Ask anyone with thinning hair and they’d love to have thick hair as their hair type. However, sometimes thick hair is difficult to manage, whether long or short, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t fabulous hairstyles for thick hair.
Check out these styles and cuts for thick hair.
Retro Pompadour
Wear your hair loose with a statement pompadour. Ask your stylist to take the thick hair in the front and curl and sweep it to the side. Giving a 1960’s Hollywood look. The look works great for women with shoulder-length and thick hair.
Long Corkscrew Curls
If your hair is long as well as thick, style it in some long corkscrew curls. The great thing about this hairstyle is that it does not just add dimension to your hair but it also gives your hair a springy and bouncy impression.
Tight Kinky Curls
Contrary to popular belief, white women also have naturally tight and kinky curls. The great thing about this kind of hair is that it gives an impression of a lot of volume. Plus, it is also fun and playful and doesn’t need to be retouched every few minutes.
Bardot Hair
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Popularized by the 1950s actress, Brigitte Bardot, this iconic hairstyle features thick, eye-skimming bangs that are often parted in the middle to achieve a look similar to a curtain. The rest of the hair is either styled in a bouffant or a beehive, giving you a perfect old Hollywood look.
Blunt Bangs
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Celebrities are embracing the blunt bangs look, and it just so happens to be flattering to people with thick hair. If you have thin hair, your bangs tend to be piece-y or wispy. But with thick hair, it is just like a thick and glossy curtain framing your eyes. For a complementary look, keep your hair straight with ragged ends.
Choppy Bob
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Short lobs and bob cuts are back in style. One of the best ways to sport this classic look is to get your stylist to give you razor-cut ends for a choppy, less blunt look. This will give your hair edge but also gives it a textured look.
Mullet
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Not many women can show up at on the red carpet with a mullet and still look good. Take a leaf out of Zendaya’s book to nail this 1970s look. The singer’s variant highlights her cheekbones and frames her eyes in a wonderful look.
Long and Loose
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One of the best ways to show off your thick and long hair is to style them in a loose fashion like Blake Lively. The beautiful actress is known for her super-blonde, sensual hair. Here, the “Gossip Girl” star has blow-dried her naturally wavy tresses and used some spray to keep the style in place.
Click here for Blake Lively’s hairstyles over the years
Sleek Beehive
The retro hairstyle has undergone thousands of modern modification, and the beehive is now a favorite amongst A-list celebrities like Marion Cotillard and Adele. The hairstyle is created by piling up the hair on top of the head in a conical shape, giving it a distinct beehive or a bird’s nest look.
Cluster Curls
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Jessica Alba may be facing a string of controversies because of “The Honest Company” but there is nothing wrong with her fashion sense. The “Fantastic Four” actress has styled her long brown hair into a cluster of riotous curls. She achieved the look by keeping some curls furled on her head while letting some looser strands skim her shoulders.
Messy Top-knot
A wonderful option for ladies with thick and curly hair is to grab all their locks and then twist them up in a simple, classic topknot. Don’t be afraid to keep the look messy and tug out some curls from the side for a casual and no-fuss look.
Loose Waves
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Sofia Vergara is just as popular because of her ultra-thick, luscious brunette locks as she is for her hilarious acting in “Modern Family.” The beautiful actress frequently rocks hairstyles that show off the length and thickness of her hair and her long, loose curls here, are one of her best looks.
Pixie Cut
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Super-short hairstyles like the pixie cut also work great for women with thick hair. Take a look at this one, which is great for women with fine-textured thick hair. The style is cut in various lengths, with soft-looking eye-skimming bangs in the front, slanting into straight and wispy hair on the sides. Some of the back hair is also cut longer than the undercut. The great thing about this style is that it keeps thick hair manageable without a lot of fuss.
Long Mega Curls
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Zendaya has such a pretty face that she can successfully rock a lot of dramatic hairstyles. Here, the singer-actress has styled her hair in cool-looking, waist-length mega curls for a totally casual but a totally glam look.
Edgy Lob
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Whether she is sporting long or short hair, Jennifer Lawrence’s thick tresses are designed to transform into a huge variety of looks. Here, the actress has her hair styled in piece-y bangs that give way to jagged, tousled layers. The actress has added some strawberry-blonde highlights to give her hair even more definition.
