10 Hairstyles and Haircuts for Women with Hair Loss

Ever see one of those teen rom coms where the main character goes through a transformation? She’ll go from nerdy to gorgeous, all with a swipe of lipstick and a haircut, and then the popular guy falls in love with her.

While we can’t promise love, we’ve learned from those movies — and from real life — that there is truly something magical about the right haircut.

When you find a cut that flatters your face shape and hair type, it can bring out all your best features. And when you have hair loss or thinning hair, finding the right haircut can really help create the illusion of fuller, thicker hair. 

If you’re starting to see more hair falling out or are noticing more of your scalp peeking out through your hair, you might be looking for some new haircut inspo. If that’s you, read on for a dive into the best haircuts for thin hair.

Whether you’re ready to rock a blunt bob or a mid-length look with curtain bangs, you’ll never be left in a panic the next time you’re in the chair. 

And no, we aren’t only going to recommend short hairstyles for thinning hair — we’ve got variety like a Costco® sized chip sampler. 

And if you’re looking for answers to thinning hair that won’t eventually grow out, we’ll cover how to handle female hair loss for longer-term solutions.

10 Hairstyles for Women with Thinning Hair

Whether you love a pixie or prefer longer strands, we have lots of ideas on how to make your hair look its best. And more importantly, for you to feel your best! Thinning hair can really affect self-confidence so it’s important to find a style that you can rock.

Hair loss can present itself in different ways so the right haircut is key in highlighting the hair you have. 

While a haircut can be helpful, you’ll also want to consider the root causes to what may be causing thinning hair. From genetics to hormones to your go-to ponytail, thinning hair and hair loss have many different causes, which means they may require different treatments. Check out our article on female pattern baldness for a deeper dive on what may be going on. 

Blunt Haircut 

A blunt cut can help create an illusion of thick hair since all your strands are one length, creating the appearance of fuller ends. This style can work well if you’re experiencing a receding hairline or m-shaped hair loss on the sides of your scalp, especially if you add a middle part to allow frontal hair pieces to cover thinning. 

This look can work on all hair lengths, whether you like your hair short, shoulder-length or long, but it tends to work best on straight hair, where you can really see the blunt ends. You can also ask your hairstylist to add in some highlights, which can create more dimension and make your hair look thicker. 

Classic Lob

If you’re experiencing overall thinning, or diffuse thinning — which is common with telogen effluvium, a type of hair loss caused by mental or physical stress — a lob (long bob) may be the answer. If you’re nervous to go too short, try this chic medium-length look, which hits right by the collarbone and gives the comfort of length without the weight. 

Longer styles can sometimes make thinning hair look straggly, so this not-too-long, not-too-short look works well if you’re experiencing overall thinning. Opting for bangs can also help cover any frontal thinning. 

Flipped-Out Bob or Side-Swept Bob

The bob haircut is a classic style that’s stood the test of time. This short chin-length style is the epitome of effortless French chic. But if you’re getting a bob to cover hair loss, there are some things to keep in mind.

Female pattern hair loss can sometimes present itself as diffuse thinning over the top of the head, so consider a deep side part instead of a middle part. This will add some flair while concealing areas that are thinning. And as a bonus, switching up your part can also add instant volume. 

Pro tip: Blow dry your damp hair with the new part in place to better keep it in place. 

Wispy Straight Across Bangs

Bangs are like an instant accessory for your face, and they can change up your look dramatically. Long wispy bangs are a great way to ease into this look if you’re the non-committal type, since they’re not as heavy as blunt bangs. Plus, they work on any hair length, whether you have shorter hair or long layers. 

Wispy bangs are also the perfect coverup if you’re dealing with thinning around your temples and want to disguise any bald spots. 

If you style your bangs with a round brush, it can add extra volume and help cover a receding hairline. This may be helpful if you have a type of hair loss called traction alopecia, which is caused by certain hairstyles, like tight buns or braids, and leads to thinning in the temporal regions or above the ears. Just mist with hairspray to keep your bangs in place. 

Curtain Bangs

Like beautifully draped curtains on a window, curtain bangs highlight your face and bring attention to your eyes and cheekbones. If you loved side-swept bangs, this modern take may be one to try. And since they’re on the longer side, this low-maintenance bang can be easily tied back in a ponytail if that’s a go-to look for you. 

This bang can work on both short or long hair types, making it a versatile option. Since it’s a center part bang, it can also help conceal a M-shaped hairline. Glide a flat iron through to help smooth out the bang and give it a flick at the ends for shape. 

Pixie Cut

From Twiggie to Rihanna, the pixie cut remains an edgy look that never goes out of style (and it’s been decades since it made its debut). When you’re dealing with hair loss, longer hair can sometimes look even thinner. This short haircut is great if you want to give hair a little more oomph and cool factor. 

Long Subtle Layers

We get it, not everyone feels comfortable with short hair. If long hair is more in your comfort zone, try adding subtle long layers instead of choppy layers, which can make hair look thinner. Adding long layers can create volume and dimension, making thin hair look fuller. 

Styling your layers with a curling iron can also add extra movement and fullness vs. stick straight strands that tend to fall flat fast. Using a curling wand can give loose beach waves that create more body for finer hair. 

Long with Face-Framing Layers

Like the cut above but with some shorter face-framing pieces, this style can really highlight your facial features. Love your lips? Have your stylist cut the first layer to fall near your mouth so it brings more attention to the features you love. Adding face-framing layers will give hair body and added movement to hide thinning. 

Texture on Top and Short on Sides

Texture on top with short sides is basically the haircut equivalent of a leather jacket — certified cool. This short haircut works especially well with naturally curly hair or wavy hair types, and uses wispy short textured layers to give fine hair the volume it needs.

Spritz texturizing spray or use a dollop of mousse to add texture, hold and structure to thin strands and give that piecey definition.

Shag Haircut

Shag haircuts are winning right now for the trendy cut of the moment. This modern take can give medium or longer lengths a lot of texture and movement, creating that illusion of fuller, thicker hair even on thinner hair types. Ask your hairstylist for balayage (hand-painted highlights) to add dimension. 

Beyond Hairstyles for Female Hair Loss 

Long story short (or long haircut or short), there are a lot of different haircuts and styles that can help you look and feel your best. The best hairstyles will help hide thinning tresses, while highlighting your favorite features. 

And note to self: no matter what look you pick, half of it is just rocking your look with confidence. 

But while a haircut can give you that boost in the short term, you may want a more permanent solution. The good news is that there are also hair loss treatments you can try to help address hair thinning in the long term:

• Minoxidil drops: One of the most-studied hair loss treatments available for female pattern baldness, minoxidil is believed to work by encouraging hairs to enter into the anagen, or growth, stage of the hair growth cycle. 

• Oral minoxidil: This once-a-day pill encourages hair growth by increasing blood flow to your hair follicles. If you’re someone who doesn’t want to change up your hair styling routine, especially if you’re getting used to a new cut, this may be a good pick for you. Just know that oral minoxidil is still only prescribed off-label for women, meaning it’s not approved by the FDA for this use.

• Spironolactone: Studies have shown that this once-daily oral medication can also be helpful in treating female hair loss and promoting new hair growth. Spironolactone blocks androgen production, thereby decreasing your amount of DHT, the hormone that causes hair follicles to produce thinner, weaker hair follicles. Talk to your dermatology provider to determine if this medication may be right for you.

Whether you’re ready for a new cut or treatment plan (or both!), you have options to cover signs of hair thinning. If you’d like a more customized regimen, talk to a healthcare provider today.