Difference between Fine Hair and Thin Hair

Young woman who is enjoying the feel of her hair
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Q: Is there a difference between fine hair and thin hair?
 
A: These are two terms that are very often confused in their usage to describe the hair. Most professionals and the current texts used in cosmetology training, do not use the term "thin" in describing the hair for this reason.
 
If the term "thin" is being used to describe the actual diameter of the individual hair strand, then "thin" and "fine" are referring to the same attribute. However, if "thin" is being used to describe the number of hairs per square inch on the head (or the lack thereof) then it refers to the hair's density and doesn't mean the same as "fine".
 
In both cases - fine hair and thin, low-density, hair - you can have similar problems with the way the hair looks. Both situations result in flatter hairstyles and in both cases, the hair is more susceptible to damage from styling and chemical processes. There are ways to protect against this damage, and there are many products available today to deal with both hair traits - fine hair and low density - to give you thicker-looking, fuller hair.
 
In addition, both fine and low-density hair can be made to look fuller and thicker by drying the hair with a blow-dryer while lifting the hair outward from the head with a brush. There are even dryer attachments with vented prongs that will give the same results with less fuss.
 
The bottom line is that a person who says they have "thin" hair may or may not mean the same thing as a person who says they have fine hair. The word "thin" in this context is too vague for clear meaning and should be avoided in favor of more specific terms like "low density" or "sparse".
 
©Hairfinder.com
 
See also:
 
Fine hair
 
Hair density
 
Hair damage
 
Analyzing your hair
 
The best haircuts for fine hair
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