How to Thicken Hair Naturally | Step-by-Step Guide

If you have naturally thin hair or hair that seems to be thinning over time, there’s a surefire way that you can get the lovely locks of your dreams. Fortunately, it’s simple to get beautiful, lustrous hair in eight easy steps when you thicken your hair naturally. 

Thickening Hair Naturally: A Summary

There are several things you can do every day to encourage your hair to thicken, and most of them barely require you to change your standard routine. They include:

1. Limit How Often You Shampoo
2. Use Thickening Products
3. Wash With Cooler Water
4. Care for Your Wet Hair
5. Consider Vitamins
6. Eat a Rainbow of Fruits and Vegetables
7. Minimize Heat Tools
8. Get Scalp Massages

You can also visit a dermatologist for more invasive procedures, but there’s no need for that when you can take these simple steps by yourself without spending much time or money. They require little effort, and you’ll be glad you took these steps in the long-run.

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How to Thicken Hair Naturally:  8 Methods

Just follow these eight simple steps if you want better-looking, thick hair. Gorgeous locks are well within your reach through safe, natural methods like altering your shampoo schedule and changing your diet. Soon, you’ll start to see dramatic and very positive results.

1. Limit How Often You Shampoo

Washing your hair too often can cause it to fall out, so if you want to protect those precious tresses, limit your shampooing to once every other day or even every third day. You can always use dry shampoo to counteract any greasiness if need be.

Washing your hair too much can strip it of vital oils and leave it more vulnerable to other hair treatments, like hot tool styling.

Plus, if you color your hair, washing it less will keep the color for longer, and you won’t have to visit the salon as often. Over time, your hair will get used to fewer washes and start looking healthier, beautiful, and less greasy naturally.

Read Next: Take Our “How Often Should I Wash My Hair Quiz”!

2. Use Thickening Products

There are several over-the-counter and beauty store hair thickening products that can have a profoundly positive impact on your locks. The only caveat is that you should be careful not to use too much because these products might leave a film on your hair that can be hard to get off.

If your hair starts to look greasy or weighed down, consider cutting back on thickening products or alternating them with other types of shampoo and conditioners.

You can also use hair masks, which infuse your locks with plenty of moisture. Bonding treatments can also help your hair look and feel thicker over time. You’ll have fewer noticeable split ends and stronger hair overall as a bonus.

3. Care for Your Wet Hair

Wet hair is super fragile, so you need to take care of it once you’re out of the shower. Never run a brush through damp hair, and be careful with vigorous towel-drying.

Instead, gently massage your hair when you get out of the shower and carefully wrap it up in a towel. Then, let it dry for several minutes and apply a leave-in conditioner for additional protection. Once you’re ready to style your hair, start gently.

Begin by combing out your strands with a wide-toothed comb. Doing this will keep you from tugging too hard on your hair and breaking it.

There are several different wet hair combs on the market, and if you’re curious as to which one is best for you, talk to your stylist. Otherwise, find a sturdy plastic comb with widely-spaced teeth that will glide through your hair rather than snag it.

It’s a good idea to spend a bit of time combing through your hair and gently detangling it, especially if you’re going to use heat products later. Leave-in sprays, conditioners, and oils can help naturally detangle your locks and allow you to comb without doing any damage.  

4. Wash With Cooler Water

Although hot showers might feel great, they’re not so good for your locks. Instead, try to wash your hair with cool or lukewarm water. If you can’t stand the cold for your entire shower, aim to give your locks a cold rinse before getting out of the tub.

Hot water, like hot tools, tends to dry out hair. That steaming shower isn’t doing your locks any favors, and it could contribute to breakage or limp-looking strands.

It’s okay to work your way up to cooler showers, as a little bit goes a long way. Also, lukewarm water helps your skin look its best because it dries it out less over time. Making the switch is a huge beauty win-win.

5. Consider Vitamins

If your hair is very thin, or if you’re losing hair with age, vitamins can help. Even a simple multivitamin can give your hair the nutrients to look and feel its best.

There are also several hair-specific vitamins on the market, like B12 and biotin. Biotin is an exceptional vitamin for hair and nail growth and can also stimulate skin cell regeneration.

Although you won’t see results right away, taking vitamins can show dramatic results over time, and you might even feel more energized and healthier afterwards. Vitamins can also obviously affect your overall health in a positive way.

