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Looking for a simple solution to thicken hair naturally? I’m always trying to find new ways to make my long and thin hair look thicker. But, many products you find in the store for volumizing hair contain harsh chemicals and can often cause more harm to your delicate hair. If you’re like me, you want to have full thicker hair that is both shiny and healthy looking and the best way to get this is by using only natural ingredients.
Not only are the harsh chemicals bad because they can be absorbed through your skin, but they can also cause your hair to break more easily or cause hair loss as well. When I was in college quite a few years ago, I used to tease my hair and spray it with hairspray to make it appear thicker. Even though it worked for some time, it just caused more damage to my hair and the toxic chemicals in the hair spray were frightening. But, there’s no need to use harmful chemical laden products, because there are several effective ways to thicken hair naturally!
Why is Thinning Hair so Common?
Over 60% of women have thinning hair or are dealing with some type of hair loss.
There are many health conditions and simple vitamin deficiencies that can cause hair to thin or thin hair may just be a genetic trait in your family. To treat thinning hair it is best if you can find out the cause. However, even if you don’t know the cause, there are many effective ways to thicken hair naturally that are very successful and simple to do. You can see results in just a few weeks to a few months!
Causes of Thin Hair
There are many causes that could be the reason you have thin hair or are experiencing hair loss. Listed below are just a few of the most common causes. In order to determine the underlying cause, you may want to see a Naturopathic doctor who can help you by getting appropriate blood tests to find out why your hair is thinning.
-Shampoo: If you’re shampoo contains harmful ingredients such as sodium laureth sulfate, which has been linked to causing hair loss, switch to a natural shampoo immediately. Castile soap makes a great all natural shampoo.
-Copper Deficiency– A deficiency in copper can cause hair thinning and other symptoms such as fatigue. A lack of this mineral is common because it can be difficult to absorb and those who supplement often with zinc, have even more trouble absorbing it. Women who supplemented with cooper saw an increase in hair growth by 38%.
-Manganese deficiency- German researchers found that some women were deficient in this mineral and those who took 10mg daily re-grew their hair in just 3 months.
–Hypothyroidism– One of the most common symptoms is hair thinning. This is easy to check with a simple blood test.
-Vitamin D Deficiency– Hair loss is one of the primary symptoms of a deficiency in vitamin D.
-Hormonal Imbalance– A disruption in the balance of your hormones, such as estrogen or testosterone can cause hair loss.
-Stress – Due to increased cortisol levels, stress can cause hair thinning and hair loss.
5 Ways to Thicken Hair Naturally
1. Castor Oil:
Castor oil has been used successfully for many years for increasing hair growth, not only for your head, but also for eyebrows and eyelashes. It helped my mom grow back her eyebrows. It is well known for the many health benefits it provides including its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and anti-fungal properties. Castor oil is high in omega 3 fatty acids, ricinoleic acid, and vitamin E, in addition to many other minerals and proteins. These nutrients help nourish the hair and scalp to increase growth. Castor oil also increases circulation, which is critical for promoting hair growth.
How to use it: Take a few tablespoons of castor oil (use more or less depending on how long your hair is) and massage it into your scalp. Make sure to use pure castor oil that is hexane free.
It is a thick oil, so it may be a little difficult to spread. You can mix it with a thinner oil to make it a little easier to put on, like coconut oil. (Just mix 1/2 coconut oil with 1/2 castor oil). Continue to massage it into your scalp for several minutes, then begin to work it through the rest of your hair. Let it sit on your hair for an hour or two, then wash it out. Try to do this at least once a week or several times a week for better results.
2. Onion Juice:
Onion juice increases circulation and decreases inflammation of the hair follicles, which promotes hair growth and decreases hair breakage. The onion juice also acts as a natural antioxidant to reverse the damage caused by a buildup of hydrogen peroxide on the scalp, which is associated with hair loss.
See how to make onion juice and how to use it to thicken hair naturally in my post.
3. Ginseng:
Applying ginseng to treat thinning hair works because the beneficial compounds it contains help stimulate blood flow to your scalp and hair follicles, which aids in the regeneration of cells to promote hair growth. I use these American gingseng capsules. I empty the capsule and mix it with oil to make it easy to apply.
How to use it: Empty one ginseng powder capsule and add it to 3 to 4 tablespoons of oil (you can use coconut oil or jojoba oil). Stir the mixture and apply it to your scalp. Continue to massage it into your scalp for about 5 minutes. Repeat several times per week or daily.