The Rachel
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Jennifer Aniston’s signature look in the long-running comedy sitcom, “Friends” has been a source of hairspiration for many of her fans. The actress’ thick tresses were styled in clearly delineated feathery layers that are perfect for girls who want to thin down on some volume, yet don’t want to make their hair look flat.
Click here for Jennifer Aniston’s hairstyles over the years
Cornrows
One of the greatest hairstyle sported by women of color is cornrows. This beautiful cultural hairstyle can only be styled if you have very thick hair that women of color are blessed with. The wonderful thing about this hairstyle is that it has dozens of variants.
Khaleesi Braids
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Emilia Clarke sports a headful of long, platinum, braided locks in “Game of Thrones.” Duplicate this look by asking your stylist to put some of your hair in varying styles of braids, while letting the rest of your hair flow down in loose curls.
Elaborate Updo
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If you are going to a wedding, a great way to keep your thick hair off your face and neck is to style it up in an elaborate updo. Here, the model is sporting an updo with a braided headband and her thick curls pinned up in a classy updo.
Fancy Ponytail
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There is more than one way to make a ponytail. To get some inspiration, take a look at this wedding style, with a subtle bouffant and braids all gathered up in a thick and soft-looking ponytail.
Top Knot With Blunt Bangs
Source by : Flickr
Another way to achieve a simple and minimum-effort look for a party is to do up your hair in a stylish topknot, just like Gigi Hadid. The model has fashioned her hair into wispy, eye-skimming bangs, then pulled back her long blonde hair and twisted it up into a messy topknot.
Click here for Gigi Hadid’s hairstyles over the years
Sleek and Straight
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Naomi Campbell is known for her radiant smile and her thick, long and super-black hair. The supermodel loves to flaunt her super-long Rapunzel hair by keeping it relaxed, smooth, shiny and glossy.
Half Updo
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The perfect compromise between an updo and flowing locks, the half updo style, keeps your hair away from your face but lets it flow down in a cascade to your shoulders. Here, Beyonce has pulled back her front hair in a subtle bouffant but let the stick-straight strands free and flowing.
Click here for Beyonce Knowles’ hairstyles over the years
Side-Swept Bangs With Feather Cut
Source by : Flickr
To keep your thick hair manageable and stylish, cut it into side-swept bangs and soft feathery layers, like Carrie Underwood. This look is timeless and classic.
Click here for Carrie Underwood’s hairstyles over the years
Upswept Pompadour
Source by : Flickr
The highly-textured hairstyle of pompadour is just as fashionable among women as it is among men. Here, Scarlett Johansson has waved and teased back her thick blonde locks into a modern variant of the classic pompadour to give it an elegant look.
Click here for Scarlett Johansson’s hairstyles over the years
Gold Highlights
Sorce by: Flickr
If you have caramel-colored hair like Gigi Hadid, try a super-glam look by adding lots of gold highlights to your locks and sweep it to the side for a multi-dimensional look.
Click here for Gigi Hadid’s hairstyles over the years
Banana Bun
One of the most chic looks for any given formal event is a French twist or a banana chignon. The look is made even more dramatic if you have super-thick and long hair with lots of cool-toned highlights or lowlights.
Wedding Chignon
Looking for hairspiration for your wedding? If you have thick and long hair, try a super-intricate hairstyle with lots of braids, multiple twists, and curls in your hair. Embellish it with jeweled accessories.
Loose Waves
Britney Spears exhibited a charming aura with her long side-parted hair at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards Arrivals held on August 28th.
Click here for Britney Spears’ hairstyles over the years 
Alexandra Daddario at the 2013 Teen Choice Awards Arrivals, Gibson Amphitheatre, Universal City, CA on Aug. 11, 2013.
Kelly Osbourne spotted at the February 12, 2011 Pre-GRAMMY Gala And Salute To Industry Icons at Beverly Hilton Hotel, wearing a black elegant dress perfect with her blonde wavy hairstyle.
On September 11, 2017, Gigi Hadid walked the runway at the Anna Sui Spring Summer 2018 fashion show during New York Fashion Week. She was dressed in a sequined piece and her hair was loose, tousled and wavy.
Click here for Gigi Hadid’s hairstyles over the years 
Tyra Banks’ medium-length curly hair was perfectly tousled and toned to pair with her colorful outfit at the Cosmopolitan’s Fun Fearless Phenom Awards, Hearst Tower in New York on September 15, 2008.
