How to reduce the appearance of thin ends

Hair: Nelson Brown for Browns, Dumfries, Scotland
Photography: Emma Hughes

Hi Hair Doctor,

I have long hair (two or three inches past my shoulder) which is quite fine, wavy and tends to frizz, with a rectangular shaped face.

I always ask for blunt cut long layers. However, when my hair is relaxed after washing it and I look at the back of my hair, the last couple of inches always look a bit ‘see-through’ like it actually needs a cut! Also the hair cut around my face always looks fine and frizzy.

How can I get fullness/body into my hair without the ends looking thin? What am I doing wrong?

Thank you,

Karen, Orpington

Hi Karen,

Your own hair's texture is such an important part of the hair consultation and should really lead the haircut along with face shape, head shape, lifestyle and natural growth patterns.

In your case, face shape being slightly elongated means you need width in your shape, which will never come from layering. Only from internal graduation will this width be constructed, so stay away from layers! If your stylist looks at your key consultation points, they should clearly see this is what you need.

Blunt is right. Clean, heavy lines within your haircut will give you just that in its appearance.

Hope that helps,

Nelson Brown, Browns

Hello Karen,

It sounds like the ends of your hair might be a bit dry; since you say your hair tends to frizz, this may mean that the ends have split or broken - especially if you straighten or heatstyle it. Blunt cutting is definitely the right method to try and keep the ends looking fuller, but consider having less layers - or even doing without the layers at all.

If you want the ends to look thicker, you need to keep them all the same length; so, have the 'see-through' part trimmed off and then try having less or no layers put in at the back. Use conditioning treatments on the ends and heat-protecting products to help prevent any damage.

Less layers may make your hair a bit heavier and therefore harder to style with volume, so you'll have to get skilful with a brush and hairdryer to get that rootlift going!

Nick Malenko, Royston Blythe

Hi Karen,

If your hair is fine and you want it to look fuller, then I would suggest that minimal layering is the best option. Layers are interesting because they are in fact a cutting technique to remove weight, but also they give the illusion of having more body and bounce. If you have finer hair, removing that weight is not really necessary. I think that you should consider growing your layers down through the back to make it feel heavy and blunt but probably keep the shaping around the face as it will be more flattering.

Kind regards,

John Clark, Brooks+Brooks