Struggling with thin, lifeless-looking hair? Whether you’re facing straight-up hair loss or poor hair health due to less-than-ideal hair care habits, the answer to how to get thicker hair is pretty much the same.
*All images feature a model portrayal
(unless otherwise noted).
Key Takeaways:
Gentle hair care, using the right shampoo, and nutritious eating can help support healthier, thicker-looking hair.
Vitamins and supplements may help if you’re not getting enough hair-supportive nutrients.
Styling products like mousse, dry shampoo, and texture spray can instantly boost volume.
FDA-approved hair loss treatments like minoxidil and finasteride are the most effective options for promoting hair growth.
The sooner you address thinning, the better. A healthcare provider can advise you on the best hair loss treatment option.
Struggling with thin, lifeless-looking hair? Whether you’re facing straight-up hair loss or poor hair health due to less-than-ideal hair care habits, the answer to how to get thicker hair is pretty much the same.
Ahead, we’ll cover the best evidence-based ways for how to thicken hair while keeping your mop looking healthy and strong.
For starters, what exactly is thick hair? Technically speaking, thick hair refers to the diameter or width of individual strands.
If you roll an individual hair between your fingers, thick hair (or coarse hair) will feel like sewing thread. Fine hair will be almost undetectable.
People with lots of hair on their heads (a high hair follicle count) can also be described as having thick hair — but this is actually known as having high hair density. High-density hair can feature thick (wide diameter) strands or fine individual hairs.
Here, we’ll use the term “thick hair” to mean hair that appears full and healthy. Read on for proven ways to help hair look thicker.
Want your hair to look thicker? Start with a few simple routines.
Things like choosing the right hair care products, eating a balanced diet, and adopting other healthy habits can help you grow thicker hair.
The right nutrition habits can support thick, healthy hair growth.
Although many nutrients play a role in hair growth, research shows that zinc deficiency specifically can contribute to hair loss. Iron deficiency is another potential hair loss culprit.
Good sources of zinc include:
Oysters
Red meat
Seafood
Poultry
Fortified cereals
Nuts
Beans
Dairy products
Whole grains
And you can get iron from:
Lean meats
Oysters
Seafood
Beans
Fortified cereals
Tofu
Spinach
Chickpeas
Tomatoes
Nuts
→ Read: Best Foods for Hair Growth
Your hair follicles need vitamins to produce healthy, strong hair. Nutritional imbalances can lead to health issues, including slower-growing, thinner hair.
These vitamins play a major role in healthy hair growth:
Vitamin A
Vitamin B12
Vitamin C
Vitamin B7
Vitamin D
Vitamin E
In an ideal world, you’d get most of these from your food, but supplements can help you fill in gaps.
Hims biotin gummies are formulated with (yes) biotin and other nutrients like folic acid, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, and vitamin D to help you maintain a steady intake of hair-friendly vitamins.
Hair shafts can withstand some rough handling, but routinely being rough can cause damage that leads to thinning.
Scrubbing too hard, relying on styling tools like blow-dryers and straighteners, and combing or brushing too aggressively can injure hair follicles, leading to:
Breakage
Keratin damage
Thinner hair
Even rubbing too hard with a towel can damage your hair over time.
Some products, like those with sulfates, might strip your strands of their protective natural oils, leaving your hair dry, brittle, and more prone to breakage.
Hairstyles that put excessive tension on your roots and hair follicles, like dreadlocks, tight ponytails, or classic slicked-back hair, can cause a type of hair loss called traction alopecia.
Oil can weigh down hair strands and make fine or sparse hair look thinner. Regular washing prevents oil and dirt buildup.
Which products should you use in the shower? The most effective shampoos for limiting hair loss and promoting hair growth contain ingredients that block dihydrotestosterone (DHT) from binding to and damaging hair follicles.
Key ingredients to look for include saw palmetto (an active ingredient in Hims men’s thickening shampoo) and rosemary oil or extract.
→ Learn more: Rosemary Oil for Hair Growth
Want thicker hair? Ditch the vapes and cigarettes.
Smoking and healthy hair don’t mix. First, there’s the direct effect of smoke clouds, which can deposit toxins directly onto your hair.
Smoking also impacts heart health, increasing your risk of:
Some health issues can trigger hair loss, and there’s evidence that smoking can directly damage hair follicles, possibly leading to hair loss.
Fungal infections on the scalp can cause hair follicle-damaging inflammation that leads to shedding.
Scalp ringworm (tinea capitis) is a particularly annoying fungal skin infection that can cause permanent hair loss when it’s severe.
If you spot signs of a fungal infection anywhere on your body, reach out to a dermatologist or another healthcare professional. The sooner you treat it, the less likely it is to spread and cause permanent damage.
If you’re dealing with a flaky, itchy scalp, try dandruff shampoo.
Thinking of sporting a fresh look? Consider a hairstyle that creates the illusion of thicker hair.
Donning a side part or an undercut, for example, can add an extra layer of thickness to your hair.
If you prefer a longer hairstyle, ask your barber or hairstylist for a haircut with a fringe to help conceal thinning around your hairline.
→ Read: Best Men’s Haircuts for Thinning Hair
For a hairstyle that looks good when it’s a bit messy, ditch your brush or comb and use your fingers instead. It’s also helpful to brush your hair backward at the root to create lift.
