Whether you have fine hair but lots of it, fine hair that tangles easily, fine hair that won’t grow past your shoulders or all three, you’ll know the frustrations it can bring. Volumising sprays only serve to make your hair feel crunchy, big blow-dries drop in nanoseconds and your roots feel perennially greasy – even when your hair is clean. OK, you might have the benefit of shorter drying times, but besides that, it can feel like you’ve got the short straw.

All is not lost, however. We spoke to Karlene Rose, a colourist extraordinaire at The Chapel, Islington. “I’ve got fine hair myself so I know just how frustrating it can be,” she says. From cutting to colouring, styling to shampooing, Rose has some must-try tips for any fine hair ladies…

The best haircuts for fine hair

“I find the best haircut for fine hair is a nice blunt cut. It keeps it feeling the fullest it can be,” explains Rose. “I would also avoid putting too many layers in your hair. A lot of people think layers give move volume which it does to an extent, but it can also thin out the length.” Plus, if you’ve got super fine hair that’s prone to split ends, the more layers you have, the more room there is for them to go raggedy. Seeing as blunt cuts are big in right now, this really isn’t bad news. 

The best colours for fine hair

Colour treating your hair isn’t all bad news. “I do find my hair feels thicker and in better condition after a colour,” says Rose. “We use Redken Shades EQ in the salon, which I do recommend – they’re really nourishing so they make my hair feel in better condition and fuller.” Plus, you can play around with shades to help you fake thicker locks. “Avoid block colours. Having more multi-tonal hair can help give the illusion of depth and movement – something like balayage or highlights,” she continues. “Definitely avoid over-bleaching the hair as it can weaken it leading to breakage if your colourist isn’t careful or the application is overlapped.”

The best products to use at home for fine hair

Most women with fine hair have two things: a Tangle Teezer loaded with stray hairs, and a bathroom graveyard of half-used ‘miracle’ bodifying sprays and lotions. We quizzed Rose on the products she actually takes home to use: “Professional products are the key to healthy hair. I really love Pureology’s Clean Volume Shampoo (£16.50) and Conditioner (£21.50) – they make my hair feel super clean and don’t weigh it down.”

“I also like Redken Extreme Shampoo (£16.50) for hair that’s more damaged and needs that protein boost,” says Rose. “One product I can’t live without that’s helped my hair a lot is Kérastase Resistance Ciment Thermique (£22.90). Not only does it protect your hair from heat, but it helps to keep your hair strong.” And for styling? “I love Redken Full Effect 4 Mousse (£13). It’s not sticky like a lot of mousses, so it makes your hair feel great as well as giving it body.”

How to stop fine hair looking greasy

There are no two ways about it: fine hair just looks greasier faster. Life truly isn’t fair. But it might not be for the reasons you think: “A lot of people are using the wrong shampoo for their hair type and just exacerbating the problem, especially if you’re using something too heavy. It’s always best to ask your hairdresser to recommend a shampoo and conditioner to suit your hair type as this is number one in the path to keeping your hair in the best condition it could be,” explains Rose.  

Main Image: Ian Dooley