I’m a hairstylist who believes in embracing the color and texture of the hair you’ve been given naturally. Let me share some hairstyles for thin gray hair, as well as tips and ideas on how you can experiment with your fine locks, too. Read on because life’s too short to wear boring hairstyles!
This style looks especially great with highlighted and/or longer hair. I added some unbraided hair in between the two braids to make the final bun look a little more substantial. Use dry shampoo on clean hair to give your hair a little volume and texture. This could also help bobby pins or hair rubber bands from slipping out.
The easiest way for me to do a Dutch braid on myself is to grab the added hair from each side at the same time, always starting with the same side. (I started this braid by adding hair from the left side first, so each time I add more hair, I’ll start with left side.) Then braid, always starting with the side you grab hair from second. (For me, it would be the right side.) Repeat, repeat, repeat, and then put your arms back down before they fall off. It took me 40 minutes to write out these instructions, so dm me if they’re too confusing and you’d like them in another language.
Why do one topsy tail when you can do 300? This is especially a fun style if you don’t know how to braid and don’t want to learn. Get out your (non-pulling) rubberbands! I use ElasticU and get them right off Amazon!
Make a small pony and wrap a little hair around the first rubber band to hide it. Create a second pony just under it. Split the first pony in 2 and lip the second pony up, in between the 2 sections. Create a 3rd pony under the 2nd, including the 2 sections from the 1st pony. Split the 2nd pony that is clipped up into 2 sections and now clip up the 3rd pony. Create a 4th pony while including the 2 sections that are clipped up from the 2nd pony. Continue.
Take a small section at the part and curl it back with either a straightener, wand, or curling iron. Take a small section just under that to curl back again, but leave it on top of the previous piece. Work your way down the hairline. You can get different looks based on how much you curl your sections. I prefer more of just a slight bend in the hair instead of an actual curl, especially if you plan on wearing the rest of your hair straight.
Rubberband a small section of hair from your temples. Clip it up and out of the way. Rubberband another section right below it, leaving out the hair along the hairline. Separate the first section in two, and clip up the pony below it. Grab new hair while adding the separated ponies to it. Make sure each subsequent section you grab is narrower to allow this to look like a half up style.
Loosely curl your hair to start. Twist a section of hair upward. Gently tug at the edges. Bobby pin it at the nape of the head (under the round part of your head). Do the same on the other side. Pull at a few pieces on the crown of your head to show some texture.
This hairstyle for thin gray hair is easy enough for casual looks, as well as very sophisticated for special events. Follow these simple steps from the video and you’ll master one of the cutest half-up half-down hairstyles. By the way, using smaller elastics will be easier to hide than the thick ponytail bands.
Without creating actual parts, grab a middle section in the back of your head and put it into a messy bun. French braid (or a regular braid works too!) each side kind of loosely. Use bobby pins to secure the braids above and around the buns.
Section the hair from behind the ear up to the part. Pony everything else into a bun. Wrap the front side section above your rubber band and bobby pin the end. If your hair is thicker, make your front side section smaller. If your hair is thin like mine, I love you and am here for you.
If you’re looking for that vintagey, finger wave look, use a wand or curling iron to create a roller set look. Be sure the curls are horizontal and directly on top of each other. Do a second section right next to the first section, and line up curls next to each other. Let cool. Take clips out and brush out. Use a pick or comb to create an S shape. Be patient! Sometimes the more the hair relaxes, the easier this is.
If you have tiny hair like me, you can use bobby pins to hold your buns. Otherwise, rubber bands work too! I wrapped my buns by making a (garlic) knot without pulling the tip all the way through.
To get this boho look, first use a line of two or three pins create a fuller shape from the front. Twist a section of hair upward, over the line of pins, to the other side of the head. Put pins inside the twist as you work to hold it in place. Twist another row of hair underneath to get to the other side of the hair again. Pin. Keep going to the other side of the head until you run out of hair.
With your hair down and parted, start with the palms of your hand behind your neck, facing forward with your thumbs down. Turn your thumbs upwards and bring them together as you pull the sides of your hair together. Then use one hand to grab your newly formed pony. Try not to smooth the top. If you need to, you can grab the pony with the other hand a few times, but try not to do this too much or you’ll lose the messy look you’re creating.
We’ve all done a topsy tail but have you ever done a sideways topsy tail? The options are limited after that. I decided to do a side messy bun. You could also do your sideways topsy tail lower, and do a long side braid if your hair suits that style. I’ll stick with the bun!
If you have tiny hair and want your half up bun to look like you don’t, watch this! If you have the opposite of tiny hair, just know that all of us tiny hair people wish we could be a little bit more like you every day.
Tease the top of your head all the way back until a few inches above the occipital bone. (You all know what is, right?). Start French braiding at the top of the back of your head (over some of the teasing). Tuck the end of the braid underneath, or if your hair is thicker, make a bun.
Hide the pins by putting them in your front section facing downward, and then turn them inward 180 degrees, and put them in your hair vertically. Do the same with the other side, but place this pin over your first pin so they connect.
Take a small section at the part and curl it back with either a straightener, wand, or curling iron. Take a small section just under that to curl back again, but leave it on top of the previous piece. Work your way down the hairline. You can get different looks based on how much you curl your sections. I prefer more of just a slight bend in the hair instead of an actual curl, especially if you plan on wearing the rest of your hair straight.
Get a completely different look just by changing the way you blow dry your hair. To create a little more fullness, try not brushing your hair when you get out of the shower. To wear more hair on your forehead, blow dry everything forward while grabbing sections that are much further than your natural part, without parting your hair. Both sides should be dried in a diagonal and downward direction. Once it’s completely dry, use your fingers to create a messy part.
You don’t have to be good at braiding or curling your hair to make your hair look more polished! You can find these and many more hairstyles for thin gray hair on Care’s Instagram.
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