Haircuts for Hair Loss - Master Your Hair

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Haircuts for Hair Loss and my quest to find a new stylist...

I've had the same hair stylist for years. And she's absolutely wonderful. But about a year into Covid she and her family moved to a different state. Noooooooo!

I don't know about you but I've recently headed back to the salon. During covid I was trimming my own hair at home along with using root touch up dye for any greys that would pop up. (I'll share more on this below.) But eventually I came to terms with the fact that I needed to go back to the salon for real haircuts. Now that I've tried a few different stylists I thought I would share some of my experiences.

What I'm serving up in this post:

Tips for trimming your hair at home
Style tips I've received from stylists on haircuts for hair loss
The interactions I've had with stylists when I disclose my hair loss and a bit on my own feelings (You know I love to discuss feelings on this blog!)

Haircuts for Hair Loss: Tips for trimming at home

If you read my blog you know that I have diffuse hair thinning from androgenic alopecia.

For this reason I don't really enjoy getting my haircut. Something about letting down my hair and having someone comb through it just feels unsettling to me...I'm fearful of any comments or judgements from the stylist and then sometimes I feel nervous about what other people may be thinking who are in the chair next to me...Even though I'm totally aware I will likely never run into these customers ever again in my life....

I think when I dig deep into why I feel the way I do when it comes to salon visits it has to do with the feeling of "shame." I get into more detail about this feeling in my blog post HERE which is all about the psychological effects of hair loss and tools for happier days. Check it out!

But having a stylist I felt comfortable with made things way easier. It made me feel way less anxious about the whole experience and when I was in the chair the topic of conversation wasn't focused on my hair thinning. I would just feel "normal." Which was really nice.

I think if you can get to a professional to cut your hair that's your best bet for keeping your hair healthy. But let's say you're struggling with hair loss and you're uncomfortable going in... Here's some tips for trimming at home that I learned from watching countless youtube videos.

Here's what you'll need below:

Your favorite heat protectant. I recently picked up XMondo hair forcefield heat shield and have been liking it. Shake before using and if your hair is super thin like mine a little goes a long way. Just apply all over to damp hair and then blow dry straight.
A round brush for blow drying your hair straight. You want to get out any kinks (this technique is not for those with super curly or kinky hair). This is what I've done on my own hair which is thin and slightly wavy.
Some haircutting scissors

Haircuts for Hair Loss: Haircut At Home

Step 1: Apply your heat protectant to your hair and blow dry your hair straight.
Step 2: Section off your hair into 4 sections. I do this by parting my hair down the middle all the way down to my neck. Then sectioning off my hair from the middle of my head down to my ears. You should have now have 4 sections of hair total.
Step 3: I then use hair ties or clips and add these to the bottoms of the sections of hair where I would want my hair to be cut. Just let your hair fall to where you want the end to be. Then add the hair tie there. Make sure you aren't tilting your head or pulling on it when you tie the end. (So I will be cutting my hair below where the clip or hair tie is.)
Step 4: Once I have clipped each section I move these 4 sections to the font of my head. I take each section one by one and point my scissors downward and make small triangular cuts (point cuts) below where I have placed the tie. This technique is not for achieving blunt cuts. For that I would definitely suggest seeing a stylist. This type of cut will just soften the ends and add texture.
Step 5: Now you've bought yourself some time in between salon visits!

Haircuts for hair loss: Haircut style tips

Because my hair is thinning I generally like to keep my hair just a little past shoulder length. I'm looking for fairly low maintenance color and cut.

Concealing my hair loss takes enough time...I don't want a cut that's also difficult to style.

I've always been told that for fine hair like mine the styles that I would look best in are a layered bob or a lob. (When I say layered I mean longer layers like in the image below).

I also have some lighter pieces at the ends to give some added dimension which I also think helps my hair to look a bit thicker.

To style a cut like the image below I give my roots a quick blast with the dry shampoo I've linked below to create a bit of lift at the roots and then I gently backcomb my crown area. This dry shampoo is my favorite because it does not create much of a dry cast and it smells great. I've linked the one for dark tones below but they also have one for lighter tones linked HERE.

I also will add a texturizing spray to my ends like the sea salt spray I've linked below and use a diffuser. These two products combined make my fine hair look wayyy thicker and the sea salt spray has no parabens, no sulfates, and no synthetic fragrances. I go into more detail about how to create big volume using these products in my post linked HERE.

I also find that a layered cut that does not have blunt ends still lets me blend my clip-in extensions when I do want that longer hair look.

I recently started using Luxy hair seamless hair extensions. The seamless hair extensions use thin, seamless silicone wefts which I think make it easier to conceal the clips with my bio hair. They are less bulky than the Leyla Milani hair extensions I was using.

If I am wearing hair extensions then I always use the product Got2b powderful. This product is magic. I've linked this HERE and below. I just dab this product on my bio hair where I'm going to add my hair extension clips. I love this product because it gives my bio hair enough texture so the hair extension clip can actually grip my bio hair without slipping.

Haircuts for hair loss: My interactions with stylists

As I mentioned I don't enjoy going to the salon. But having a stylist I knew and trusted made the whole experience way better. Now that she has moved I've been trying to find a new stylists. Here's a bit about that experience.

Now I've tried a few different approaches. When making an appointment I always ask to be seen by a woman. I generally just feel more comfortable when a woman is cutting my hair. Sometimes I've even asked to be seated in the back or in a corner if possible.

