Home Remedies That Thicken Fine Hair Strands

If you have naturally fine or thin hair, getting the voluminous look you’ve always wanted can be a challenge. No matter how much backcombing you do, no matter how many times you cut in layers to give your hair more body and bounce, your locks still don’t have enough lift for you to achieve the style you’ve dreamed of.

Having finer hair can dent your confidence – especially if you started out with thicker hair, only to see it gradually thinning over time. Hair naturally starts to get thinner after your mid-20s or so. This means it’s normal to have a great head of hair when you’re younger, only to struggle to create volume as you age.

Fortunately, there are ways you can thicken up those fine hair strands and enjoy fuller locks. There’s no need for harsh chemical agents – many of these home remedies are completely natural. This protects your hair from damage and minimizes the risk of reactions or adverse effects.

If you’re looking for ways to thicken fine hair strands and achieve the voluminous hairstyle you’ve always dreamed of, read on. We’ll take a look at reasons why hair gets fine and thin, as well as listing some of the best remedies and solutions for thicker hair.

What Are the Causes of Thinning or Fine Hair?

Did you know that as many as 60% of women are dealing with hair loss? This could be due to an autoimmune condition like alopecia, or the gradual, age-related thinning that happens to us all.

Your hair can be a handy barometer for your body’s general health. If you’re not getting enough vitamins, if your hormones are out of balance or if you’re stressed, it can manifest as hair loss.

Let’s take a look at some of the reasons why women experience fine hair:

• Commercial hair products. Many of the most popular hair products you use on a daily basis are packed full of chemicals and artificial ingredients. These include parabens and SLS – sodium laureth sulfate. These ingredients have been linked with hair loss if they’re used too often. If you’re using a shampoo, conditioner or other hair product with these components, switch it to an all-natural shampoo now.
• Thyroid issues. If you have an underactive or overactive thyroid, this can cause hair thinning. Your thyroid hormones regulate your body’s energy levels and the reproduction of cells. If your thyroid isn’t performing as it should be, the side effects can include fatigue, weight gain or loss and changes to your hair.
• Hormonal imbalance. Hormones play a crucial role in dictating your hair growth. That’s why so many women boast beautiful manes during pregnancy – because their hormones are running riot. Anything that alters the balance of your hormones could be at fault for hair thinning. This includes conditions like PCOS, as well as hormonal contraception like the birth control pill.
• Vitamin deficiencies. The body needs an adequate supply of vitamins to function. If you’re not getting enough of certain vitamins, your body will prioritize vital functions and overlook others. Unfortunately, your hair is not an essential bodily function, which means when vitamin levels drop, your locks will be one of the first casualties. Vitamins linked with hair loss include the full range of B vitamins, as well as vitamin D – the ‘sunshine’ vitamin.
• Stress. If you’re going through a stressful time, it can have a range of physical side-effects. Some experience weight loss or gain, others might experience anxiety or palpitations. Hair loss is a common side-effect of stress, primarily due to increases in cortisol levels within the body. Cortisol is another of those hormones that need to remain in careful balance.

What Are the Different Home Remedies to Thicken Fine Strands?

Now that we’ve established some of the reasons you might have thin or fine hair let’s take a look at some remedies. These natural solutions can all be tried at home and are relatively inexpensive. They can also be used in conjunction with each other until you find a solution that works for you.

Castor Oil

This natural oil has been used as a beauty solution for centuries. It’s been known to increase hair growth, not only on the head but also on the eyebrows and lashes too. This oil has many great qualities. It’s an anti-inflammatory, and it’s also antibacterial and antifungal. This means it can fight off ringworm or any nasties that have taken up residence on your scalp.

Castor oil is also high in vitamin E, omega 3 fatty acids, and ricinoleic acid. This is one of the critical things that make it great for skin and hair. Ricinoleic acid helps to balance the pH of your scalp, which can be useful if you’ve damaged the area with chemical hair products. Just make sure you choose a castor oil that is unrefined and cold-pressed, as well as free from hexane.

To use castor oil to thicken your fine hair, follow these steps:

1. Take a few tablespoons of castor oil and gently massage it into your scalp. If your hair is quite long, you may need slightly more oil. Leave for a few minutes and rinse out with your regular natural shampoo.
2. Castor oil is quite a thick, viscous substance. Many people like to dilute it slightly with another carrier oil. Jojoba, argan and coconut oils are all great for use on the hair. Mix a tablespoon of castor oil with your carrier oil and choice, and apply as above.

Keep up this treatment twice per week until you start to see results. Your hair should grow in thicker, stronger and healthier than ever before.

Eggs

Your hair is made up of keratin, which is a protein. So if you’re trying to thicken the hair, it makes sense to use other substances packed with protein. Eggs are a tried-and-tested way to thicken up your hair and leave it in great, healthy condition.

Eggs can be used in a variety of different ways to thicken your fine hair. One important thing to remember is that when washing out the eggs, always use cold or cool water. Using warm water can cause the eggs to start cooking in your hair, leaving a ‘scrambled’ look.

Here is a quick step-by-step guide:

1. The first step is to take one or two eggs depending on how long your hair is. Beat the eggs and wet your hair.
2. Apply the eggs directly to the scalp and massage in gently, before wrapping up in a towel or shower cap and leaving for around thirty minutes.
3. Then wash your hair as usual with regular shampoo. You can carry out this intense treatment up to twice a week.

Eggs can also be used as a key ingredient in a variety of hair masks. Mix beaten egg with olive oil, avocado, honey or another hair oil of your choice and massage into your scalp. You may need to add a little water to the mask to keep it runny and manageable. Leave for thirty minutes then rinse with cold water and shampoo as usual.

