Having thick, voluminous hair is often seen as a sign of health and beauty. Many people strive to achieve fuller-looking hair through different styling techniques and products. One way to create the illusion of thicker hair is to choose the right hair color.
How Does Hair Color Affect Perceived Thickness?
The shade and tone of your hair color can enhance or diminish the appearance of thickness. This is because color affects how light reflects off the hair strands. Certain shades create more contrast and dimension, making hair look denser. Other hues can wash out hair and make it look limp and flat.
Darker colors like black, brown, and burgundy tend to make hair look thicker. The depth of the color creates shadows and gives hair more visual weight. Lighter shades like platinum blonde or ash blonde can sometimes make hair appear finer and thinner. Medium brunette shades often strike the right balance of adding depth without being too heavy.
Best Hair Color for Thin Hair
Here are some of the best hair color options for making thin hair look fuller:
Dark Brown
Rich chocolate or espresso browns add plenty of dense pigment to hair. The warm, dark tone covers up sparse areas well and attracts the eye to give hair the illusion of fullness.
Caramel and Honey Blonde
Warm golden blonde shades inject brightness while still providing enough depth for a voluminous effect. The multi-tonal nature creates movement and dimension in the hair.
Chestnut Brown
Chestnut brown with red undertones is another great choice for thin hair. The hint of red brings vibrancy, while the brownbase adds body.
Espresso with Highlights
Adding some face-framing highlights around espresso brown hair can create the look of fuller hair. The highlights produce contrast between the dark and light pieces for a layered, dimensional look.
Dark Chocolate with Caramel Highlights
Combining dark chocolate brown with buttery caramel highlights is another foolproof combination. The warm tones complement each other beautifully for bounce and fullness.
Worst Hair Colors for Thinning Hair
On the other hand, some shades can make hair look limp and sparse. Here are some of the worst color choices for fine or thinning hair:
Platinum and Ash Blonde
Ultra light blonde with cool undertones can drain color from the hair, leaving it looking one-dimensional and flat. Avoid hair colors that match your skin tone.
Extreme Bleached Blonde
Bleaching hair to pale yellow or white shades removes depth and vibrancy from strands, making them appear thinner. It can also damage and dry out the hair over time.
Jet Black
Going too dark with an intense jet black shade can be overly harsh on fair skin tones. It can create too much contrast and make hair look unnaturally dark and flattened.
Monotone Color
Single-tone hair color without highlights or lowlights looks flat and can emphasize sparseness. Some subtle highlighting is needed to add dimension.
Faded Pastels
Soft pastel pinks, lavenders, and blues may seem like a fun idea. But these shades fade quickly and leave hair looking drab and thin. They require frequent touch-ups to maintain vibrancy.
Tips for Maximizing the Effect
Here are some tips to ensure your new hair color makes the biggest impact on creating fuller-looking hair:
- Go to an experienced colorist. Professionally colored hair looks shinier and healthier.
- Use a volume-boosting shampoo and conditioner. Massage the scalp to stimulate blood circulation.
- Style with volumizing mousse and blow dry with a round brush upwards from the roots.
- Add layers around the face. Long, blunt hair cuts can drag hair down.
- Use small heated rollers to add bounce and movement.
- Try clip-in hair extensions to fill out thin spots.
- Use dry shampoo at the roots between washes to soak up oil and create lift.
- Switch up your parting from a center to side part to give the illusion of width.
Consult a Colorist
The most important tip is to consult a professional hair colorist. They can assess your hair in person and help determine the perfect shade and application method to make your hair look its thickest and healthiest.
Some colorists recommend adding highlights after the all-over color to strategically create fullness at the crown and around the face. Others advise doing balayage or ombre applications to mimic the look of natural hair growth at the roots and lightened ends.
Expert colorists also know how to seamlessly blend multiple shades to create maximum density. A single flat color rarely looks as lush and voluminous.
Maintenance is Key
No matter what color you choose, regular maintenance is crucial. The hair should be re-colored every 4-6 weeks to keep the shade vibrant and avoid visible regrowth. Book standing appointments with your colorist to stay on top of your hair’s conditioning.
Use a good quality color-protecting shampoo and conditioner designed for color-treated hair. Avoid washing hair too often and use lower temperatures when heat styling to avert fading.
Get a Consultation
In the end, there is no “one size fits all” solution when it comes to choosing the best hair color for your unique hair. The thickness, texture, natural color, and skin tone all factor into the equation. Book a consultation with an experienced hair colorist to determine what shades will maximize the appearance of density.
With the right color and expert application, you can enjoy noticeably thicker, fuller looking hair.
Conclusion
Certain hair colors can create the illusion of thicker hair, while others can make hair look limp and flat. Darker shades like black, brown, and burgundy add depth and dimension. Warm tones like caramel and honey blonde inject brightness while still providing body. Chestnut brown with red reflects is another great choice. Cool platinum blondes and extreme bleaching have the opposite effect, making hair look one-dimensional. Jet black can be too harsh on fair skin. The best approach is to consult a professional colorist. With expertly blended color and strategic highlighting, your stylist can maximize your hair’s thickness and fullness.