23 Terrific Hairstyles For Long Thin Hair

We can all agree that it is difficult to style long hair. And if your hair is thin as well, styling it becomes that much more difficult. Fortunately, there are many hairstyles for long, thin hair that you can flaunt with a flair. Having hair that is fine-textured does not necessarily mean that you do not have many options on hand. Of course, you may have followed many hair trends and tried different hairstyles so far and failed, but the key is to choose the right styles that match your hair type. You just have to zero in on hairstyles that add volume to your hair. In this article, we have researched and brought to you the 23 best hairstyles for long, thin hair. Swipe up to check them out!

Before You Get Started

• Long hair is prone to frequent entanglement so ensure you braid your hair before bedtime.
• Opt for a wide-tooth comb and thick brush to prevent any friction and hair loss.
• Intricate hairstyles like fishtail or double Dutch braids are easier to style on long than short hair.
• Trim your hair every 6 to 8 weeks and indulge in nourishing treatments to keep your long locks healthy.

23 Terrific Hairstyles For Long Thin Hair

1. Side Swept French Braid

Thin hair is sometimes difficult to style but this is one hairstyle that lets you flaunt your long tresses in the best way possible. A side-swept French braid gives you an edge while also making your hair look voluminous.

What You Need

• Texturizing spray
• Hairpin
• Curling iron

How To Style

1. Make loose waves in your hair using a curling iron, taking one small section at a time.
2. Make a side part and take a section of your hair from the part which has more hair. Don’t forget to leave some loose strands in the front.
3. Now, make a side French braid with the section of hair that you have taken.
4. Stretch the braid a little to give it volume and definition.
5. Use a hairpin to secure the braid at the back and cover it with hair.

2. Bubble Braid

Long hair requires maintenance but there are so many ways to style it. This particular braid will cover your lack of hair volume and conceal it so well that you will feel like a princess.

What You Need

• Fine-toothed comb
• Hair elastics
• Scrunchie

How To Style

1. Brush your hair up towards the crown and make a high ponytail.
2. Tie a hair elastic approximately 3-4 inches (depending on the hair length and how big you want the “bubble” to be) below the first hair tie.
3. Lightly pull the hair between two hair elastics to make it fuller.
4. Subsequently, place hair elastics at decreasing gaps till you reach the last two inches of the hair.
5. Take your favorite scrunchie and place it over the first elastic.

3. Fuller And Longer Ponytail

If you’ve had thin hair your whole life, I’m sure you know the struggle of tying your hair in a ponytail. Because no matter how many different ways you try to style it, it ends up looking limp and lifeless. So, if nothing has worked in your favor and you are wondering how to make thin hair look thicker, this little hairstyle trick will infuse new life and bounce into your ponytail!

What You Need

• Hair brush
• Texturizing spray
• Hair elastics
• Bobby pins

How To Style

1. Start off by spritzing on texturizing spray all over your hair to give it some texture and volume.
2. Leaving out your bangs, grab the top half of your hair and tie it into a mid-level ponytail.
3. Pick up a small section of hair from this ponytail and wrap it around the base to hide the hair elastic from view.
4. Secure this wrapped up section of hair with some bobby pins.
5. Tie the bottom section of your hair into a ponytail right under the first one.
6. Tug up your hair at the top of your head to create some volume.
7. Back comb your ponytails with a hair brush to give it some texture and volume.
8. Fan out your top ponytail around your bottom ponytail to hide it from view and finish off the look.

4. Perfect Messy Bun

Does your heart sink every time you try to do one of those messy buns that those gorgeous Instagram girls sport? Because of your thin hair, it probably sits atop your head like a little ping pong ball. Well, all you need to do is style it with this tried and tested method to get the perfect messy bun!

Quick Tip

Your second-day hair works best for a messy bun hairstyle than right after washing it.

