Four Ways to Make the Most of Thinning Hair

We'll all eventually deal with thinning hair. It’s a fact. How much we each lose, and how quickly, depends on genetics, as well as certain lifestyle choices. (In short: eat healthy, stay hydrated, sleep a lot, and minimize stress.) Beyond that, there are many ways to fight hair loss and regrow some hair—including the possibility of a hair transplant, which works and looks pretty great these days.

Still, it takes a lot of work to keep those hairs as long as possible (like, a lifetime commitment to good habits). Until science finds a way for us to retain all our follicles, many guys will eventually be forced to decide to keep the hair they have left or embrace baldness. Whichever route you choose, you’ll still likely need a styling solution in the interim.

This guide is for anyone who is trying to maximize their thinning hair’s potential, no matter if they’re expecting more hairs to sprout or fall—or if this is the hair they’re working with for the foreseeable future. Maybe your hair density isn’t what it used to be, but there are still plenty of helpful grooming habits and products out there to make the most of whatever’s happening on your dome. 

1. Get the Right Haircut

There are a number of haircuts and styles that draw attention away from your thinning hair or recessed hairline. The one that works best for you depends on which of the two types of hair loss you’re experiencing more prominently: thinning around the crown or recession at the temples. Some guys, of course, will experience both, so they’ll need to apply these guidelines together as best that makes sense.

In both scenarios, the most optimal style will be neither too short nor too long. If it’s buzzed all the way down, you’ll expose all of the thinning and loss. If it’s kept too long, the hairs start to weigh themselves down, which only further highlights the actual sparseness. Aim for something between 1-3 inches (curly styles can approximate this length when the curls are at a well-nourished, clean, and fully dried state). As for the ideal haircuts to pursue:

If you’re thinning uniformly: Ask your barber to texturize your hair. They’ll snip away to give your hair slightly different lengths throughout. This achieves two main objectives: It allows the hair to fall into place without getting too bulky—especially since you can still wear your hair down and get full coverage, even if it’s less dense than before—while also adding definition and texture for whenever you style your hair up.

If you’re receding at the temples: Aim for a slightly longer style (3-4 inches) to sweep over one of your temples, while drawing the part down the opposite temple. The hair at the front of the style can be longer than the rest of the cut, too, so long as it all has a sweeping movement. Technically, this teeters into comb-over territory, but you won’t be accused of it so long as you aren’t thinning up top too severely. 

2. Use a Texturizing, Volumizing, Lightweight Styler

After getting the right cut from your barber, you’ll need to give yourself the right style at home on a daily basis. And to do that, of course, you’ll need the right styling products. 

The key here is to stick with lightweight products that will help lift, texturize, and volumize your hair. Most brands will highlight these words on the product label, but the type of product that works best for you depends on your hair texture, density, and length. 

For short haircuts (around 1 inch): Try a wax, clay, or texturizing paste to create a denser, choppier effect and to “fill in” the general thinning with added movement and layering from the products.

For medium lengths (up to 4 inches): Opt for a cream or paste that helps lift and control the hair at the root, allowing you to sweep or comb it into place—and to keep it there firmly—without restricting movement altogether.

For curls: Combine a curl cream with a volumizing mousse (in that order) to provide the necessary moisture, definition, and lift your locks need. 

3. Embrace Dry Shampoo and Co-Wash

We typically tell guys to shampoo every two to three days—but definitely not every day. And while we’re still reluctant to suggest daily washes, you might need to bump up to an every-other-day regimen, just to prevent your hairs from getting weighed down by oil buildup. As precious as each hair is, you want to maximize volume here, and excessive oil will only counter those efforts.

Luckily, you can call on dry shampoo and co-wash to help. Dry shampoo works by soaking up excess oils at the root of the hair. Just apply it on your non-wash days to dried strands, directly at the roots of the hair. (But be sure to shampoo between uses, since its powdery base can create a build up over time.) A co-wash, on the other hand, is like a 2-in-1 shampoo-conditioner that is heavily skewed towards the conditioning aspect. It gently flushes away excess grime without drying out hair.

Oh, and always be sure to condition your hair after shampooing. Even though you won’t be growing your strands out for more than a few months at a time, you still want them to be as healthy and cooperative as possible.

4. Use Thickening Hair Care Products

A lot of brands offer shampoos targeted specifically at hair loss, but frankly, most don’t sit on the scalp long enough to make a real difference retention-wise. Instead, it’s often a smarter play to look for shampoos, conditioners, and hair masks that promise to thicken and volumize the hair you still have.  Thes often add texturizing agents to your strands, or further lift away grime to allow for maximum height. Of course, these haircare and styling products are no substitute for a full-bore hair retention regimen—but focusing on both sides of the coin simultaneously will allow you to look your very best while stimulating regrowth and preserving density.