Unlike combs that flatten, your fingers add structured volume, making hair look fuller and thicker.
Blow-drying can add bounce and volume to your hair, but be mindful of the heat. Too much can cause damage. Use the lowest heat setting and always apply heat-protectant spray to prevent breakage.
Another tip: Don’t rely on blow-drying to boost volume. Though it can help in a pinch, regularly using heat-styling tools can lead to split ends and breakage over time. Air-dry your hair whenever possible.
Need a quick refresh that also boosts thickness? Spray or sprinkle dry shampoo onto your scalp for an instant lift. It absorbs oils and dirt, leaving behind an invisible residue that makes your hair smoother, thicker-looking, and easier to style.
Plus, it provides a light hold for your styled hair. The best part? Applying dry shampoo takes just a minute and lets you skip a hair wash day.
Mousse and hairspray are go-tos for volumizing and adding thickness to hair. Remember the big, rock-and-roll hair of the ‘80s? That was mousse and hairspray magic.
Unlike gel and wax, mousse makes each strand appear denser, giving you a fuller overall look. Pair it with a light mist of hairspray, and your hair will easily look almost twice as thick.
Hair-building fibers are a great way to boost hair volume in a pinch. They cling to your natural strands, creating a fuller look that hides your scalp.
Fibers also usually stay put until you wet or wash your hair, so no need for midday touch-ups.
Need a quick volume boost but don’t want to weigh down your hair? Try a texture spray.
Lift sections of your hair, and give them a light spray at the roots. This won’t actually increase hair thickness, but it’ll help your hair look thicker until you wash it out.
Once you’re done spraying, gently brush or comb your hair to corral any loose strands.
If you’re looking to boost hair growth after hair loss, medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) can help.
Minoxidil is a topical medication for male pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia). It’s available over the counter (OTC), no prescription needed, as a liquid solution or foam that you apply to your scalp twice a day.
In some cases, a healthcare provider may recommend oral minoxidil, which requires a prescription. This treatment can be helpful for those who struggle with the upkeep of a topical product.
The FDA-approved medication appears to work by increasing blood flow to hair follicles, shortening the resting (telogen) phase of the hair growth cycle, and encouraging hairs to enter the growth (anagen) phase early.
One study found that more than 84 percent of male participants who used minoxidil for 12 months rated it as either “very effective,” “effective,” or “moderately effective” for hair regrowth.
We offer both foam and liquid minoxidil online in a 5% formulation for stimulating hair regrowth.
Finasteride is an oral hair loss medication. Like minoxidil, it’s a highly studied hair loss solution that works for most men.
Finasteride blocks the effects of the enzyme 5-alpha reductase (5AR). This enzyme is responsible for converting testosterone into DHT, the main hormone behind male pattern baldness.
By preventing DHT production, finasteride protects hair follicles from DHT-related damage and helps slow down, stop, or reverse hair loss.
As an FDA-approved medication, finasteride has lots of research backing its effectiveness.
In one study, men who used finasteride for 2 years experienced a significant increase in hair count at the crown of their heads — an area often affected by male pattern baldness.
We offer finasteride online, following a consultation with a licensed healthcare provider who can determine if a prescription is appropriate.
Dreaming of thicker hair? Googling “how to get thick hair males?” There are plenty of ways to kickstart healthy hair growth and make your hair look or feel fuller.
Supporting your overall health is key, but if you’re dealing with hair loss, it might be time to consider treatment.
Let’s recap what we know about how to get thicker hair:
The most effective hair growth treatments are minoxidil and finasteride. These FDA-approved medications are backed by mounds of evidence, and they’re even more powerful when paired together, like in our Hair Power Pack.
The sooner you tackle thinning, the better. Since hair loss tends to worsen with time, it’s best to start using medication as soon as you start to notice your hair thinning.
Lifestyle habits and healthy hair care habits are worthwhile. A good hair care routine can help support thick, strong hair growth.
Mousse, hairspray, texture spray, and more can help cover up thinning. Certain leave-in hair products can help you create the illusion of fullness in an instant.
When in doubt, reach out to a professional, like a barber, dermatologist, or trichologist. You can also connect with a healthcare provider specializing in men’s hair loss through Hims.
Get answers to frequently asked questions about how to thicken hair for men.
“Thick hair” can refer to strand thickness (the width of each hair) or hair density (how many strands you have). Thick strands feel like sewing thread when rolled between your fingers, while fine strands feel almost undetectable. When people say someone “has thick hair,” they usually mean the hair looks full — a combination of strand thickness and density.
In some cases, vitamins or supplements may help grow thicker hair — especially if you have a nutrient deficiency and aren’t consistently getting hair-supportive nutrients, like vitamin A, B12, B7 (biotin), vitamin C, and vitamin D. Ideally, you should be able to get these nutrients from diet alone, but in some cases, supplementation can help.
When buying shampoo and conditioner to help with thickness, look for ingredients that support hair density and reduce DHT-related damage, such as saw palmetto, ketoconazole, and sometimes rosemary oil. Regular washing also prevents oil buildup that can make hair look flat or thin. If you have flakes or itchiness, dandruff shampoo can help you maintain a healthy scalp to encourage growth.
→ Read next: Science-Backed Tips for Hair Growth
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment. Learn more about our editorial standards.
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