What You Need

• Texturizing spray
• Hair comb
• Hair elastic
• Bobby pins

How To Style

1. Prep your washed and dried hair with some texturizing spray to give it some hold and texture.
2. Back comb all your hair at the roots to create some volume.
3. Brush back your hair with your fingers and start tying it into a ponytail.
4. At the last loop of your hair elastic, loop your hair only a third of the way through to create a small half bun.
5. Pick up the hair hanging loose, twist it once, and wrap it around the base of the bun.
6. Tuck the ends into the hair elastic.
7. Insert some pins to further secure the bun in place.
8. Pull out some strands of hair from the front to frame your face and finish off the look.

5. Triple Braided Braid

How many times have you cried over your thin braid? I’m sure you lost count a long time ago. It’s difficult to get volume in your braid if you have thin, fine textured hair. A simple way to add dimension and volume to your braid is to go for multiple braids done up together. Here’s how…

What You Need

• Hair elastics
• Texturizing spray

How To Style

1. Prep your hair with some texturizing spray and part it down the middle.
2. Pick up 2 medium sized sections of hair from above your ears on either side and tie them loosely together with a hair elastic at the back of your head.
3. Topsy tail this half ponytail by flipping it up and into the gap above the hair elastic.
4. Divide your hair into 3 equal sections.
5. Individually braid these 3 sections into 3 separate braids and secure the ends with hair elastics.
6. Braid these 3 braids together into one giant braid and secure the end with a hair elastic.
7. Tug apart and loosen the braid from both sides to make it look wider and more voluminous.

6. Messy Double Fishtail Braid

Just because you’re going to prom or some other equally fancy function does not mean your hair has to be in an updo. There are plenty of other hairstyles that are better suited for thin hair that you can go for. You could, for instance, go for this messy double fishtail braid that can add oodles of volume and dimension to your otherwise thin hair.

What You Need

• Heat protectant
• 5 inch curling iron
• Hair brush
• Texturizing spray
• Hair elastics
• Bobby pins

How To Style

1. Apply heat protectant all over your washed and dried hair.
2. Picking up 2 inch sections of hair at a time, curl all your hair.
3. Spritz on some texturizing spray and run a brush through your curls.
4. Part your hair on one side and flip all your hair over your left shoulder.
5. Divide your hair diagonally into 2 sections, starting from your right temple to your left ear.
6. Section away and clip up the top section.
7. Split the bottom section into 2 parts.
8. Fishtail braid these 2 sections by alternately picking up a few strands of hair from the outer side of one section and adding it to the inner side of the other section.
9. Secure the end of your fishtail braid with a hair elastic.
10. Unclip the top section and fishtail braid it as well.
11. Join the two braids together by inserting bobby pins into them in a zigzag motion.
12. Loosen the braids to give them a tousled texture and finish off the look.

7. Scarf Braid

It’s time to bust out those cloth scarves hanging in your closet because I’ve got the styling idea for them! A genius way to conceal the fine hair texture while adding a pop of color and cuteness to it is by tying a cloth scarf as a headband around your head! Pair that with an adorable side braid and you’re good to go.

What You Need

• Hair elastic
• Cloth scarf

How To Style

1. Flip all your head over one shoulder.
2. Leaving out your bangs, and keeping one strand thinner than the other two, braid your hair in a simple side braid.
3. Tug apart and loosen the braid to give it some width and texture.
4. Place the center of your scarf across the back of your head and bring the ends to the front.
5. Twist and switch the ends in front and tie them in a knot at the back of your head to finish off the look.

8. Retro Fishtail Updo

Running late to a wedding and need to put your hair up in a fancy updo pronto? Don’t worry, ‘cause I’ve got you covered! This retro fishtail updo style looks chic as hell and goes perfectly with long flowy dresses. And it may look intricate and complicated but it’s anything but!

What You Need

• Texturizing spray
• Teasing brush
• Hair elastics
• Bobby pins

How To Style

1. Spritz on some texturizing spray all over your washed, dried hair.
2. Tease down the hair at the crown of your head to give it some volume.
3. Tie your hair in a low ponytail.
4. With your fingers, create a gap in the hair above your hair elastic.
5. Topsy tail your ponytail by flipping it up and into this gap.
6. Split your ponytail into 2 sections.
7. Fishtail braid these 2 sections by alternately picking up a thin section of hair from the outer side of one section and adding it to the inner side of the other section.
8. Secure the end of your fishtail braid with a hair elastic.
9. Tug apart and loosen your braid to make it look wider.
10. Flip your braid up and into the gap created by your topsy tail and secure it to your head with some bobby pins.

