You can buy the shears from beauty supply stores or the hair care section of most department stores.

Don’t add any styling products to your hair before thinning it. These can clog the shears and change how full your hair looks, which will affect your ability to thin it properly.

If your hair is shorter, you might have fewer sections because it’s difficult to thin hair that is close to the scalp.

If you face the serrated edge down, then the hair will be thinner underneath, but it’ll be hidden by longer pieces of hair. Be careful about starting too close to the roots. With thinning shears, you want to make cuts about 1 inch (2. 5 cm) from the ends of the strands of hair. If you cut too close to the roots, you hair may end up with a weird texture. [6] X Expert Source Yan KandkhorovHair Stylist Expert Interview. 28 January 2020.

If you think the hair is still too thick, go back and make a couple more cuts with the thinning shears. You can move slightly further up the shaft of the hair if necessary to prevent cutting the same place too many times.

Remember to comb out each section after you thin it to compare it to the rest of your hair. This will help to keep the cut even and prevent over-thinning. If you have trouble seeing the back part of your hair, face away from a mirror and position a hand-held mirror in front of your face to view the reflection of the back of your head. Alternatively, you may want to ask someone to trim the back of your hair for you, if you can.

Tell your stylist that your hair feels too full and heavy on the bottom, and that you’d like long layers for a thinned-out look. Try to avoid blunt cuts that tend to be less forgiving of areas with more thickness. If you have a blunt cut, ask your stylist to incorporate more layers, especially if you’re growing your hair from a shorter style.

Try to avoid pulling up on the hair as you dry it with the brush because this can add volume to your roots and make the hair look thicker. After drying thick hair, it can sometimes look frizzy due to the water evaporating from the hair. A taming product like argan hair oil or anti-frizz serum can help keep the hair looking sleek throughout the day.

When you use a flat iron, always apply a heat protector serum to your hair before styling to prevent hair damage. Try to avoid straightening sections more than 2 times because this can cause breakage from the iron pulling on the hair. If you find your hair isn’t straightening after 2 passes, increase the heat. If this still doesn’t help, then you may need to switch to a flat iron that has ceramic, titanium, or tourmaline plates.

Although they’re sometimes advertised as “permanent,” these can treatments require touch ups and re-applications every few months, depending on your hair and the treatment. These treatments are expensive and sometimes release irritating chemicals into the air when applied to the hair. If you have budget constraints or have had a reaction to chemical treatments in the past, you might want to consider other options.

If you hate cold showers, go for lukewarm instead. Even the slightly reduced temperature will help your hair look thinner. Instead of washing your whole body in cold or lukewarm water, you could also put your hair up in a shower cap during your regular shower and then wash it separately in cold water afterward.

When shampoo your hair use a quarter-sized amount of non-volumizing shampoo and focus on cleaning your scalp rather than your hair. Sulfate-free and paraben-free shampoos are other great options to consider. [16] X Expert Source Arthur SebastianProfessional Hair Stylist Expert Interview. 29 April 2019. Washing your hair with shampoo every day removes the natural oils that keep it looking sleek and healthy. [17] X Expert Source Arthur SebastianProfessional Hair Stylist Expert Interview. 29 April 2019. This can cause your hair to look bushy, frizzy, and thick.

Conditioner contains agents that coat your hair and can make it look thicker. Apple cider vinegar has many of the same smoothing effects as conditioner, but won’t coat your hair. Be aware that apple cider vinegar has a very strong smell, so you may want to apply it sparingly at first to make sure your hair and scalp don’t absorb the scent. One great way to disguise the scent is to apply a scented leave-in product, such as a conditioning spray, after your shower.

If you have curly or textured hair, look for products made specifically for your hair type. They can help tame the frizz and puffiness without damaging natural curls. Avoid using mousse and other products that are made to increase volume.