4. Massaging Scalp:
One of the simplest ways to promote hair growth and reverse thinning hair is to just to massage your scalp daily. Massaging your scalp increases blood flow and promotes circulation to stimulate hair growth. Just use your hands to massage your scalp for about 5 minutes, two times a day. I do it once in the morning and once at night.
5. Essential Oils:
There are quite a few essential oils that have been shown to promote new hair growth and prevent hair breakage. Two of the most common that are used to increase hair thickness are: grapeseed oil and cedarwood essential oil. Grapeseed oil contains a high amount of essential fatty acids and Vitamin E which promotes thicker hair. Additional beneficial essential oils include lavender, rosemary, and thyme.
How to use it: Add 5 drops of one of these essential oils to 2 to 3 tablespoons of a carrier oil (coconut oil or jojoba oil works great). Mix them together and apply to your scalp with your fingers. Continue massaging it on to your scalp for about 5 minutes. Repeat several times a week.
2 Ways to Make Your Hair Look Thicker Instantly!
If you start using some of the above mentioned ways to thicken your hair, you should see results in a few weeks or within a few months. But, if you want your hair to have more volume and look thicker instantly, there are two natural ways to do it.
1. Baking Soda-
This is an easy way to thicken hair naturally instantly! Instead of washing your hair with shampoo, use baking soda. Typical shampoos leave behind residue that builds up on the hair shaft and can leave your hair flatter, more dull, and looking thin. To wash your hair with baking soda, take a 3 to 4 tablespoons of baking soda and add about 3/4 cup of water. Mix them together and it will form a liquid mixture that can be used in place of shampoo.
The baking soda removes the build up of residue and will instantly leave your hair looking thicker. With continued use it also works great because it stimulates the hair follicles and the exfoliation it provides can boost hair growth over time.
2. Apple Cider Vinegar-
After you wash your hair, take 1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar and pour it over your hair as a hair rinse. Do not rinse it out with water, leave it in your hair and dry as usual. The apple cider vinegar is full of nutrients and it helps balance the pH levels of your scalp. After you dry your hair you will see it will have instantly more volume. This is because the vinegar removes the build up of residue on your hair.
Not only is apple cider vinegar great for adding volume to your hair instantly, but with continued use it will also promote hair growth and decrease hair breakage due to its rich source of vitamins and nutrients.
My Results So Far
I’ve been using a combination of all of these methods to thicken hair naturally for a few years now and my hair is noticeably thicker. I currently wash my hair with either castile soap or my homemade coconut milk shampoo most days. Then, at least once a week I wash my hair with baking soda, which really helps to increase my hair volume as it removes built up residue. I always use apple cider vinegar instead of conditioner. I continue to use all the methods to thicken hair naturally throughout the week; making sure to use castor oil, ginseng, or onion juice on my scalp at least once a week to maintain my increased hair growth.
I’ve been struggling with my hair for months, luckily with some of the tips in here I found a way to get my hair a bit thicker. Thanks!
Apple cider vinegar all the way! Especially since I live in a ‘hard water’ area, so the water is rich in calcium which although is good for us generally creates a build up on the scalp so vinegar is honestly the best solution for me
Glad to hear it works for you too!
Hello. When using the ginseng with the oil scalp massage. Do you rinse it out? follow with a shampoo? or just let it stay in?
Thanks,
I let it stay in overnight then wash it out in the morning.
I wanted my hair to get thicker but instead it got so thick that I just cannot tie it at all?!
Can you use unfractionated coconut oil with the cedarwood oil or must it be really coconut oil?
That should work.
I am a 57 year old women. I had very thick hair but now it is thin and fine. I hate it! What would you suggest I use?
How frequently do you use it and how do you apply it?
Hi Lori,
I am wondering if I can combine the onion juice treatment with oil massage? I am thinking do the onion treating meant first for 30 mins and then Castor/Jojoba Oil with ginsing oil treatment after that for an hour? Do you know if this will cause any issues or if that is fine?
I see my self doing this only once a week (at most if I try) due to my busy schedule. So want to fill in as many of these treatments in one sitting. Please comment. Thanks!
Yes, I use a combination of the remedies.
One year ago, I dealt with this thin hair problem and I’ve finally found the remedy : mustard oil as deep treatment mask once a week + henna every 3 months. Not only my hair are thicker but also shinier and in much better health.
Oh neat! I’ve never tried that before. Glad to hear you had a good result with it.
Hi Lori,
This article really useful for me. I confused for choosing the naturally thicken for hair what would be the best for everything. But review this article my confusion has cleared. Thanks and keep it up.
