Ask a Barber: Best Styles for Fine and Thinning Hair

Ask a Barber: Best Styles for Fine and Thinning Hair

Ammon Carver gets into the nitty gritty of those roots
and, ask a barber, barber, best, dealing with fine hair, dealing with thin hair, fine, for, hair, hair inspiration, hair stylist, hairstyle, how to, styles, thin, thinning, thinning hair

By Taylor Davies | Last Updated: Jun 23 2022 | 3 min read

In our “Ask a Barber” series, we seek out expert intel on SG readers’ most pressing grooming and skincare questions. Got one of your own? Let us know in the comments!

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Ammon Carver, L’ANZA Healing Haircare Studio

Ammon Carver has been nominated five times by the North American Hairstyling Awards for Editorial Stylist of the Year. He recently opened the Ammon Carver L’ANZA Healing Haircare Studio in New York City. Part salon, part photography studio, it brings together the worlds behind and in front of the camera by creating a cohesive space for both.

A Reader Asks:

My hair is thinner than it used to be. What are the best cuts and styling methods for a guy with fine or thinning hair?

For guys with fine or thinning hair, I always recommend keeping it short and cropped.

Don’t get caught up in the trendy, model-inspired looks that have longer, floppy tops at the moment….keep it short and classic. Some of the best looks for men are more timeless and classic rather than the “it” look of the moment.

When wearing your hair short and cropped, keep it looking fresh by giving it a push to one side (like a soft side part) using your hands rather than a comb. This will bring out a less contrived or forced feeling and you will look cool without looking like you’re trying.

jake gyllenhaal hair, jake gyllenhaal style

{Jake Gyllenhaal’s hairstyle is classic, not trendy}

Below, four steps to styling fine or thinning hair for ultimate movement and body:

1) Shampoo your hair but NO conditioner

“Conditioner softens the hair and makes it harder to control.”

SHOP SHAMPOO

2) Prep hair with a styling product like a gel or mousse

“I like L’ANZA’s  Design Foam, which adds body and fullness without weighing it down.”

Spray or pump product into hands and disperse evenly on damp hair.

SHOP GEL + MOUSSE

3) Dry the hair into the shape that you want

If hair is straight, allow hair to air dry or diffuse after applying product. For smoothness with body, blow dry and style accordingly.

4) Apply a powder texturizer for extra fullness or a paste for more detail

“Our Powder up Texturizer literally flies off the shelves for my male customers because it gives definition and an incredible amount of fluffy fullness.”

SHOP TEXTURIZER

Want more grooming guidance? Check out all the “Ask a Barber” articles here

Taylor Davies splits her time between NYC and Sun Valley. She loves writing about menswear, overpriced martinis in dimly lit hotel bars, and cross-country skiing. Not necessarily in that order.