The same vitamins and minerals that improve your hair can work wonders for your nails and skin. Even switching to a daily multivitamin with higher doses could make a difference. Consult with your doctor if you’re unsure of how much to take or have concerns about allergies.

6. Eat More Fruits and Vegetables

Since our hair is essentially cells that the body pushes out, what we eat has enormous impacts on our hair health and quality overall. So if you want to see long-lasting results, try to eat a rainbow of different fruits and vegetables that can fortify your hair from within.

Some essential foods to focus on include salmon, eggs, dark green vegetables, avocados, and fruits. Of course, improving your diet has tremendous overall health benefits too. You might feel like you have much more energy, and your skin will look better.

Plus, you will look and feel more toned and fit. As with a lot of the advice on our list, it pays to start small. Add in a few servings of fruits and vegetables into your diet, and see how your health improves overall. 

5. Minimize Heat Tools

Like hot water, heat tools can wreak havoc on your locks. If possible, minimize or eliminate heat tools from your hair regimen, especially if you’re trying to thicken your hair naturally.

Shampooing less will help you cut back, too, because you won’t have to blow dry your hair every day. Consider letting your locks air dry over the weekend or putting them up in a ponytail instead of using hot tools.

In addition to cutting back on blow drying, try to use flat irons and curling irons sparingly. If you use these tools, make sure to spritz on a protectant spray before styling.

There are plenty of conditioners and creams on the market that double as protectant sprays. If you use hot tools regularly, make sure to incorporate hair masks and bonding treatments into your routine.

6. Get a Scalp Massage

Regular scalp massages can stimulate blood flow and help your hair look healthier and thicker over time. You can do these massages on your own or visit a professional to have them done. Additionally, scalp massages can help relax you and are a basic form of self-care. 

As with most natural hair thickening advice on our list, scalp massages have long-term benefits, but you might not see results right away.

Couple massages with some more short-term methods, like cutting back on hot tools and taking lukewarm showers. By following these eight easy steps, you should start to see notable improvements in your hair health and thickness.

Of course, achieving optimal hair health is a marathon, not a sprint, so don’t get discouraged if you don’t see tons of changes right at first. Over time, you will undoubtedly start to see substantial improvements.

Frequently Asked Questions

These frequently asked questions can help you get your ideal locks and keep them for the long run. First, it’s essential to understand why your hair is thinning and what you can do to counteract it.

Occasionally, thinning hair might be a medical concern. If that’s the case for you, your doctor can help address it with diet, exercise, and medication.

What causes thinning hair?

No one thing causes thinning hair, but there are a few common culprits. Thin hair could result from a hormonal shift or a vitamin deficiency. Anemics often have thinning hair. If this is the case for you, iron supplements might solve your problem.

Additionally, if you over style your hair or use too many heat tools, hair can get stressed and fall off and break mid-strand. Another huge contributor to thinning hair is stress.

Why do we experience hair loss with age?

Unfortunately, it is very common to lose hair with age, as our bodies produce fewer cells, and there’s less turnover overall. Genetics also plays a huge role in hair thickness, and some people start to experience thinning hair in their early 30s.

Although you can’t totally reverse age-related hair loss, you can minimize it and keep your hair for as long as possible.

Are there other methods to stimulate hair thickness?

One of the key techniques is micro-rolling, a more invasive technique where very small needles pierce your scalp and prompt the follicles to produce more hair.

Talk to your doctor or specialist to see if micro-rolling is right for you and how often you should do it for the best results. There are also several different types of topical medications that can help your hair look amazing. 

What foods should I eat for thicker hair?

Foods that are high in omega-3s and protein are great for your hair, so look for things with plenty of healthy fats and tons of nutrients.

Some great bets include eggs, mackerel, salmon, avocados, and various types of nuts. Nutrient-rich spinach and kale are excellent too. Try to eat brightly colored fruits, like papaya, mango, and berries. 

How often should I visit the salon to keep my hair healthy?

Try to visit your salon at least once every month to month and a half to keep split ends at bay and stimulate more hair growth. Since everyone is different, talk to your stylist to find out what’s right for you.

So, How Do You Thicken Hair Naturally?

Thicken your hair naturally from the inside by eating good fruits and vegetables and getting scalp massages. You can also use thickening products, take cooler showers, and cut back on detrimental heat treatments.