Thick Hair Magic: Top 5 Thin-to-Thick Hair Tricks

Last Updated: September 23, 2023

There isn’t a magic pill for hair growth. Natural hair growth comes down to diligent diet, digestion, and stress reduction routines. If you learn to undertake these routines with love and respect for your body and transform the manic-panic of hair loss into a conscious identity shift, you will find yourself working with the biology of natural hair growth.

We choose natural methods because they address the underlying health issue from a holistic point of view, without creating downstream health problems. Natural hair growth is a long-term commitment to yourself, not a quick fix. In the meantime it’s important to have fun with your hair!! Seriously. There’s no reason to hide and plenty of reasons to play.

I created this guide to help you create the appearance of fuller hair NOW, because results from diet and lifestyle changes may take several months. Don’t wait until your hair is “perfect,” start appreciating and enjoying your body every day.

#1: Use Sulfate-free Shampoo & Conditioner

I am often asked, what’s the best shampoo conditioner (or cowash) for thin hair? The best shampoo conditioner/Co-wash routine I’ve found for my hair involves sulfate-free products with organic ingredients. Sulfates are mineral salts in the shampoo which attract oil and make the product foamy and sudsy. 

I like to use Nubian shampoo and conditioner because these products contain healthy oils that stimulate circulation without drying your hair out. Making thin hair look thick hair is a game of optimal oiliness.

Using a harsh shampoo and conditioner will strip natural oils and end up excessively drying your hair out. Preserving some of the natural oils on your scalp will help protect your hair from breakage and damage.

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#2: Don’t wash every day

Those of us with hair on the thinner side may be tempted to wash and condition everyday, because even a little bit of natural scalp oil can weight our hair down. I recommend getting out of the habit of daily washing. Try to let the natural sebum of your scalp accumulate for a few days. You may find rinsing your hair in the shower with warm then cold water to be helpful for stretching “dirty” hair another day.

I wash my hair every 3-5 days. I used to be a daily washer, but found I really like the texture of my hair when I keep my natural oils around. Plus, I’m totally in love with Kevin Murphy powder puff volumizer. This product was recommended to me by my acupuncturist (you’d think stylist, but not this time) Regardless of where I found it, the proof is in the pudding!

I use this volumizer like a dry shampoo, but this is more than a dry shampoo. There is a texturing agent that soaks up excess oil, while bringing more lift and form to your hair.

Sprinkle just a little bit of product onto your scalp at a time. Gently work the powder into your hair to get some lift. I especially like the non aerosol application of this product. I’ve tried so many dry shampoos and I always seem to add too much product if the contents are under pressure! Because my roots are darker I have to be really careful about not applying too much- I’ll end up looking a little ghostly or like I just spent the day on a construction site.

I wear volumizer on the days just before I wash my hair. I like to rinse the product out of my hair at night to let my scalp breathe. If I’m not washing my hair for another day, I’ll re-apply in the morning.

#3: Aromatherapy Scalp Massage

I usually go about 3 to 5 days between each wash, just before (or sometimes the night before) I wash my hair, I treat my scalp with an aromatherapy oil massage. I use a recipe I found in a scientific study: 1.5 TBS Jojoba Oil 2 drops Cedarwood 2 drops Thyme 3 drops Lavender 3 drops Rosemary The researchers used just 5 simple ingredients on patients with alopecia areata¹ (to learn more about the types and causes of hair loss check out my eCourse). Patients were directed to use the mixture nightly along with a 15 minute scalp massage. The patients assigned to the control group of the study used a carrier oil without essential oils. The study found statistically significant increase in hair growth for the patients who used essential oils. I think this can be attributed to the stress-soothing and circulation-stimulating effects of the essential oils. One of the essential principles of my natural hair growth technique is to increase circulation to the hair follicle, so I’m not surprised this study yielded such positive results.

#4: Cold Nettle Rinse

The next element in my thin to thick hair care routine requires a little bit of prep time. As often as I can manage, I rinse my hair with cold nettle tea. Nettles are one of the most nutrient dense plants on the planet. They contain vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, iron, sodium, and a rich fatty acid profile.² Incorporating nutrient dense foods is an essential pillar of my hair growth routine. I enjoy cooked nettles on a regular basis and nettle tea on the daily! I make a big pot of nettle tea in the morning and save the extra as a nutrient dense hair rinse. Most ladies know this, but it’s easy to forget; we absorb all sorts of things through our skin (another reason why I’m so careful about the products that use on my hair). As nettles are one of the most nutrient-dense foods available to us, why not apply this great nutrition directly to the roots of your hair?

