Cutting Thin Hair at the Roots

By
Spchlang
-
0
Cutting Thin Hair at the Roots

  • Hairstylist Bill Angst shares the best haircuts for thin hair at the roots in this tutorial.
  • Her top recommendation: a fringe to hide receding hairline.
  • Want a consultation about your hair? Read more here.

Q: I’m a 27-year-old graphic design graduate looking for a job, and I’ve been really wanting to cut my hair lately. I’m 4’11” and my hair is dark brown (darker than anything), and very wavy.

I’ve had a lot of problems with it after a miscarriage last year, and it’s a lot of work to keep it healthy. My hair is thick at the ends, but has been thinning from the roots. It’s dry and my scalp looks dry, but I’m not sure if it’s dandruff. I shower regularly, with hot water, and iron my hair once every three weeks, depending on the season.

I have come to the conclusion that I want to cut it and color it, but I need your advice on what would look good on me. I like the length of my hair, but I don’t mind an extreme change, like a short pixie cut. However, only if it suits the shape of my head and my body. I would like to look dirty and realistic in front of a potential employer.

Photo of a student posing for a consultation about thinning hair at the roots

What should I do with it, and what kind of hair should I try? Like I said, I’m up for anything, as long as it’s flattering on my short self. — Dora

A:Dora, thank you for your request, and for sharing your unfortunate loss. There doesn’t seem to be a manual on how hormones affect a person’s hair during pregnancy. It can be very large at some times during pregnancy, and small at other times. Thinning is common during pregnancy, and when breastfeeding stops, there is a fair amount of hair loss. The amount of hair loss varies from person to person.

Unfortunately, your hormones go through the same process with a miscarriage, and your hair follows suit. This is where women try a new style to deal with what the new hair has to offer.

Here’s my first style, less tight but more flattering, using a fringe to cover the thin hair at the hairline:

Hannah Simone with short hair for thin hair at the roots

Bangs are a common hairstyle, especially if you want to keep some length.

You can also pull off this curtain bang style, parted neatly in the middle:

Jameela Jamil with short hair at the roots

This choppier edge will have less commitment than a full, fuzzy bang:

Priyanka Chopra with short hair cut at the roots

I also love this mid-length fade cut with long bangs, which can give you that professional yet glamorous vibe you’re after:

Charli XCX with short hair for thin hair at the roots

All of these bangs will give your hair a more polished look when worn up or in a ponytail:

Hannah Simone with fringes and an updo for thin hair at the roots

I know you are also open to extreme change. So as your first introduction to short hair, I would recommend this French bob:

Kat Graham with short hair for thin hair at the roots

The bangs should cover your brows, and the rest of the hair should go around your jawline, between the ears and the chin.

This tapered bob with a long, side-swept fringe is another option:

Rihanna with short hair for thin hair at the roots

Jada Pinkett Smith with short hair for thin hair at the roots

If you can go even shorter, this is a great shape and profile, with a fringe and long nape that you can style in many different ways:

Vanessa Hudgens with short hair for thin hair at the roots

Short hair is also the best length to experiment with color, as any damaging effects will soon be cut. This subtle, tone-on-tone highlighter would be my recommendation for you and satisfy your thirst for change.

Here’s a slightly more nuanced version of the same idea:

Naomi Scott with short hair at the roots

And here are some non-short cut options that are versatile too:

Morena Baccarin with short haircuts at the roots

Sofia Boutella with short hair at the roots

Rowan Blanchard with short hair for thin hair at the roots

Over time, your hair should begin to recover as your hormones stabilize. Until then, scalp treatments that support healthy hair growth may help.

Be careful how you style your hair. Keep heavy products away from the roots, and concentrate on the mid-lengths instead. That alone can make a huge difference in how full your hair looks.

When styling your hair, the goal should always be to create lift at the scalp. Any styles that stay too low will cause the problem to show. If you decide to keep your hair long, apply a volumizer to your roots while your hair is still wet, then blow dry with a round brush.

For shorter styles, use a lightweight styling cream and set your hair in place, bring in a fringe, and let it air dry.

Good luck with your big change.

Product Selection

OUAI Thickening Spray

OUAI Thickening Spray

OUAI Thickening Spray protects from heat, thickens strands, and creates all-day volume.

Nexxus Hy-Volume Lift Cloud Foam

Nexxus Hy-Volume Lift Cloud Foam

Nexxus Hy-Volume Lift Cloud Foam encapsulates hair fibers in weightless tubes for total hydration, as well as heat protection.

Multiple Student Hair Consultations