Click here for Tyra Banks’ hairstyles over the years 
The singer arrived for The Grammy Nominations Concert Live!! Nokia Theatre on December 3, 2008 rocking a tousled curly hairstyle along with a blue one-shoulder dress.
On May 20, 2012, Miley Cyrus attended the 2012 Billboard Music Awards Arrivals, MGM Grand in Las Vegas. She wore a lovely white outfit and paired it with a unique vintage tousled sandy blond flippy hairstyle.
Click here for Miley Cyrus’ hairstyles over the years 
The singer looking gorgeous in a colorful floral gown along with her thick jet black curls at The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show – Arrivals, Lexington Armory on November 10, 2010.
Click here for Katy Perry’s hairstyles over the years 
On May 2, 2016, Lady Gaga attended the Manus x Machina Fashion in an Age of Technology Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. She wore a shiny and silvery fashionable outfit with circuitry details and a large tousled blond hair with a slight beehive look.
Click here for Lady Gaga’s hairstyles over the years 
Selena Gomez was seen at the Global House on Sep 23, 2015, in London. She was walking with her cool sunglasses, lovely outfit and long layered hairstyle left loose.
Click here for Selena Gomez’s hairstyles over the years 
Emma Stone’s thick red curly hair with side-swept bangs was paired with a black dress at the Gentleman’s Quarterly GQ Men of the Year Event, Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles, CA on November 18, 2009.
Click here for Emma Stone’s hairstyles over the years 
Kim Kardashian was seen at the Cinema For Peace Fundraiser For Haiti, Montage, Beverly Hills last January 14, 2012, sporting her voluminous side-part curls that are complemented with a satin dress and layered necklace.
Click here for Kim Kardashian’s hairstyles over the years
Halle Berry attended the Los Angeles Premiere of “Robots” held at the Mann Village Theatre in Westwood, California on March 6, 2005. She came wearing a casual Von Dutch shirt to match her half-up curly hairstyle and cool colored sunglasses.
Click here for Halle Berry’s hairstyles over the years
Beyonce incorporates her slicked-back waves with long curtain bangs at the Fashion For Relief at Bryant Park, New York, NY held on September 16, 2005.
Click here for Beyonce Knowles’ hairstyles over the years 
Actress Angelina Jolie went with a slicked back and tousled long hairstyle with her black leather dress at the world premiere of her new movie Mr. & Mrs. Smith on June 7, 2005 in Los Angeles, CA.
Click here for Angelina Jolie’s hairstyles over the years 
Natalie Dormer exhibited a retro look featuring her voluminous side-parted waves at the EE BAFTA Film Awards 2013 held at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London on October 2, 2013.
Actress Kate Hudson went with a slight 80’s look in her brushed curly blond hairstyle that is perfectly tousled at the premiere of “The Killer Inside Me” at the School of Visual Arts Theater during the 2010 TriBeCa Film Festival on April 7, 2010, in New York City.
Click here for Kate Hudson’s hairstyles over the years 
Vanessa Anne Hudgens was at the 2007 ABC All-Star Party held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA On July 26, 2007. She came wearing a lovely beige outfit to pair with her stylish messy tousled hairstyle with loose curly tendrils.
Click here for Vanessa Hudgens’ hairstyles over the years 
On August 31, 2017, Amanda Seyfried wore a casual black dress that she paired with her long sandy blond hair that was loose and tousled with subtle waves at the ‘First Reformed’ photocall during the 74th Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy.
Click here for Amanda Seyfried’s hairstyles over the years 
Carrie Underwood shows off her layered blonde waves during the 2005 Billboard Music Awards held on December 6, 2005, at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas.
Click here for Carrie Underwood’s hairstyles over the years 
Michelle Rodriguez made an appearance at Columbia Pictures premiere of Battle: Los Angeles on March 8, 2011, with her big, bouncy curls.
Click here for Michelle Rodriguez’s hairstyles over the years 
On April 24, 2013, Mel B arrived at the “America’s Got Talent” Los Angeles Auditions with a voluminous curly hairstyle that’s parted in the center.
Click here for Mel B’s hairstyles over the years 
Rachel Weisz was spotted at Good Night, and Good Luck New York Film Festival Premiere last September 23, 2005, in a multicolored dress along with her thick, beach waves.
Click here for Rachel Weisz’s hairstyles over the years 
Penelope Cruz opted for a vintage look showcasing her Hollywood glam waves at the Hollywood Film Festival’s 10th Annual Hollywood Awards Gala held on December 23, 2006.
