5 rules everyone with fine hair should follow

Fine hair should come with a manual. What applies to most hair types just doesn’t seem to work as well for fine and delicate hair types. Creating volume is a constant struggle and with fine strands comes an endless mission to keep it healthy and damage-free.  

Well, consider this your go-to guide for maintaining, caring for and styling your wispy mane. These are the rules everyone with fine, delicate hair needs to follow.

Rule #1 / Only use products formulated for fine hair 

There’s a good chance that you’ve given up on products like conditioner, hair treatments and styling creams because they always weigh your hair down. But not all products will, we promise. Seek out hair care and styling ranges that are specifically formulated with fine and delicate hair types in mind - they change EVERYTHING.

The L'Oréal Paris Botanicals Lavender range proves our point perfectly. These products have been enriched with lavender essential oil to hydrate delicate hair and soothe sensitive scalps (and don’t get us started on how divine they smell! It’s like a spa experience in the comfort of your shower), as well as coconut oil and soya for an extra dose of nourishment, sans the heaviness. Also worth noting is that these formulas use only the finest potent, certified raw botanicals sourced from around the world (the lavender is from the French Provence) and are free from parabens, silicones and colourants, making them ultra-gentle.

You can use the Botanicals Lavender Shampoo and Conditioner daily, and the Lavender Mask can be applied weekly. Our favourite part is you only need to leave this hair treatment on for three minutes for it to work its hair-nurturing magic!

Rule #2 / Rough-dry your hair before you reach for a hairdryer

Air-drying your hair creates natural texture, so allowing your hair to dry (don’t be afraid to rake your fingers through regularly to gently rough-up the strands) before you reach for a hairdryer and brush is essential if you don’t want to end up with a limp and lifeless style. Let your hair naturally dry as much as 90 per cent first. As fine hair is more susceptible to damage than thick hair, spritzing a heat protectant before you use a hairdryer, curling tong or straightener is non-negotiable. We like Matrix Style Link Heat Buffer.

Rule #3 / Always, always have a dry shampoo handy 

Fine hair shows up oily roots more than other hair types, which is why a dry shampoo is your hair’s best friend. It can soak up oil from roots and also add much-needed volume to your daily ‘do. For the best results, spray dry shampoo onto your roots before bed. It gives the product more time to sink in, and as you toss and turn throughout the night you actually create natural texture. Try Pureology Fresh Approach Dry Shampoo.

Rule #4 / Get a fine hair-approved haircut 

Unfortunately, long hair and fine strands don’t mix too well - although it’s not impossible. Since fine, delicate hair is prone to split ends, a longer hairstyle can end up looking lank, stringy and thin (three things no women wants when it comes to her hair). A blunt cut is the best thing you can do to make your fine hair look healthy and thick. You can add some layers to boost volume in your style, but just avoid any heavy layering towards the ends because it can make your hair look thinner at the bottom.

Regular haircuts every six to eight weeks are a must for fine hair types to keep your hair in tip-top condition.

Rule #5 / Don’t apply styling products to your roots

Going easy on the styling products is a given if you don’t want to weigh down your fine hair, but that’s not to say you can’t use any styling products on your hair. Given fly-aways are another big concern for wispy hair types, it’s actually essential that you do use a smoothing serum (as well as a volumising mousse if you want to give your hair more oomph). The key here is to apply products to your ends first, and work your way up towards the roots (but never on the actual roots) if you find you need more. The only exception is if it’s a root-lifting spray, in which case, apply a light layer only.

For a smoothing serum that’s perfect for fine hair types, we recommend Kérastase Oléo-Relax.

Looking for some new hairstyles to add to your repertoire? Here are six red-carpet updos you should definitely copy IRL. 

Do you have fine hair? Have you tried the L'Oréal Paris Botanicals Lavender range? Share with us your thoughts on these products, plus your top tips for dealing with fine hair in the comments section below.

Main image credit: Getty