Ginseng

Ginseng is commonly used in alternative medicine, and it has a multitude of benefits for your hair. Most people take it in capsule form to reap the benefits from the inside-out. But you can also apply ginseng directly to your scalp to stimulate the area.

Take some high-quality ginseng capsules and empty out the powder into a cup. Add a few tablespoons of carrier oil (coconut, argan, olive or jojoba work well). Stir the mixture well, then apply it to the scalp and leave for around five minutes. This will help stimulate blood flow and promote thicker, healthier hair growth.

Vitamin E

The oil you’ll find in vitamin E tablets can also be great for promoting thicker hair growth. Take 8-10 capsules of vitamin E and carefully transfer the oil from the capsule to a bowl. Then, apply the oil directly to your scalp and leave it on overnight. You may want to wrap your hair carefully to ensure the oil doesn’t spread to your bedding.

In the morning, wash your hair with a mild natural shampoo. Repeat the process twice each week. The antioxidants in vitamin E can help improve the condition of your scalp, as well as boosting circulation in the area. This allows the body to bring up more nutrients to the follicles, helping them to become healthier and thicker.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Your hair may have thinned over time because of the skewed pH levels of your scalp. If your scalp becomes too acidic or alkaline, it can inhibit hair growth. Apple cider vinegar is a great everyday ingredient that can help balance the pH levels and restore your scalp to its natural state.

You can use apple cider vinegar in many different ways. First up is a simple rinse. Just combine the apple cider vinegar with an equal amount of distilled water. Shampoo your hair as normal, and after you’ve rinsed away the product, pour your apple cider vinegar solution over your head. It should cover your whole scalp.

Massage gently to improve circulation and stimulate the follicles. Rinse with lukewarm water after a few minutes, and repeat each week. You can also drink apple cider vinegar (mixed with raw honey to taste) as a great way to improve the general health of your skin and hair.

Avocado

Many women with thin or fine hair also struggle with frizz. Hormonal hair loss that happens as a result of PCOS and other conditions can cause problems with hair texture. Not only will hair look thin, but it will also be unmanageable and dry – double the issues!

Avocado is a great ingredient to help stop dry and frizzy hair in its tracks. The best way to make hair look thicker is to make it look healthy and moisturized. Avocado is packed with good fats that will help nourish your locks and improve their overall condition.

Mash up one avocado with a banana and a tablespoon of olive or coconut oil. Massage the mixture into your scalp and leave for about half an hour. This gives your scalp adequate time to absorb all the nutrients and soak up the moisture. Rinse it out and shampoo the hair as usual, using an organic shampoo if possible.

Indian Gooseberry

This unusual ingredient is renowned for its antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Just mix one tablespoon of this ingredient with two tablespoons of coconut oil in a pan. Heat it up until it starts to boil, and then strain the oil carefully to remove any ‘bits.’

Massage the oil into your scalp and leave it on overnight. Shampoo as normal the following day to remove residue, and repeat on a weekly basis.

You can also mix Indian gooseberry with a small amount of warm water to create a sort of paste. This paste is more concentrated than the oil – you should apply it to your scalp and wait for up to twenty minutes before rinsing. When using this method, don’t shampoo your hair straight away – wait for a few hours before you do. This remedy is best used each month, rather than each week.

Some people also find that taking Indian gooseberry fruit supplements can help the overall health of their hair.

Other Tips for Thicker-Looking Hair

Sometimes, when it comes to making your fine hair look thick, you have to fake it until you make it. While you’re working hard on getting your hair to grow in thicker, here are some additional tips for fuller hair:

• Up your intake of collagen. Collagen is one of the body’s vital building blocks. Increasing your intake can help support healthier and thicker hair growth. Always ensure you are supplementing collagen alongside a healthy, balanced diet. Supplements like this should not act as a substitute for regular, home-cooked food.
• Use a follicle-stimulating shampoo. These shampoos contain something called peptide complex, which is said to help your follicles become stronger.
• Try natural hair products. All-natural, organic, SLS-free hair products are having a moment right now. We’re all more conscious of the chemicals we introduce into our beauty regimes. You’ll find a vast array of natural shampoos and conditioners out there which are kinder to your scalp and locks. Look for products that contain no SLS or parabens.
• Don’t wash your hair too often. If you fall into a routine of washing your hair each day, you strip your scalp and hair of its natural oils. This forces the body into overtime as it tries to replenish them quickly. Washing every day can ironically cause your hair to get greasy faster. For those with fine hair, the grease and oil drag down their locks, making them look flatter and less voluminous.
• Choose a haircut and stick with it. Your stylist will be able to discuss which cuts will work best for your particular hair type, but it’s essential to maintain the cut. Go for a trim every six weeks to keep it fresh – this will keep your hair looking healthy.
• Add color to your hair, with the help of a stylist. Dying your hair can increase the thickness of each strand by a small amount. Using shades that are slightly darker and lighter than your natural hair can also give your hair the illusion of greater thickness. At-home dye kits will only work so well here – it’s important to get a professional’s perspective when it comes to choosing colors and shades.

Having fine or thin hair can cause self-esteem issues for many women. As a society, we are bombarded with images of thick, lustrous manes – many of which are wigs, extensions or photoshopped anyway. It’s natural that women with thinner hair want to look for ways to thicken it up.

As you can see with the number of remedies here, there are plenty of solutions out there for ladies with fine locks. You can try home masks and rinses using a variety of products and ingredients that you have lying around at home anyway. Switching to natural hair products will also be very helpful and increase your hair growth.

Of course, some of the most effective methods for getting thicker hair involve targeting the inside to see the benefits on the outside. A hair-healthy diet is important for anyone looking to enjoy thick, full locks. It’s essential to ensure you’re getting the appropriate vitamins and minerals, as well as eating a balanced and healthy diet every day.