WOW!!! This article helpful for me about Thicken Hair Naturally. I worried about hair foods. Now my confusion has cleared by your review and gotten much information from your article. But I have a little question that, how many days later will I use shampoo for hair quickly grow and strong in a week alongside with best foods? Could you please suggest me? Then I will be benefited by your valuable consultancy.
Thanks Lori. and Keep it up……………………
Hi lori.i have tried reading all the comments above and now i get some questions to ask you.first one i think you have experienced all the above remedies you have recommended to us,now my question is among all that remedies which one is the best?which one works quickly and better?thank you
Hi there, they are all beneficial so if you can use a combination that would be great. I found the onion juice to have the greatest effect. The results from studies are amazing!
Please help. My hair has always been my pride and joy. I figured since it is pretty damn healthy, it could deal with some bleach damage. And I figured the master stylist who did all the color-corrections would know how much would be too much. I was wrong, and now I want to burst into tears every time I look at my hair or touch it. I just don’t know what to do. My hair has also NEVER been shorter than this and it breaks and falls out. What should I do to regrow hair?
Informative post and appreciate the sharing. Up here you describe some awesome tips to fix hair naturally thick and strong. But there are some shampoo and conditioner for hair regrowth and make it thicker. Can you suggest some products that really work?
I haven’t tried any hair growth shampoos myself. I usually use castile soap or homemade coconut milk shampoo with essential oils that promote hair growth.
Shampooing hair is essential to remove all the dirt, grime, and excessive oil. But if you are using strong shampoos with high levels of chemicals and cleaning agents, then they wash away hair protective moisturizers along with them.
A too strong shampoo can even affect the hair growth level as they damage the internal cortex. So, make sure you use a mild shampoo and don’t overdo it.
Great point!
Which biotin brands are best? What to pick?
can I apply baking soda and apple cider vinegar to my 2 years baby
I’ve been using baking soda and AVC for about 3 years now. My hair is fine, waist length and there is very little tangling after washing. Regular shampoo and conditioner make my hair very tangled and hard to comb out. Also my hair is much thicker looking. I still use shampoo when travelling and am not happy with the results at all.
So happy to hear it helps with tangles.
I’ve got white and just did the soda wash and vinegar rinse and my hair turned yellow, so does rice vinegar have the same benefits? By the way, it worked wonders, thank you.
So glad you like how it worked. I’ve only tried apple cider vinegar.
Hi. I have really think hair but it’s around shoulder length. I don’t want it to get thicker but wanted it to grow out as much as possible, as soon as possible. Do these methods thicken your hair or just lengthen it?? Also how well do they work as I would really like long hair as soon as possible as having it styled soon. Thank you :))
They help to thicken your hair 🙂 I use a combination of all the methods to get the best result.
Please help. My hair has always been my pride and joy. I figured since it is pretty damn healthy, it could deal with some bleach damage. And I figured the master stylist who did all the color-corrections would know how much would be too much. I was wrong, and now I want to burst into tears every time I look at my hair or touch it. I just don’t know what to do. My hair has also NEVER been shorter than this and it breaks and falls out. What should I do to regrow hair?
Thank you so much for all your wonderful advice. Many blessings to you.
Glad you found it helpful.
Hi Lori!
I just found your website last night & have read a few of your articles. I’m definitely bookmarking the page!
One thing you don’t mention for improving hair growth: THROW AWAY THE PLASTIC COMBS & BRUSHES!!!!! I learned by reading ads on eBay for combs made of wood or buffalo horn and ox horn, that running a plastic comb or brush through your hair creates static electricity, which causes split ends, hair breakage, and hair fall. So I have now collected various wooden & horn combs, & use them to massage my scalp.
I’ve also been using various kinds of oils.
Baking soda? I’ve read that most of the baking soda for sale is created by a chemical reaction in a laboratory. There IS a natural form of baking soda, called “trona”, that is mined from the earth. Bob’s Red Mill sells “Baking Soda” which the package says has been mined from naturally occurring deposits, so I guess that’s trona.
Please sign me “Anonymous”.
Great tip about the brushes. Thank you!
Hi, I’m 14 and my hair is getting obviously thinner this year. And also I have lots of white hair. Can any of these solutions work for my white hair too? And I never knew that baking soda can be used for thickening hair but I wanna ask…will it cause my hair to be rough?
Thank u so much
Onion juice may be a great option. It can help reverse white and graying hair.
Is this the same thing as the ingredient you warned about in shampoo? It seems very similar but I wanted to be sure: sodium lauroyl methyl isethionate. Thanks!
They are different chemicals.
what brand castile soap do you use?
I use Dr. Bronner’s baby mild kind.