Click here for Penelope Cruz’s hairstyles over the years 
Chloe Grace Moretz was at the Women in Film 2012 Crystal + Lucy Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on June 13, 2012. She was charming in a black dress to pair with her black headband on her long sandy blonde layered hairstyle that has long side-swept bangs.
Click here for Chloe Grace Moretz’s hairstyles over the years 
Sarah Hyland attended the WB/In Style Golden Globe Party on January 13, 2013, in Hollywood, CA. She wore a silver dress that she paired with her long and loose brunette hairstyle that has waves, layers, and a slight tousle.
Click here for Sarah Hyland’s hairstyles over the years 
Rose Byrne was at the Los Angeles premiere of ‘The September Issue’ held at the LACMA in Los Angeles on September 8, 2009. She wore a colorful dress to go with her loose and tousled brunette hairstyle that has layers and side-swept bangs.
Click here for Rose Byrne’s hairstyles over the years 
Shailene Woodley was at the 27th annual Santa Barbara Film Festival Virtuosos Award Ceremony at the Arlington Theater on February 3, 2012, in Santa Barbara, California. She was seen wearing a navy blue leather dress to pair with her side-swept long highlighted brunette hairstyle with layers.
Click here for Shailene Woodley’s hairstyles over the years 
Jennifer Hudson was at the 2011 Pre-GRAMMY Gala And Salute To Industry Icons at Beverly Hilton Hotel on February 12, 2011 in Beverly Hills, CA. She paired her stunning dress with a long and tousled curly raven hairstyle with blunt bangs.
Click here for Jennifer Hudson’s hairstyles over the years 
Zooey Deschanel attended the TV Guide Magazine Hot List Party at the Greystone Manor on November 7, 2011, in Los Angeles, CA. She wore a charming blue dress with her long and tousled dark hairstyle that has spiral curls and layers.
Click here for Zooey Deschanel’s hairstyles over the years 
On January 11, 2015, Amy Adams attended the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, Beverly Hills. She paired her gray dress with her side-swept wavy red hairstyle with a slight tousle.
Click here for Amy Adams’ hairstyles over the years 
Jennifer Garner with her thick, medium-length curls at the GQ Man of the Year Awards held on November 29, 2006.
Click here for Jennifer Garner’s hairstyles over the years 
Kate Beckinsale is often seen with her curly and wavy mane, but last February 23, 2016 is different and special. She attended the 18th Costume Designers Guild Awards with her straightened hair teased and pulled back into a neat ponytail.
Click here for Kate Beckinsale’s hairstyles over the years
Thick vs. Dense
You don’t want to confuse thick and dense hair. Dense hair is a head of hair with a lot of strands. Thick hair refers to the individual strands having a wide circumference.
How thick is thick hair?
I think providing an actual measurement isn’t helpful. Can you seriously spot the difference with the naked eye between the 100th of a millimeter and the 200th of a millimeter? More to the point, can you measure it? Unless you have a microscope at home, you can’t.
However, sometimes we geek out and want to know this type of stuff and so we can tell you. Below are the general diameters of hair strands.
- Blonde hair: 1/500 to 1/1,500 of an inch
- Black/Dark hair: 1/140 to 1/450 of an inch
- In-between shades fall somewhere in between.
Source: The Physics Factbook
What’s interesting about the actual thickness of the hair is the range. What that means is that the thickest hair is a whopping ten times thicker than the finest hair.
It really boils down to relativity. Your hair is thick, think or medium relative to other people. And so you just have to observe other people and you’ll be able to assess whether you have thick hair or not.
- In general, blonde (flaxen) hair is more often fine; brunette and black thicker.
- Curly hair is often thick, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have thick hair if it’s straight.
- These are just a couple of generalities.
What are the benefits of thick hair?
As a person with fine hair where the grass is always greener on the other side, I’ll tell you:
- Sustains less damage: With thick hair, you can abuse it a bit more with product, styling and hair appliances. Of course, I don’t advocate hurting your hair, but the fact of the matter is it’s tougher.
- More body: Thick hair offers a fuller look which can look better. When you have fine hair, it’s very difficult to get it to have a body.
- More textures: If you get a layered cut or like the loose look, for example, those layers will be more prominent.
As I said, grass is always greener. But there’s not much we can do with the hair type we get. The best you can do is accept it and get cuts/styles that look best for you.
