Thinning hair can be distressing, but it doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice style. With the right hairstyles and hair care, thin hair can look and feel fabulous. This article features 25 beautiful braided hairstyles for thin hair.
Protective styling is crucial for maintaining and regrowing strands, so say goodbye to brittle hair and hello to luscious strands.
We’ll cover everything from short braids to curly updos and long crochet braids. You’ll discover styles that add volume, hide thinning patches, and prevent breakage. With simple instructions and photos, recreating these looks at home is simple. Feel confident and beautiful with these thin hair-approved styles.
1. Short Braids For Thin Hair
Short cornrows, twists, or box braids are protective, lightweight hairstyles that don’t put extra pressure on thinning hair, which could cause more damage. They’re also very stylish and make the wearer look chic and put-together.
2. Shoulder Length Braids For Thin Hair
Shoulder-length braids are also a protective hairstyle that keeps thin hair safe from further damage. The thin braids running over the shoulder give a stunning look that is versatile and easy to wear.
3. Updos For Thin Hair
A braided updo, especially a boho or messy one, is a great option for thin hair. This hairstyle gives the illusion of more volume and detail, making hair appear thicker. Crown braid updos, halo braids, and messy buns are just a few of the many updo options to try.
4. Thin Box Braids
Thin box braids are micro or small braids with a box-like look created by how the individual braiding strands are intertwined. They are protective and lightweight and will not cause further damage to thinning hair.
5. Ponytail For Thin Hair
A ponytail with thin hair may look dull. This can be fixed by adding hair extensions at the ponytail base and putting the extensions in a braid. It makes the ponytail look fuller and gorgeous.
6. Knotless Braids For Thin Hair
Knotless braids have no knots at the hair roots, unlike traditional knot braids. They’re preferred for thin hair since they don’t put excessive tension on already fragile strands.
7. Small Feed-in Braid Ponytail
Feed-in braids gradually add hair extensions to cornrows from the scalp until the desired size is reached. Small feed-in braids are lightweight and protect the hair against further thinning.
8. 2-Box Braids
The 2-box braid hairstyle is very simple yet beautiful. It’s achieved by first dividing the hair into two sections, either symmetrically or asymmetrically depending on preference. Each section is then cornrowed with twist or box braids.
9. Locs For Thin Hair
You can wear locs even with thin hair. Sister locs are woven from very small sections and are a good option. They are lightweight, easy to manage, and won’t cause additional thinning if properly maintained.
10. Curly Box Braids
Curly box braids are a protective style for thin hair that looks stunning. They’re created by braiding with curly hair extensions, leaving the ends unbraided, or attaching curly hair strands to already installed box braids.
11. Ponytail With Braids In Front
Another way to make a ponytail look fuller with thin hair is by adding cornrows. Simply divide the hair from ear to ear into two sections. Braid the crown section into long cornrows, then gather the ends of the braids and the back section into a single ponytail. This adds detail for a fuller look.
12. Feed-in Braids To The Back In A Bun
Feed-in braids to the back gathered in a bun is a simple, classy, easy hairstyle that protects thin hair and prevents further thinning. It features straight back feed-in braids that add volume when folded into a low bun.
13. Short Micro Braids
Short micro braids are cornrows, twists, or box braids done with small to tiny hair sections. These lightweight braids are extra protective for edges when worn short. They’re also very stylish and easy to manage.
14. Jumbo Feed-in Box Braids
Jumbo feed-in braids are big cornrows installed using a feed-in technique. These braids are typically sparse and lightweight, adding volume that makes thin hair look fuller.
15. Side Braids Weave
A side braid weave hairstyle hides thin hair while protecting it from damage. This side braids hairstyle is achieved by cornrowing the side of the head, then cornrowing the rest of the hair with weave extensions sewn in. This masks thinness and safeguards fragile strands.
16. Two Feed-in Braids With Curly Ends
This hairstyle features two jumbo cornrow braids done with a feed-in technique. It’s achieved by braiding with curly hair extensions, leaving the ends unbraided, or curling the ends after braiding. The double braids add fullness while the curly ends provide a stylish finish.
17. Knotless Braids With Beads
Knotless braids do not have knots at the hair roots, reducing tension on strands. This makes them an excellent option for styling thin hair. You can embellish the look by adding lightweight beads in any color.
18. Tribal Braids With Curly Braids In The Back
Tribal braids, also called Fulani braids, have feed-in cornrows that stop at the mid-head. For more volume with thin hair, sew in curly weave or crochet extensions at the back instead of single braids. This style protects fragile strands from further thinning and breakage.
19. Braids with Bangs
Braids can be worn stylishly, such as with bangs. Bangs cover the hairline and help mask thinness or receding edges. Optional decorative beads and accessories in the bangs add a distinctive accent.
20. Feed-in Braids with Curly Ends
Curling the ends of feed-in cornrow braids adds a layer of detail. With fewer braids creating more volume, feed-ins with curly ends are a great choice for thin hair.
21. Big Triangle Box Braids
Triangle box braids are created by parting hair into triangular sections, leaving visible shapes at the braid bases. This adds interest to protective box braids for a less ordinary look.
22. Short Feed-in Braids
The feed-in braiding technique is often used for cornrow braids. The idea is to make the braids look more natural and make even thin hair appear full. For short feed-in braids, strands of hair extensions are gradually woven into the natural hair from the roots to the ends until the desired size and length are achieved. The braids are then cut to a short length and secured at the tips with beads or elastic bands, with the ends sealed to prevent unraveling.
23. Crochet Braids
The crochet braiding style is an easy way to wear braids of any length and size without the stress of sitting for long hours to get traditional braids. The ideal type of crochet braid extensions for thin hair are very lightweight, feathered crochet braids.
24. Skinny Passion Twists
Skinny passion twists are essentially small to micro rope twists done using passion twist hair extensions. They are quite loose and lightweight and put less tension on thin hair strands while wrapping them around each other.
25. Criss-Cross Braids
As the name implies, criss-cross braids feature crisscrossing hair sections and individual box or twist braids at the back of the head. They are a creative protective style that is easy to install and also does not put excessive tension on thin hair, avoiding breakage or damage.
