A thin ponytail is one of those things you notice in someone else's photo. Then you notice it in yours. The tail looks skinny, and the scalp shows through where the hair pulls back.

It doesn't mean you're done wearing your hair up. This guide covers why ponytails look thin, how to hide the scalp when you pull your hair back, and the tying tricks stylists use to make a thin ponytail look thicker.

How do you make a thin ponytail look thicker?

To make a thin ponytail look thicker, cover the scalp that shows at the roots, add lift before you tie it, and use a tying trick that adds bulk to the tail. Most people need all three. Here's what each one fixes:

The roots matter more than most people think. A full tail can't hide a bare crown. A covered crown makes even a modest tail look intentional.

How do you hide your scalp showing in a ponytail?

The best way to hide the scalp showing in a ponytail is to fill it in with hair fibers or hairline powder after you tie your hair. Fibers suit the crown and part. Powder suits the temples and hairline. Here's how to do it:

1. Start with clean, dry hair. Fibers will not apply evenly on damp hair.
2. Tie the ponytail, then check the mirror. Look for scalp at the part, crown, and temples.
3. Add fibers to the crown and part. Shake or spray fibers onto the thin spots. Using the the hair fiber applicator, flip the bottle upside down and hold it at 90 degrees over the area.
4. Powder the temples. Apply hairline powder into the sparse spots along the hairline. Pressing works better than sweeping here.
5. Pat and set. Pat lightly with your palm, then mist 2 to 4 pumps of Hair Fiber Holding Spray over the area.

For more technique, read about how to apply hair fibers. You can also learn more about how to deal with hair that's so thin the scalp shows through.

How do you add volume before you tie a ponytail?

You add volume before tying a ponytail by lifting the roots while you blow-dry and lightly teasing the crown. Flat roots make a flat ponytail. Lifted roots give the whole style height.

1. Wash with a volumizing shampoo. Our volumizing shampoo and conditioner cleanse your hair and scalp for the best lift.
2. Spray the roots while damp. Use a lightweight root lift spray like our XL Volume Boost Blow Dry Spray, made for fine hair.
3. Dry upside down. Flip your head over and dry the roots against the direction they normally fall.
4. Tease the crown. Take a small section at the crown and push a comb gently toward the scalp a few times. Smooth the top layer over it.
5. Gather with your fingers. A brush pulls hair flat. Fingers keep the lift you just built.

Heavy oils and creams undo all of this. If your ponytail goes flat by noon, check our list of products to avoid if you have fine hair.

What ponytail tricks make thin hair look fuller?

The ponytail tricks that make thin hair look fuller are layering two ponytails, pinning texture into the tail, and pulling the base loose. Each one adds bulk without adding hair.

The Layered Ponytail

A layered ponytail wraps the bottom half of your hair up over a top ponytail. The tail looks longer and thicker.

1. Split your hair into a top half and a bottom half.
2. Tie the top half into a high ponytail, then split the ponytail in the middle and flip your hair through it.
3. Split the bottom half into two sections and bring both up over the first ponytail.
4. Tie them together right on top of the first one, then fluff the tail to blend the layers.

The Double Ponytail

A double ponytail stacks one ponytail directly above another. Tie the top half at the crown and the bottom half just below it. The top tail falls over the lower hair tie and hides it. The result looks longer and fuller than one ponytail could.

Textured High Ponytail

A textured high ponytail uses loose waves and a little lift at the crown to make your hair look fuller.

1. Add loose waves. Apply heat protectant to dry hair, then curl small sections through the mid-lengths and ends. Let the curls cool before gently separating them with your fingers.
2. Tie your ponytail high. Gather your hair at the crown and secure it with a hair tie. Use your fingers to smooth it back without flattening the texture.
3. Loosen the crown. Hold the hair tie in place and gently tug small sections of hair just above it to create a little lift. Keep the pulls small so the ponytail stays secure.
4. Fluff the tail. Separate the waves with your fingers and gently fluff the ponytail to add width and movement. Finish with a light mist of flexible-hold hairspray if needed.

Why is my ponytail so thin?

Your ponytail looks thin because you have fewer hairs, finer hairs, or both. Pulling the hair back gathers it into one spot. That shows exactly how much there is.

Fine hair and thin hair aren't the same thing. Fine hair means each strand is narrow. Thin hair means there are fewer strands on your head. You can have plenty of fine hair and still get a skinny ponytail.

Wrap a tape measure around your ponytail right at the hair tie. If your ponytail measures less than about 2 inches (5 cm) around, it’s considered low density. Medium density is about 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 cm), and high density is more than about 4 inches (10 cm).

Two other things make a ponytail look thinner than it is:

• Scalp at the roots. Thinning at the crown or temples shows up the moment hair is pulled back tight.
• New shedding. A ponytail that's shrinking month by month is worth looking into. Our guide to why your hair is shedding covers the common reasons.

Can ponytails cause thinning hair?

Yes, ponytails can cause thinning hair if they're tight and worn often. The constant pull on the roots can lead to traction alopecia, a type of hair loss that often shows up at the temples and along the hairline.

University of Iowa Health Care says hair can grow back within months if traction alopecia is caught early. Left too long, it can scar and become permanent. Watch for these early signs:

• Small bumps on the scalp
• Tenderness or a pulling feeling after you take your hair down
• Short, broken hairs around the temples

The fix is simple. Tie it looser, wear it lower, and change where the ponytail sits from day to day. If a style hurts while you're putting it in, it's too tight.

What's the best ponytail holder for thin hair?

The best ponytail holder for thin hair is a soft fabric or silk scrunchie. It grips fine hair without cutting into it. Thin elastics and anything with a metal joint do the most damage.

• Use: Silk or fabric scrunchies, and soft fabric-covered ties.
• Skip: Rubber bands, thin clear elastics, and ties with a metal clasp.

Dermatologists warn that ties with metal parts can literally shave off hair. People prone to traction alopecia should avoid rubber bands and elastic holders.

If your ponytail keeps sliding down, the tie isn't the problem. A small dusting of dry shampoo or texturizing spray at the roots gives fine hair enough grip to stay put.

Should you use a ponytail extension for thin hair?

Yes, a ponytail extension is worth using for thin hair when you want more bulk than your own hair can give. Fibers hide the scalp. An extension adds a tail you don't have.

Ponytail extensions come in two main styles. A clip-in ponytail grips the base with a clip or drawstring. A wrap-around ponytail uses a comb plus a strip of hair you wrap around the base to hide it.

1. Match the length. Pick an extension the same length as your ponytail, measured from the tie to the ends.
2. Go light. Choose a lighter weight ponytail. This puts less pressure on your natural hair to reduce the risk of damage.
3. Anchor it well. Tie your own hair into a small bun first, then attach the extension and pin around the base.

Fibers and an extension work well together. Cover the crown with fibers, then clip in the tail. The extension can't hide the scalp at the roots, and fibers can't add length.

FAQs

Is a high or low ponytail better for thin hair?

A high ponytail looks fuller on thin hair, but a low ponytail is easier on your roots. Wear high ponytails loose, and switch to low ones on most days.

Can you put hair fibers on the ponytail itself?

No, hair fibers work at the roots, not on the length of the tail. They hide the scalp by clinging to the hair near it. (Learn more in our piece on how hair fibers work.)

Why does my ponytail look thin at the ends?

Your ponytail looks thin at the ends because of breakage, split ends, or longer hair that's grown out unevenly. Trimming off the wispy ends makes the whole tail look thicker.