#5: Micronutrients & Microcirculation for Natural Hair Growth

As much as I want to give you a quick fix for hair growth, changing your body chemistry to increase natural hair growth takes patience and daily discipline. But if you made it to number 5 on the list, then you obviously care enough to do the good work of taking care of your body with the appropriate diet and lifestyle routine! I have centered my routine around increasing micronutrients and microcirculation so my hair follicles have all the nutrition they need to grow. 

References

  1. Hay IC, Jamieson M, Ormerod AD. Randomized Trial of Aromatherapy: Successful Treatment for Alopecia Areata. Arch Dermatol. 1998;134(11):1349–1352. doi:10.1001/archderm.134.11.1349.[jama]
  2. Adhikari BM, Bajracharya A, Shrestha AK. Comparison of nutritional properties of Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) flour with wheat and barley flours. Food Sci Nutr. 2015;4(1):119-24. Published 2015 Aug 7. doi:10.1002/fsn3.259.[ncbi]

8 thoughts on “Thick Hair Magic: Top 5 Thin-to-Thick Hair Tricks”

    • Hi Donna,
      Thank you for the feedback! I’m writing this blog to help women understand the origins of hair loss and the many scientifically proven ways to regrowth hair naturally. I’m going to be spending more time researching and sharing everything I learn. My hope is to create the resource I wish I had when I started down the path of natural hair regrowth. Is there anything specific you would like to learn about?

      Reply

  2. Thanks for this info.! How would you alter the recipe and “how to use” for a 4oz spray bottle instead of a jar? Still use jojoba/other carrier or would you use witch hazel or water instead? Thanks so much!

    Reply

    • Hi Allison,
      Thank you for your question. I like your thinking on this! A spray bottle would make for a easier application process. If the application process is easier, then it will be easier to adopt the habit and enjoy the benefits of a regular oil massage practice. Find a bottle sturdy enough to spray the original oil-based recipe. The carrier oil serves a special purpose. Essential oils are highly concentrated and may cause skin irritation if applied alone. The carrier oil dilutes the essential oil to a safe level, slows the rate of evaporation, allows for a more even application, and increased absorption. Let me know how it goes!
      <3/Cassy

      [Lahlou, M. (2004). Methods to study the phytochemistry and bioactivity of essential oils. Phytotherapy Research, 18(6), 435–448.]

      Reply

  3. Thank you so much for sharing all of this wonderful information. I am interested in learning more about growing back my hair.

    Reply

    • Hi Sandra,

      Thanks for commenting! It’s always great to hear from another woman on the hair journey. I really started seeing positive changes in my hair once I understood what was causing my hair loss. So, the first step is finding a doctor (hopefully a compassionate one) that can explain why your hair is changing.

      Have you ever worked with an acupuncturist? Acupuncture and Chinese herbs helped rebuild my digestion and balance my hormones. If you’re interested, be sure to shop around! Every acupuncturist is different (and some are better than others).

      It took awhile to dial in my routine, but I feel so much better about my hair and my health now that I know what my body needs!

      The journey inspired me to become a health coach to help other women trying to figure out what’s up with their hair. I’m putting together an e course that discusses everything I’ve learned. If you’re interested, join my email list! I’ll send out a message when it’s ready <3

      Many blessings!

      Reply

  4. Thank you very much for this information. Loved your article. I’m experiencing hair loss on my forehead. It may be due to stress/anxiety. I will definitely try this mixture & massage in nightly. I’m presently doing a prepoo weekly but don’t massage. Need to adjust this. I’ll also check my medications since I have hiperthyroidism (low thyroid) & my protein intake. As you can see I have some work cut out for me.

    Reply

    • I’m glad this article was helpful for you!

      If your intuition says that this hair loss might be stress/anxiety related, I would definitely listen to that voice. The power of our nervous system cannot be understated. The connections between stress and hair health are becoming more and more clear to the scientific community. A 2021 paper published in Nature shows how stress affects hair follicle stem cells and gene expression.

      If you’re thinking your hair health is affected by stress, then I would add stress release and stress management to the top of your hair care routine!

      I’m also a super big advocate for working with highly-educated doctors that know how to show compassion and care. Have your doctors offered helpful solutions to your hair worries?

      Kind wishes,
      Cassy

      Reply

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