9. French Twisted Side Braid

When you have thin hair, the basic 3-strand braid can make it look even thinner. A good way to combat this problem is to experiment with new braiding styles. This French twisted side braid is especially easy to do on thin hair and look effortlessly chic.

What You Need

• Hair elastic
• Fancy hair pin

How To Style

1. Part your hair on one side.
2. Pick up two 2 inch sections of hair from right next to your parting.
3. Start French twisting your braid by continuously flipping the front section over the back section and adding more from the side of your forehead which subsequent twist.
4. Once your braid has gone past your ear and you’ve run out of hair to add, split all your hair into 2 sections.
5. Individually twist these sections right till the end and intertwine them with each other.
6. Secure the end of the braid with a hair elastic.
7. Insert your fancy pin onto your braid to finish off the look.

10. Knotted Braid

Now, here’s another innovative braiding style that you definitely need to try out! If you’re tired of the same old 3 strand or twisted braids, this knotted braid is sure to be right up your alley. What’s more is that it will look super neat and gorgeous if you have thin hair!

What You Need

• Hair elastic

How To Style

1. Flip all your hair over onto one side.
2. Grab two 1 inch sections of hair from the back and bring them in front of your hair.
3. Tie one simple knot with these two sections.
4. Flip them back behind your hair again and criss cross them to switch their positions.
5. Add some hair to both the sections, bring the over to the front, and knot them again.
6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 until your knotted braid has reached the end.
7. Secure the end with a hair elastic.
8. Tug apart and loosen the braid to give it some dimension and finish off the look.

11. Heart Shaped Hair Accent

Are you one of those lovesick romantics who loves to dress up for Valentine’s Day? Then, boy, do I have a hairdo that you’ll absolutely love! Check out this sweet heart shaped accent style that looks oh-so-cute and will have everyone taking a double take.

What You Need

• Hair elastics

How To Style

1. Part your hair down the middle.
2. Pick up 2 medium sized sections from the front from either side of your head and tie them together with a hair elastic.
3. Pick up a 2 inch section of hair from right under the left section of your hair.
4. With your fingers, create a gap in the middle of the left section of hair.
5. Flip the second section of hair over the hair elastic and into the gap from behind, pulling it back out from the front to create one half of your heart.
6. Repeat steps 3 to 5 on the other side.
7. Tie the tails of both these flipped sections and of your half ponytail together with a hair elastic to finish off the look.

12. Elegant Twisted Bun

Going for that sweet spot between casually chic and effortless elegant? Then, this is the low bun hairstyle of your dreams. Try out this simple and sleek bun with a little bit of a twist that will give you all the oomph you’ve ever wanted.

What You Need

• Hair elastics
• Bobby pins
• Comb

How To Style

1. Brush back your hair and tie it into a low ponytail at the nape of your neck.
2. At the last twist of your hair elastic, loop the ponytail only halfway through to create a half bun.
3. Tease down the loose tail of this bun.
4. Wrap it around the base of the bun to hide the hair elastic from view and secure it with bobby pins.

Quick Tip

An elegant twisted bun hairstyle is perfect for any formal event like a party or wedding.

13. Texturized Twists On Open Hair

Wanna rock that “good girl” look that makes you look innocent and fashionable? Then, check out this super adorable twisted hair look! It’s perfectly suited to be sported over both traditional and casual outfits and is adorable, to say the least.

What You Need

• Heat protectant
• Straightening iron
• Bobby pins

How To Style

1. Apply some heat protectant and straighten all your hair.
2. Part your hair down the middle.
3. Pick up a 2 inch section of hair from right next to the left side of your parting and split it into two.
4. Individually twist these sections of hair right till the end.
5. Now, continuously flip the front section over the back section while adding more hair from the side of your forehead with each subsequent twist.
6. Once your twist has gone past your temple, simply twist a couple of times without adding any hair.
7. Pin down this twist at the side of your head, under your hair.
8. Repeat steps 3 to 7 on the other side to finish off the look.

