Is Your Hair Fine or Thin? How to Decode the Difference and Achieve a Full, Thicker-Looking Mane

Many of us grapple with the frustrating feeling of limp, lifeless hair. And for those of us over 40, the tell-tale culprit tends to be the thinning that comes with age. But is it truly thinning, or is it simply the natural texture of fine hair? And what exactly is fine hair and how does it differ from thinning hair? We asked a hair expert to break down the differences between fine and thin hair and how to thicken fine strands.

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What is fine hair?

“This is one of those questions I love to break down, because ‘fine’ and ‘thin’ hair get mixed up all the time,” says Ross Kopelman, DO, a hair transplant surgeon at Kopelman Hair Restoration in Palm Beach, Florida. “When I say someone has fine hair, I’m talking about the actual thickness of each individual strand—it’s narrower in diameter than medium or coarse hair.” But here’s the catch: you can have fine hair and a lot of it (a.k.a, fine, thick hair). So from a density perspective, you could still have what looks like thick hair overall, just made up of finer strands, he explains.

What is thinning hair?

In essence, while fine hair refers to the diameter of the individual hair strand, thin hair pertains to the overall density of hair follicles on the scalp. “Thin hair is about how many follicles you have per square inch on your scalp,” Dr. Kopelman affirms. You can have thick strands but fewer of them, which is a completely different situation. “This distinction really matters when advising patients on treatment plans, styling products or even surgical options like transplants.”

How to know if you have fine hair vs thin hair

Determining whether volume loss is due to thinning or simply fine strands can be tricky. Dr. Kopelman suggests:

Give your hair a quick look

If you’re dealing with thinning, you’ll often notice more of your scalp showing through, especially along the part line or temples, or you might see more hair shedding than usual. Look at old pictures of yourself—if your hair has always been on the finer side, but you still have good density, then it’s likely just your natural texture.

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Hair specialists like Dr. Kopelman can use tools like scalp magnification or a hair pull test to get a clearer picture. “But in general, if volume has changed over time, we’re usually looking at some form of hair loss, even if it’s subtle,” he notes.

Can hair become finer with age?

Adding another layer of complexity, hair texture can evolve over time, just like our skin does. “And yes, hair texture absolutely changes with age—I’ve seen it with my patients and in my own hair too,” Dr. Kopelman confirms. As we get older, hormonal changes, stress and even sun exposure can cause hair to become finer, drier and less dense. “It’s a normal part of the aging process, but if the change is sudden or dramatic, that’s when I start looking into potential causes like hormonal shifts, nutritional deficiencies or early signs of androgenic alopecia.”

How to thicken fine hair

While genetics dictate the fundamental texture of our hair, there are ways to improve its appearance and health, says Dr. Kopelman. For those seeking to enhance the thickness of fine strands, he recommends:

Minoxidil

Topical treatments like minoxidil can increase hair shaft diameter over time, so strands appear thicker.

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Supplements

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Nutritional support—especially iron, vitamin D and biotin if you are deficient in them—can improve overall strand quality.

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PRP and laser therapy

“I’ve also seen success with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatments and low-level laser therapy in patients who are dealing with thinning or miniaturized hair,” Dr. Kopelman emphasizes.

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Volumizing products

When it comes to styling products, look for things labeled as volumizing, thickening or plumping. Dr. Kopelman suggests opting for lightweight mousses, volumizing sprays and root-lifting powders that don’t weigh the hair down. Some of his go-tos have ingredients like hydrolyzed keratin (found in Color Wow Xtra Large Bombshell Volumizer) or pea protein (found in Grow Gorgeous Volume Bodifying line) that temporarily coat the strand and make it feel more substantial.