Recently I was getting my haircut and was seated in a chair next to a man who was also getting his haircut... The stylist looked over my hair and had asked... "Has your hair always been this thin?" These types of questions can make me get a little awkward.

So for my next appointment before I even sat in the chair I told the woman that I had alopecia. But what I've found is that generally everyone I've been to has been pretty kind about it.

Some stylists have told me they've seen tons of clients with thinning hair. I have to remind myself that I'm not the only woman in the world with androgenic alopecia. Other women have deal with this too. But it can be easy to forget when you're the only person in your friend group battling with thinning hair.

I've also seen some stylists who have asked a ton of questions.. Like "so did your mom or dad have thinning hair?" Or, "did you see a doctor about it?" Depending on my mood I may go into detail and other times I may just give a short yes or no. I encourage you to do what feels right. If you're not comfortable with questions don't feel like you have to answer. Your hair loss is your business.

Another option if you feel really uncomfortable being in a salon might be going to a shop that sells wigs. The shop I go to will cut your bio hair and they have a curtain that they can pull for more privacy in addition to special rooms.

When it comes to haircuts for hair loss just know you have options. Don't think you have to feel exposed at a busy salon if that gives you anxiety. Talk to the stylist about seating, look for alternatives like wig shops for added privacy...and just know that you're not alone.

Haircuts for Hair Loss and my quest to find a new stylist...

I've had the same hair stylist for years. And she's absolutely wonderful. But about a year into Covid she and her family moved to a different state. Noooooooo!

What I'm serving up in this post:

Tips for trimming your hair at home

Style tips I've received from stylists on haircuts for hair loss

The interactions I've had with stylists when I disclose my hair loss and a bit on my own feelings (You know I love to discuss feelings on this blog!)

Haircuts for Hair Loss: Tips for trimming at home

If you read my blog you know that I have diffuse hair thinning from androgenic alopecia.

I think when I dig deep into why I feel the way I do when it comes to salon visits it has to do with the feeling of "shame." I get into more detail about this feeling in my blog post HERE which is all about the psychological effects of hair loss and tools for happier days. Check it out!

But having a stylist I felt comfortable with made things way easier. It made me feel way less anxious about the whole experience and when I was in the chair the topic of conversation wasn't focused on my hair thinning. I would just feel "normal." Which was really nice.

I think if you can get to a professional to cut your hair that's your best bet for keeping your hair healthy. But let's say you're struggling with hair loss and you're uncomfortable going in... Here's some tips for trimming at home that I learned from watching countless youtube videos.

Here's what you'll need below:

Your favorite heat protectant. I recently picked up XMondo hair forcefield heat shield and have been liking it. Shake before using and if your hair is super thin like mine a little goes a long way. Just apply all over to damp hair and then blow dry straight.

A round brush for blow drying your hair straight. You want to get out any kinks (this technique is not for those with super curly or kinky hair). This is what I've done on my own hair which is thin and slightly wavy.

Some haircutting scissors

Haircuts for Hair Loss: Haircut At Home

Step 1: Apply your heat protectant to your hair and blow dry your hair straight.

Step 2: Section off your hair into 4 sections. I do this by parting my hair down the middle all the way down to my neck. Then sectioning off my hair from the middle of my head down to my ears. You should have now have 4 sections of hair total.

Step 5: Now you've bought yourself some time in between salon visits!

Haircuts for hair loss: Haircut style tips

Because my hair is thinning I generally like to keep my hair just a little past shoulder length. I'm looking for fairly low maintenance color and cut.

Concealing my hair loss takes enough time...I don't want a cut that's also difficult to style.

I've always been told that for fine hair like mine the styles that I would look best in are a layered bob or a lob. (When I say layered I mean longer layers like in the image below).

I also have some lighter pieces at the ends to give some added dimension which I also think helps my hair to look a bit thicker.

I also find that a layered cut that does not have blunt ends still lets me blend my clip-in extensions when I do want that longer hair look.

I recently started using Luxy hair seamless hair extensions. The seamless hair extensions use thin, seamless silicone wefts which I think make it easier to conceal the clips with my bio hair. They are less bulky than the Leyla Milani hair extensions I was using.

Haircuts for hair loss: My interactions with stylists

As I mentioned I don't enjoy going to the salon. But having a stylist I knew and trusted made the whole experience way better. Now that she has moved I've been trying to find a new stylists. Here's a bit about that experience.

Now I've tried a few different approaches. When making an appointment I always ask to be seen by a woman. I generally just feel more comfortable when a woman is cutting my hair. Sometimes I've even asked to be seated in the back or in a corner if possible.

Recently I was getting my haircut and was seated in a chair next to a man who was also getting his haircut... The stylist looked over my hair and had asked... "Has your hair always been this thin?" These types of questions can make me get a little awkward.

So for my next appointment before I even sat in the chair I told the woman that I had alopecia. But what I've found is that generally everyone I've been to has been pretty kind about it.

Another option if you feel really uncomfortable being in a salon might be going to a shop that sells wigs. The shop I go to will cut your bio hair and they have a curtain that they can pull for more privacy in addition to special rooms.

When it comes to haircuts for hair loss just know you have options. Don't think you have to feel exposed at a busy salon if that gives you anxiety. Talk to the stylist about seating, look for alternatives like wig shops for added privacy...and just know that you're not alone.

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