Fine Hair vs Thin Hair: What Are the Differences?

Our hair plays a huge role in how we feel. 81% of women in an InStyle survey said when their hair looks good they feel the most confident. Meanwhile, 71% said it’s empowering to feel good about their hair.

But many women don’t fully understand their hair. The terms fine hair and thin hair are often used interchangeably. However, they are actually very different.

Knowing the difference between these common hair types is important to be able to identify them and care for your hair correctly. Read on to learn the differences between fine hair vs thin hair.

How to Identify Fine Hair vs Thin Hair

The difference between fine hair and thin hair is due to its texture and density. Fineness and thinness are independent categories. So your hair could fall into one, both, or neither category.

Both fine and thin hair types are delicate and sensitive. Because of this, you want to pay careful attention to how you style and wash your hair.

What Is Fine Hair?

If your strands of hair have small diameters, you are considered to have fine hair. Larger diameter strands are called coarse hair.

Fine hair is missing the medulla, which is the innermost layer of the hair. This leads it to being naturally smaller in diameter. In addition, fine hair often has less protein, which can make it seem a bit fluffy and floppy.

Fine hair tends to be smooth, with less volume. It is most common in lighter hair colors, like blonde.

What Is Thin Hair?

Meanwhile, thin hair is determined by how much hair you have. If you don’t have a lot of strands of hair growing, you have thin hair. The opposite is thick hair.

There are a few situations that can lead to thin hair. Some people have more space between hair follicles. Others have fewer strands per follicle.

Most of the time the cause comes down to genetics.

What Is Thinning Hair?

Some people have naturally thin hair. In this case, you aren’t necessarily losing any hair. However, some people experience thinning hair, which is a decrease in how much hair you naturally have.

Thinning hair and hair loss can be caused by a number of reasons, such as age. However, some women and men experience thinning hair while they’re young.

This can be due to telogen effluvium. In these cases, stress, childbirth, surgery, or serious illness can cause hair to fall out and thin. It can even be caused by changes in the weather or season or unbalanced diets.

Luckily, it is reversible and there are products that can help ease the damage.

How to Care for Fine Hair

Some people think having fine hair is bad. This is untrue. While each type of hair has its own challenges and needs, fine hair is not innately bad.

Fine hair tends to be silky and soft, leading some people to skip conditioning. However, doing so can lead your hair to become dry and brittle, causing breakage. Make sure to use lightweight conditioners and oils on your ends to keep them strong.

People with fine hair tend to get oily and greasy faster. This is because your natural oils can travel to the strands quickly. In addition, your hair doesn’t have enough weight to absorb the oil, letting it sit on your scalp.

If you are struggling with this, look for a shampoo that puts emphasis on cleaning your scalp. You can also use a gentle scalp scrub to remove build-up. Removing build-up through daily shampooing can help your hair look bouncier and shinier.

It’s also helpful to look for styling products specifically formulated for fine hair. For instance, a styling moose can help boost volume.

How to Care for Thin Hair

Many of the techniques used to care for thin hair are the same as those used for fine hair. For instance, you should make sure to keep your hair clean with shampooing. However, it may be best to only shampoo your hair when it is dirty.

In addition, more of your scalp will be visible with thin hair. To combat this, focus on volumizing products when styling. Root lifts can also be helpful.

When choosing products, use ones that are light and matte. This will give you texture without shininess, which may make your scalp more noticeable.

Choosing a style appropriate for thin hair can make your life easier. While blow dryers are okay for fine hair, direct heat from flat irons or curling irons can be problematic. Curl-relaxing products are also harmful because they contain strong chemicals.

How to Care for Thinning Hair

If you think you are experiencing shedding or changes in the amount of hair you have, you should consult your dermatologist. They can help determine whether you are experiencing telogen effluvium. There are supplements that may help reduce hair thinning.

In addition, there are shampoos, conditioners, and other products that can allow you to style your hair without causing further damage. These often contain ingredients that help keep your scalp and hair follicles healthy.

Understand Your Hair Type

Knowing the difference between fine hair vs thin hair can help you understand how to properly identify your hair type and care for it. By taking steps to care for your hair, you’ll be able to have stronger, better-looking hair.

If you are facing thinning hair due to telogen effluvium, check out the fortifying shampoos and supplements from Tricovel.