Fine Hair vs. Thin Hair

Do the terms “fine hair” and “thin hair” make you scratch your head in confusion? You’re one of many. Many times, the terms are wrongly used interchangeably. If you want clarity, this is the article you need to read. In it, we’ll break both terms down and highlight their differences.

What is Fine Hair?

“Fine hair” refers to hair strands that are thin in diameter. By this, we aren’t talking about how many hairs are on your head - we’re talking about the width of your individual strands. Coarse strands have a thicker diameter than fine hair, and normal strands fall somewhere in between fine and coarse hair.

What is Thin Hair?

“Thin hair” refers to how dense your hair is, or the number of strands per square inch of your scalp. People with thin hair don’t have as many strands on their head as those with normal or thick hair. 

The Main Difference

To further clarify things, here is the main difference between fine hair and thin hair:

• The fineness of the hair is about the width of individual strands. 

• The thinness of hair is about the number of strands on your scalp. 

How Do You Know Your Hair is Fine?

If you’re wondering whether your hair is fine or not, there are some telltale signs to look out for:

• You can’t feel your hair. Roll a strand of your hair between your thumb and forefinger. Do you feel the hair? If you don’t, chances are you have fine hair. 

• Your scalp shows very easily, especially when you part it. 

• Your hair doesn’t hold curls well. 

• Your texture feels smooth and soft. 

• Your hair is lacking in the volume department. 

• Your hair is easily weighed down by your own scalp oils and your hair products.

How Do You Know Your Hair is Thinning?

Thinning hair is often easier to spot than fine hair. But that’s not always going to be the case. If you want to know if your hair is thinning, check out the following list: 

• Your part seems to be widening. 

• You suddenly notice more hair in your brush than usual.

• You see more of your scalp than you’re used to seeing. 

• Your ponytail is losing some of its thickness. 

Note: Losing 50 to 100 hairs a day is considered normal shedding. It’s when you’re losing more than that over a long-term basis that there’s cause for concern. If you’re concerned that your hair is thinning, reach out to a dermatologist in your area for a consultation. They can pinpoint the cause and draft a treatment plan to help restore your hair.

So, there you have it - the main difference between fine hair and thin hair and helpful related information you can use. Before you go, we encourage you to get familiar with Daily Dose leave-in conditioner. It can do wonders for fine and thinning hair, giving your mane enhanced moisture, shine, manageability, and more. Regardless, we hope you found all the information you need, and we wish you the best with your hair. 

Author: Andrea Reyes

Andrea is a mother, wife, writer, and natural hair enthusiast of 15 years. Currently on her natural hair journey, she’s been trying countless products and techniques to understand and embrace her natural hair. She is the creator of NaturallyTextured.com, a new website featuring informative articles that share tips, tricks, and techniques aimed to help others learn to love their hair through proper hair care. She writes with the hope of making hair care easier to understand and implement.