14. Double Bun

Girl, if you’ve ever felt a pang in your heart every time you saw celebrities sporting gorgeous updos at a red carpet event because you knew, in your heart of hearts, that your hair will never be able to look like that, then you need to check out this style. This double bun updo is elegant and doesn’t require any intricate braiding that can drive you crazy!

What You Need

• Texturizing spray
• Hair elastics
• Bobby pins

How To Style

1. Prep your washed and dried hair with texturizing spray to give it some hold.
2. Leave out the front sections of your hair to frame your face.
3. Part your hair from your ear to ear to divide it into 2 sections horizontally.
4. Tie both these sections of hair into ponytails – one on top of the other – at the nape of your neck.
5. Twist your top ponytail right till the end and roll it into a bun.
6. Secure the bun to your head with some bobby pins.
7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 with the bottom ponytail.
8. Tug at the hair at the top of your head to give your updo some body and complete the look.

15. Satin Headband

I’m sure you have days when you give up on your hair and want to do nothing with it. We all do. But what to do when those days also coincide with days when you have a presentation at work and need to look presentable? Easy. You try out this look easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy look that just requires a length of satin ribbon from your craft supply box!

What You Need

• Teasing brush
• Sea salt spray
• Satin ribbon

How To Style

1. Spritz on some sea salt spray all over your hair.
2. Slightly tease down the hair at the crown of your head.
3. Part your hair to one side.
4. Place your satin ribbon across the top of your head and tie its end at the nape of your neck to finish off the look.

16. Side Swept Curls

When you have a fancy evening party to attend and your hair is giving you hell, there’s only one thing that you can do – take a curling iron to it. And if you do it right, you will look just as gorgeous as Julianne Hough does here. Let me be your guide…

What You Need

• Heat protectant
• 2 inch curling iron
• Texturizing spray
• Hair brush
• Bobby pins

How To Style

1. Prep your washed and dried hair with some heat protectant.
2. Picking up 2 inch sections of hair at a time, curl all your hair.
3. Spritz on lots of texturizing spray all over your curls and gently run a brush through them.
4. Part your hair on one side.
5. Flip all your hair over one shoulder.
6. Insert a couple of bobby pins in your hair at the nape of your neck to keep your hair firmly on one side.

17. Rope Twisted Ponytail

Tired of your ponytail flopping about limply instead of bouncing with exuberance? Then, take a page out of Zoe Saldana’s lookbook! Instead of going for a regular or a braided ponytail, she has gone for a rope twisted style that makes her look like a true blue warrior princess.

What You Need

• Smoothening serum
• Fine toothed comb
• Hair elastics

How To Style

1. Rub some smoothening serum all over the teeth of your fine toothed comb and use it to slick back your hair.
2. Tie your hair in a high ponytail.
3. Divide your hair into 2 sections and individually twist them right till the end.
4. Intertwine these twisted sections with each other and secure the end with a hair elastic.

18. Messy Multi Braids

When it comes to styling her hair, Blake Lively does not play around. She always sports the most gorgeous styles that you are bound to envy. This messy multiple braid style of hers is truly a thing of beauty and needs to be tried out right away.

What You Need

• Texturizing spray
• Hair elastics
• Fancy floral pin

How To Style

1. Prep your hair with lots of texturizing spray.
2. Part your hair on one side.
3. Flip all your hair over one shoulder.
4. Pick up a small section of hair, fishtail braid it right till the end, and secure it with a hair elastic.
5. Pick up a 4 inch section of hair from right next to the first one, spiky braid it right till the end, and secure with a hair elastic.
6. Leaving out the front sections, braid the rest of your hair and tie the ends with a hair elastic.
7. Loosen up and tug apart all the braids to give them a messy texture.
8. Pull back some hair from the front and pin them above your braids with your fancy floral pin.
9. Tie up all the braids together at the ends with a hair elastic to complete the look.

19. Pin Accented Messy Bun

If you think you need to shell out a bunch of money to buy those pretty hair accessories, you are so wrong. Just get yourself some gold tinted bobby pins and you’ll be good to go! This messy bun style takes about 2 minutes to do and looks fabulous on thin hair.

