There are two ways to get thicker hair. You can make thin hair look thicker today, or you can work on making it thicker over the next few months.

Most people need both. One gets you out the door looking like yourself. The other works on the reason your hair got thin in the first place. This guide covers the fast fixes first, then the long game.

How do you make thin hair look thicker?

You make thin hair look thicker by hiding the scalp that shows through it, lifting the roots, and choosing a cut and part that add body. Covering the scalp makes the biggest difference. Styling does the rest.

Here's how the options compare, fastest first:

Get more tips in our piece on how to thicken hair naturally.

12 Ways To Make Thin Hair Look Thicker

These are the techniques that make the most difference, starting with the fastest. Pick the ones that fit how much time you have in the morning.

1. Move Your Part

A part you've worn the same way for years lies flat and opens up along the line. Shift it an inch, flip it to the other side, or try a zigzag. This helps the roots stand up instead of lying down.

If your hair is so thin you can see your scalp anywhere besides the part, start with fibers or powder instead.

2. Cover The Scalp With Hair Fibers

Hair fibers make thin hair look thicker by hiding the scalp underneath it. Shake them over the thin spot and pat them in. Your hair carries a negative charge, and keratin fibers carry a positive one. That static is what holds each fiber to a strand.

Fibers need some hair to cling to. They work best on a thinning crown or part. If you have very little hair, consider hairline powder. (Find out which is best for you in hair fibers vs. hairline powder.)

3. Fill Sparse Spots With Hairline Powder

Hairline powder tints the scalp so the skin stops showing. It works where fibers can't, on a wide part or a bare temple. Sweep on a light layer and build up slowly.

Our hairline powder for thinning hair comes in 11 shades. If the front is your problem area, see our guide to hair thinning in front.

4. Wash With Volumizing Shampoo, and Condition the Ends Only

A volumizing shampoo cleans without leaving weight behind, helping ensure hair stays light and bouncy. Condition only the ends to avoid weighing hair down.

Our thickening shampoo and conditioner are made for fine and thinning hair. For more options, see the best shampoo for fine hair and what to skip.

5. Skip Heavy Products

Oils, butters, and rich creams weigh thin hair down within hours. Keep them off your roots, or skip them altogether. Our guide to hair care ingredients to avoid covers what's harsh.

6. Blow-Dry Your Roots Upside Down

Drying upside down lifts the roots off your head, and lifted roots cover more scalp. Spray a root lift product on damp roots first. Our volume boost spray has built-in heat protection.

Flip your head over and dry the roots against the way they normally fall. Then finish the top with a round brush, lifting at the crown.

7. Tease the Crown

Teasing or backcombing builds a cushion at the roots that holds the top layer up. Take a small section at the crown, hold the ends, and push a comb gently toward the scalp a few times. Smooth the top layer over it.

Be gentle. Teasing too hard snaps fine hair, and broken hair looks thinner.

8. Add Waves or Texture

Waves take up more space than straight hair. A loose curl or a little texture spray makes thin hair look fuller from every angle. If you want to skip the heat, try heatless curls for thin hair.

9. Try A Fuller Ponytail

A ponytail gathers all your hair in one spot. Every thin patch shows. Stack two ponytails, pull the base loose, and cover the crown with fibers. Our guide shows how to pump up a thin ponytail.

10. Get A Blunt Cut, or Keep Layers Light

Blunt ends look thicker because every strand ends at the same line. Wispy ends do the opposite. Light, face-framing layers can add movement on top, but heavy layering removes bulk that thin hair can't spare.

Shorter lengths help too. Long hair is heavy, and the weight pulls fine roots flat. For cut and blow-dry technique, see our hairstyling tips for thinning hair. Men can find cut ideas in our guide to hairstyles for men with thin hair.

11. Change Your Color

Color changes how much your scalp stands out. Dark hair over light skin shows every gap. GRO Clinics suggests a shade closer to your skin tone to make thinning less noticeable. Soft highlights add dimension that reads as depth.

12. Add Extensions or a Topper

Extensions and toppers add hair you don't have. Clip-ins are the easiest to start with. The National Alopecia Areata Foundation notes you need enough natural hair to hold a topper in place. Pick lightweight pieces. Heavy ones pull on fine roots.

FAQs About How to Make Thin Hair Thicker

Can you actually make your hair thicker?

Yes, you can sometimes make your hair thicker, but only if something is thinning it. If your hair has always been fine, you can't change how many follicles you have.

Two things make hair thinner than it needs to be. Breakage snaps strands along the length. Hair loss shrinks follicles or pushes hairs out early. To thicken hair for real, you have to deal with whichever one you have.

How do you stop breakage so hair looks thicker?

You stop breakage by handling your hair more gently. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends these habits:

• Comb, don't brush, wet hair. Use a wide-tooth comb. Wet hair is at its weakest, so treat it gently.
• Wrap, don't rub. Wrap hair in a towel or t-shirt instead of rubbing it dry.
• Turn the heat down. Use low or medium settings and a heat protectant.

Tight ponytails and buns worn every day pull on the roots too. That can cause traction alopecia, a type of hair loss that often shows up at the temples, according to University of Iowa Health Care. For more, see our guide on how to repair damaged fine hair.

Do diet and supplements make hair thicker?

No, diet and supplements don't make hair thicker unless you're low on something. Iron, vitamin D, zinc, and protein deficiencies are linked to thinning, according to a research summary from Hers.

WebMD notes there's no scientific evidence that biotin prevents or treats hair loss in people who aren't deficient. Ask your doctor for a blood test before you buy supplements.

Which treatments help thinning hair regrow?

Minoxidil is the main treatment that helps thinning hair regrow. WebMD notes it's the only over-the-counter hair loss medication the FDA approves for both men and women. The American Academy of Dermatology says to use it for 6 to 12 months before judging results.

A dermatologist can add prescription options if minoxidil isn't enough. See one first if your hair is falling out fast or in patches. Our guide to why your hair is shedding so much covers the common causes.

How can I make my hair look thicker instantly?

You can make your hair look thicker instantly with hair fibers or hairline powder. Both hide thin spots in about a minute and last until you shampoo.

Does cutting your hair make it grow thicker?

No, cutting your hair doesn't make it grow thicker. Hair grows from the follicle, and a trim doesn't reach it. A cut can still make hair look thicker.

Does scalp massage make hair thicker?

Yes, scalp massage might make hair a little thicker, but the evidence is thin. One small study of nine men found thicker hair after 24 weeks of a four-minute daily massage. It's a nice habit, not a treatment.

How do men make thin hair look thicker?

Men make thin hair look thicker with the same tricks, especially a shorter cut with texture on top and hair fibers on a thinning crown. A matte styling product adds grip without shine.