A Guide For Fine Hair: Haircare & Top Tips

We’ve heard it all before… “I have fine hair… but a lot of it.” And while fine hair is one of the most frustrating problems your clients face with their hair, it’s also one of the most misunderstood hair types. From hair that gets greasy too quickly to curls that just won’t hold, fine hair can feel tricky to manage without the right education, techniques and products. But the good news? With the right approach, fine hair can look fuller and healthier, both in the salon and at-home. Let’s jump into how you can tackle the clients who are fed up with their fine hair and what you can do to help.

First things first, fine hair doesn’t mean thin hair. Fine hair actually refers to the diameter of each individual strand, making them smaller and more delicate. This makes the hair strands more prone to oil build-up and a lack of volume that so many clients experience.

To make things more complicated, a client can have fine but thick hair, fine and dense hair, or fine and thin hair. Simply assessing their hair during their consultation can allow you to fully understand the type of fine hair you are working with. This can then help you tailor your cutting, colouring and styling advice and ensure you can explain to clients why their hair behaves the way it does.

One of the biggest complaints from fine-haired clients is that their hair gets greasy way too quickly. Because fine hair is smoother and less porous, oil tends to sit on the surface rather than absorb, making the oil become visible much faster. Let’s explore some pro cleansing tips to share with your fine-haired clients to avoid these problems:

These simple in-shower tweaks alone can extend time between washes, as well as improve volume.

When it comes to styling fine hair, it’s important that your clients take a mindset shift over what products to prioritise. Your clients may not like this, but if they’re struggling with volume and curls holding, they need to apply less of the heavy oils, creams and thick serums, and more of the mousses, texturising mists and sea salt sprays. Unfortunately, oils and serums can weigh down fine hair, making curls drop out as well as making the hair greasy more quickly.

Instead, have your clients prioritise using hold-based products. These specific products coat the hair with lightweight polymers that add grip, structure and volume without the heaviness. Now, we’re not saying to remove your haircare favourites from your client's routine, but prioritising hold-based products will definitely make your clients’ fine hair more manageable.

These are our must-have products, both behind the chair and on your salon’s retail shelves to keep fine hair looking its best between appointments.

This shampoo is a dream cleanser for fine, flat hair. The amika big hit delivers long-lasting volume without drying or stripping the hair, thanks to its key ingredients caffeine and glycerin. Results show an instant boost in volume, soft and hydrated hair, as well as perfect to use for clients who prefer to frequently wash their hair. Trust us, your fine-haired clients will love it!

A pre-styling essential for fine hair clients, Shed’s Pump Up. Simply spritz this spray over towel-dried hair post-shower, dry into the hair, and watch your hair thicken. Adding body without stiffness, this volumising spray helps reduce breakage and frizz, protects hair up to 230°C, and gives the most voluminous finish to every style. This is ideal for clients who struggle to get volume that lasts past the salon chair.

We get it, finishing sprays can be scary. But the amika rising star volumising finishing spray gives the roots an instant lift without the crunch. With a buildable, lightweight formula, this spray gives an all-day lift without the stiffness or residue. Perfect as a finishing touch or retail recommendation, this is definitely a must-have for your fine-haired clients.

Like we said, fine hair loves texture, and the Shed Beach Bum Texturising Salt Spray delivers exactly this, without the dryness. Enhancing natural waves and curls, Shed’s Beach Bum adds volume, movement, and, of course, the right amount of texture, which adds a light hold and soft finish to the final look. Infused with sunflower seed extract, Beach Bum adds moisture to the hair so styles never look dry.

Volume that’s flexible? Meet L’Oréal Tecni.Art Flex Pli Shaper that keeps the stylist in control. A heat-activated styling spray that adds body and shape during blow-drying, this spray ensures styles look soft with a touchable finish. This is ideal for fine hair clients who want volume without having to use too much product.

A classic but absolute essential, dry shampoo is the ultimate staple for our fine-haired clients. And the Sexy Hair Big Dry Shampoo does exactly what it says on the bottle. This spray provides big, bouncy hair while ensuring you can skip a hair-wash day. Absorbing oil without leaving any residue, the Sexy Hair Big Dry Shampoo adds lift and freshness between washes, making it perfect for prep styling as well as re-fresh days. Dry shampoo is the ultimate secret weapon for making styles last longer.

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It’s important to clarify that fine hair doesn’t need heavy products or complicated routines; it needs smart cleansing and lightweight volume, along with the right balance of hold and hydration. And while it’s a tricky hair type to deal with, by educating your clients and recommending the right professional products, you can help them achieve thicker, fuller-looking hair in the salon, and in between their appointments.