What You Need

• Sea salt spray
• Hair elastic
• Gold bobby pins

How To Style

1. Start off by spritzing sea salt spray all over your hair to give it some texture.
2. Brush your hair back with your fingers and start tying it into a low ponytail.
3. At the last twist of your hair elastic, loop your hair elastic only about 3/4th of the way through to create your bun.
4. Pull out some hair from the front to frame your face.
5. Insert your floral bobby pins above your bun to finish off the look.

20. Top Knot With Bangs

You may scour the internet for years and years and you’ll still never find a hairstyle as classic and graceful as the top knot. The beauty of this gorgeous hairstyle lies in the fact that it works great with hair of all textures! Rashida Jones shows us here how to work this look if you have thin hair.

What You Need

• Comb
• Hair elastic
• Bobby pins

How To Style

1. Get your hair cut in some straight cut bangs.
2. Leaving out your bangs, comb your hair back and tie it into a high ponytail right on top of your head.
3. Twist your ponytail right till the end.
4. Roll this twisted ponytail into a bun and secure it to your head with bobby pins to finish off the look.

21. Classic Half Up Style

Saoirse Ronan looks like she’s stepped out of a Victorian painting in this beautiful hair look. A half up style like this works wonderfully with evening dresses to create the perfect look for a fancy date. It also takes about 3 minutes to do and works well on second day hair.

What You Need

• Volumizing mousse
• Texturizing spray
• Clutch clip/bobby pins

How To Style

1. Prep your washed, dried hair with some volumizing mousse.
2. Spritz on some texturizing spray to give it some hold.
3. Part your hair down the middle.
4. Roughly pull back all your hair from the front and secure it at the back of your head with a clutch clip or some bobby pins.
5. Pull out some wisps of hair from the front to frame your face and complete the look.

22. Super Texturizing Side Braid

Side braids may seem so passe but add a little spin on it and you’ll end up with something super chic and trendy! You could do what Chloe Grace Moretz has done here and go for a super deconstructed style to add some edge and rebellious vibe to your braid.

What You Need

• Texturizing spray
• Teasing brush
• Hair elastic

How To Style

1. Start off by spritzing on texturizing spray all over your hair to give it some messy texture and hold.
2. Tease down the hair at the crown of your head to give it some volume.
3. Part your hair down the middle.
4. Flip all your hair over one shoulder.
5. Braid your hair in a side braid.
6. Pull apart and loosen your braid to give it that super messy look. Don’t be afraid to pull out some pieces of hair from the braid, it will only add to the look.

23. Shaggy Blonde Waves

Looking for a carefree and effortlessly chic hairstyle? Try shaggy blonde waves – a timeless look that adds a touch of casual charm to your vibe. Embraced by many for its easygoing appeal, this style is a breeze to achieve.

What You Need

• Texturizing spray
• Wide-tooth comb
• Hair elastic
• Hairdryer

How To Style

1. Spritz texturizing spray through your blonde waves for that tousled effect.
2. Use a wide-tooth comb to gently separate and define the waves.
3. If your hair is damp, you can enhance the waves by scrunching them as you blow-dry.
4. For added flair, consider leaving some face-framing strands loose.

Felicia, a blogger, has thin hair and shares tips in her blog on how to manage long thin hair better. She wrote, “Lightweight texturing sprays are essential. This is something I use not only to create more texture and volume to my slippery hair, but to also hold curls a lot better than just using hairspray (i).”

Below are some volume-enhancing techniques to make your hair look fuller.

