Stress-Free Styling for Thin Hair
Do you have thin hair? Have you been told that you should never use a flat iron for thin hair? I’m here to tell you that that is a myth!
Even if your hair is very thin, you can still get that great flat iron look – as long as you choose the right set and use it with care!
Once, when I was working in my salon, I had just finished cutting a client’s hair and asked her if she wanted me to straighten it. She looked at me like I’d offered to chop off her head and said, “you can’t use heat tools on thin hair!” I was able to tell her this is not true, recommend a quality flat iron, and show her how to style her hair with minimal damage. And today I’d like to share those secrets with all of you.
Read on for expert advice on finding, and using, the best flat iron for thin hair.
What’s the Difference Between “Fine Hair” and “Thin Hair”?
These two types often get confused or used interchangeably. But they are actually two very different hair types. Fine hair has low density. So your hair can be very fine but you may have a lot of it, whereas thin hair refers to the amount of hair on your head! This article focusses on heat styling for thin hair but we’ve also got some great advice for fine-haired beauties. To read more about flat iron styling for fine hair, click here.
Heat Styling Tips for Thin Hair:
- Prepare your hair for heat styling by using a damage protecting shampoo and conditioner. Products with Argan Oil are really good.
- Divide your hair into one-inch sections.
- Apply a heat protectant spray to each section before you straighten
- Start styling from the nape up.
- Get the temperature right on your flat iron – start low (about 270 degrees) and turn it up slowly until you find a temperature which allows you to straighten each section in two passes – this is your hair’s ideal styling temperature. NEVER be tempted to turn up the heat because you’re in a hurry – you don’t want to fry the precious hair you have!
- Give your hair a few days rest between heat styling – the fact is that all flat irons do some damage to hair and, even though you love the look, it’s not ideal to subject your hair to heat treatment on a daily basis.
The Best Professional Flat Iron for Thin Hair:
Introducing your new best friend: The Isa Professional Flat Iron. It is one of the more expensive flat irons – priced at up to $150 – but it’s well worth the ticket!
This flat iron is my go-to for people with thin hair because it features:
- Solid Ceramic and Tourmaline plates for smooth straightening without snagging or hotspots.
- Lower temperature ranges (from 175 degrees to 450) to keep your hair safer.
- LCD temperature display so that you can ensure you have an accurate and steady heat.
- A temperature lock so that, once you’ve found your ideal straightening heat, you can lock it in. This is also a real plus because, with some straighteners, it’s quite easy to bump the temperature switch while you work, accidently cranking up the heat way higher than you need it!
- A rounded shape which lends itself well to curling as well as straightening.
BUY ISA PROFESSIONAL FLAT IRON-AMAZON-
The Best Budget Flat Iron for Thin Hair:
If you don’t have the money to blow on an expensive professional flat iron, there are cheaper models which are okay for thin hair. You can check out my reviews of budget flat irons here.
The problem with using a cheap flat iron on thin hair is that you do risk doing more damage than necessary. This is because the plates tend to be ceramic/tourmaline coated, rather than solid material. Coated plates can be prone to “hotspots” which can burn your hair as you straighten.
If you don’t want to splash out on a professional flat iron, then a hair straightening brush is a cheaper and safer option you could consider. I suggest the Apalus hair straightening brush, which usually retails for around $30.
The benefits of using this instead of a cheap flat iron are:
- You can give your hair a more natural, straight look with a simple brushing action.
- It has lower temperatures (from 180 degrees to 450) for less damaging styling.
- The heat is not as direct as a flat iron – so it’s less likely to cause damage.
- It’s safe to use more regularly than a traditional flat iron.
- It has a deep conditioning mode – so you can treat your hair to a replenishing oil treatment at the lower temperature.
Summary: Styling is Easy with the Right Tools and the Right Technique:
Having thin hair should NOT mean that heat styling is off the table! All you need to do is find a quality flat iron and take extra care not to fry your hair! If you take nothing else from this post, PLEASE remember to use a heat protectant product whenever you style, give your hair a few days’ rest between stylings and never be tempted to crank the heat up when you’re in a hurry! Happy styling!
Check Out Our Other Posts While You’re Here:
We’ve got a huge range of articles with expert advice about all things hair-styling. Here are a few I think you might like:
Protecting Your Hair from Heat Damage:
I can’t stress enough the importance of minimizing heat damage to thin hair! If you’d like to find out more about products and techniques you can use to stop your hair from FRYING, check out our specialized article here.
More Expert Flat Iron Styling Tips:
Straightening is by no means the only option when it comes to modern flat irons. You can also curl, flip, wave, and even create incredible hair-up styles. Click through for some awesome styling advice to help you get the most out of your flat iron.