Thinning hair: Women can use color to help “thicken” strands — but not too much!

Some women choose to color their hair to help reverse the effect of thinning hair. Women should know, though, that when it comes to coloring thinning hair, choosing the right color and not over processing is vital.

Every woman loses some hair every day, but hormonal changes in older women make hair loss more frequent, and may change the characteristics of hair so it feels thinner and finer in texture than it once did. In Vibrant Nation’s Guide to Great Hair After 50,, New York City color guru Beth Minardi of Minardi Salon explains, “Think of each strand of hair as a fiber — at twenty it was like a strand of yarn, by 50 it’s more like thread.”

How does coloring your hair improve the look of thinning hair?

Coloring your hair can add instant fullness and shine. Hair dyes thicken your hair because the chemicals rough up the hair shaft so each strand can absorb the color. This “roughing action” plumps up the hair strand size. Meanwhile, the coloring process increases the overall shine of the hair.

Thickening thinning hair: Women should know color matters!

While the coloring process increases thinning hair strand size, choosing the right color can also provide the appearance of fuller, thicker hair. Generally, darker colors like auburn or brunettes give the illusion of having more hair. However, if you’re a fair-skinned woman with naturally light hair, lighter colors will match the color of your scalp and your existing hair. Women with thinning hair can also use well-placed highlights to give the illusion of fullness. For example, some color specialists recommend just highlighting the tips of your hair to make the root color stand out and fool the eye into seeing more depth and volume.

Consider very carefully before lightening if you have thinning hair. Women often decide “this is the moment to go blonde or, if they are already blonde, to go lighter.” Minardi says this is a big mistake. If you go too blonde, your hair might look transparent and bald areas of the scalp may become more visible. Instead, try variations in blonde tones with a dark blonde or even light brown base and lighter brighter shades on top to create depth and the illusion of more hair.