Volume Enhancing Techniques For Long Thin Hair

Check out these simple tips to make your hair look fluffier:

• Ask your stylist to cut the hair in long layers to add texture and movement to your hair. You can go for a V-cut or a deep U-cut, as they can add a slight lift. Add wispy layers, which work wonders for long hair that lacks thickness. Just remember, too many layers at the ends can make your hair appear thinner, so it’s best to avoid this.
• Choose lightweight products that won’t weigh your hair down. Look for formulas with ingredients like biotin or collagen that can improve your overall hair texture.
• For a quick volume boost, flip your hair upside down while blow-drying. This is a very common technique to fluff the roots for a voluminous look. Use a round brush while combing your hair gently while blowdrying it. Once the hair is dry, use a hairspray to lock the style.
• Use a root-lifting spray on damp hair before blow-drying. Concentrate on the roots to create lift and make your hair look fuller from the base.
• Backcomb or tease small sections of your hair on the crown, closer to the scalp to give an instant lift to your hair.
• Apply dry shampoo to the roots. It absorbs excess oil and adds grip, making thin, fine hair appear voluminous.
• Style your hair in loose waves to add body to it. Use a large-barrel curling iron or a flat iron to create soft waves.

Infographic: Top 5 DIY Hairdos For Long Thin Hair

It can be quite disheartening to not have thick hair. But, there are many stunning hairstyles that can show off your thin long tresses in the right light and boost your confidence. These hairstyles are not only super trendy but also make your hair look fuller and voluminous!

The infographic below shows a curated list of all the right hairstyles you can try at home to make your fine-textured hair look luscious!

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use hair extensions with thin hair?

Yes, you can use hair extensions with thin hair. They can make your hair appear voluminous. However, it’s crucial to choose lightweight ones to avoid putting stress on your hair. Always consult a professional stylist before opting for extensions.

Should long thin hair be layered?

A long layered hairstyle for thin hair will make it look more voluminous. However, do not over-layer your thin hair.

Are curtain bangs good for long thin hair?

Yes, curtain bangs look good on long thin hair as they add face-framing volume to the hair.

What should I avoid with thin hair?

Avoiding heating tools like flat and curling irons and blow dryers for thin hair can keep it from getting damaged. One must also avoid using waxes and creams as they can make the hair look flat and greasy. If one has thin hair, avoid backcombing it and doing tight hairstyles or chemical treatments as they can cause damage to the strands, leading to breakage and hair fall.

Can I add highlights or lowlights to my long, thin hair to create more volume?

Adding highlights or lowlights to long and thin hair can create an illusion of more volume. Highlights can create dimension and depth, while lowlights can add richness to the hair. Consult a professional stylist who can customize the highlights or lowlights as per your hair type and texture.

What are some easy updos for long, thin hair?

Some easy-to-do updos for long and thin hair include messy bun, top knot, twisted bun, and double bun updo. Adding hair accessories can help keep the updo in place and add elegance to your hairstyles.

What are some celebrity-inspired hairstyles for long, thin hair?

You can opt for Blake Lively’s messy ponytail, Selena Gomez’s half-up half-down style, Emma Stone’s sleek low bun, Kate Middleton’s long layers and curls, Kim Kardashian’s sleek and straight style, and Zendaya’s braids or twists to give dimension and depth to your hair.

Illustration: Terrific Hairstyles For Long Thin Hair

Image: Stable Diffusion/StyleCraze Design Team

Need some perfect hairstyles for busy mornings or a night out with friends? Check out this video for 6 easy and cute hairstyles for long hair!

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Reviewer Author Editor Fact Checker

Khamis MaioufHairstylist

   

Khamis Maiouf is a professional barber who graduated from Hinckley College in England with a degree in barbering. He has also won several barbering contests and successfully operated a barbershop for the last two decades.

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Arshiya SyedaCo-Editor-in-Chief

 

Arshiya Syeda is the Co-Editor-in-Chief of StyleCraze with 8 years of experience. Prior to that, she was a content writer who combined her writing and research skills to write over 200 high-performing articles on hairstyles, hair care, and skin care.

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Asmita DeAssociate Editor

Asmita De is an associate editor with over three years of experience. She graduated in English Literature from the University of Calcutta. She has collaborated with several digital companies and reputed publishing houses as an editor.

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Joyce JoysonBeauty & Lifestyle Writer

Joyce Joyson is a beauty and lifestyle writer with over a year of experience crafting short-form content for the beauty, fashion, and lifestyle niches. She has a triple majors bachelor’s degree in History, Political Science, and Geography from IIS University and a master’s degree in Mass Communication and Journalism from Kristu Jayanti College.

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