I cover one side of my part line with a piece of paper and sprinkle fibers.
- Then, I repeat the process on the other side.
I mix two colors, medium and dark brown, to get the best match. After trying numerous fiber products, Toppik is my favorite. And I have been using it for 15 years. The down side is that it is messy, and it does leave residue on your pillow. I also need to clean the bathroom after use. But it does an amazing job hiding thinning areas, it washes out easily, and my hair looks much better with it.
Advice on topical hair treatments
If you’re using topical treatments like minoxidil for hair loss, finding the right formula is very important. I used the wrong product from my local pharmacy for years. It was cheap, but it caused itchiness and made my hair oily, which in turn made me skip applications.
Then, last year, I bought Regaine Foam while vacationing in Greece. The foam formula is much easier to use, doesn’t leave my hair sticky, and even adds a bit of volume to the roots. Plus, it doesn’t cause scalp itchiness, which was a problem with other products.
I also use topical Spironolactone, which leaves my hair sticky. So I have to apply it in the evening, every other day, and wash it out in the morning before I leave my house.
Final thoughts
Hair loss has been a lifelong battle for me. Over the years, I realized that focusing solely on hiding thinning hair wasn’t enough, I needed to prioritize the treatments that actually address hair loss.
The most important step in managing hair loss is being consistent with your topical or oral medications. This foundation will make the biggest difference in improving your hair’s appearance. Once that’s in place, you can focus on products that help you hide thinning hair on a daily basis.
I shared a lot of tips in this post, but it’s important to remember that not all tips work for everyone. Hair type plays a huge role in how products perform. For instance, the shampoo I use might not work for someone else, but it’s been a great choice for me.
One crucial step I learned last year was the importance of cleaning my scalp and hair thoroughly at least once a week. If I skip Ketoconazole shampoo, then my hair gets weighed down with product buildup, making it limp and lifeless.
Nothing I mention here will completely hide thinning hair or reverse it, but some products from this post significantly helped with my confidence, and I hope they will have the same effect on you.
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