Your hair tells a story and like it or not, people are reading. Whether you’re rocking a buzz cut, a full mane or something in between, your hair plays a major role in how you present yourself to the world. It’s tied to confidence, identity, even your sense of control. So, when things start to shift, like your hairline creeping back, your crown thinning out or your once-thick style falling flat it can feel personal.
But here’s the thing: you’re not alone. According to the American Hair Loss Association, by the age of 35, two-thirds of men will experience some degree of noticeable hair loss. It’s normal. Common. And definitely worth paying attention to. After all, you wouldn’t ignore your skin or your body, so why sideline your scalp? And like the experts at Aveda say, knowing the difference between fine, thin and thinning hair is the first step towards finding the right solution. Because the bottom line: when you know your hair type, you have power and a better grip on what to do next for it. Keep reading to learn more insight and know-how from the Aveda experts to help get you started on enhancing your hair care.
Better understanding your hair. Is it fine textured, thin textured or truly thinning:
Hair textures can be fine, medium or thick. Fine hair refers to the diameter of your individual strands. If a single strand is hard to see or feel between your fingers, chances are your hair is fine. It’s not necessarily sparse, but it tends to lack volume and can fall flat without the right products. Thin hair, on the other hand, speaks to density—how many strands are growing on your head. You can have coarse strands but not a lot of them, which means your hair might appear thin even if it’s technically thick. Here’s how the experts at Aveda describe each type:
Fine hair: “Defines your hair’s texture and strand diameter or thickness,” explain the experts at Aveda. “Hair textures can be fine, medium or thick.”
Thin hair: Describes the density and amount of individual hair follicles you have, no matter the diameter and thickness of each strand. “You can have fine hair with thick density, and your hair may still lack volume simply because your hair texture is fine and delicate,” add the experts at Aveda.
Thinning hair: Hair shedding or loss can affect most men. In fact, 70 per cent of men at some point in their lives. Thinning hair can be caused by a variety of factors say the experts at Aveda, including:
- Natural shedding. Each hair strand is in one of three growth phases at any time and eventually sheds from the follicle.
- Stress and sleep. When we’re under stress, the levels of the stress hormone cortisol in the body can increase, which can interrupt the growth of the hair follicle.
- Excessive caloric or nutritional deficiency can cause structural defects in the hair follicle and hair loss. Eating a balanced, healthy diet is always best.
- Change in health status can create an imbalance in the hair growth cycle, resulting in increased shedding. This type of loss is called telogen effluvium and can last 4-6 months after an illness.
- Excessive brushing and/or heat styling. Using a gentle approach and minimizing the amount of heat from a blow dryer or flat iron can help protect your hair.
Five product-oriented solutions:
Sure, we all lose hair over time, but maybe you’re noticing more scalp showing, your hairline creeping back or a wider part. That’s your cue to act, not panic. Here are a few of AmongMen’s favourite hair solutions to help support your every strand.
1. Aveda Botanical Repair Bon-Building Pre-Shampoo Treatment
$72 for 150 ml, available online at www.aveda.ca
Powered by plants (and totally vegan), this treatment dives deep to repair damage from the inside out. It strengthens your strands using a bond-building molecule, while avocado, green tea and sacha inchi oils smooth the surface so your hair feels softer, shinier and way easier to manage. Plus, it mimics your hair’s natural protective layer to help prevent future damage. No silicones, no heaviness, just healthy-looking hair that actually feels stronger.
2. Dove Intense Repair 10 in 1 Serum Mask
$12.49 for 250 ml, available at Shoppers Drug Mart
Infused with bio-protein care and formulated with amino serum, this 10 in 1 serum mask works at a molecular level to replenish lost proteins and restore hair’s natural strength. The formula also includes nourishing ingredients like coconut oil and oat peptides, which help to smooth frizz, lock in moisture and protect strands from heat damage. The mask is easy to use, all you have to do is apply a loonie size amount to damp hair, leave it on for one minute and rinse.
3. Monat IR Clinical Hair Thinninh Defense Scalp Serum
$106 for 50 ml, available online at www.monatglobal.com/ca
This leave-in scalp serum is designed to support fuller, thicker-looking hair by targeting the scalp—the foundation of healthy hair growth. At the heart of the formula is Capixyl, a blend of Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3 and red clover extract. This duo works to strengthen hair follicles and support the scalp environment. Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3 is a peptide that helps to anchor hair fibers, while red clover extract is known for its antioxidant properties. Additionally, hydrolyzed wheat protein helps to fortify strands, and dextran supports scalp balance. Lightweight and non-greasy, simply apply it to your scalp after washing and towel-drying your hair, massage it in and style as usual, no rinsing required.
4. Olaplex No 0.5 Scalp Longevity Treatment
$60 for 50 ml, available at Sephora
Perfect for when your hair is feeling dry, damaged or just plain tired. Packed with the brand’s signature bond-building ingredient, Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate, the formula dives deep to repair broken bonds caused by heat styling, colouring or environmental stress. You can apply it to dry hair before going to bed ( and washing it out in the morning) or you can apply it to clean wet hair, massaging it across the entire scalp before rinsing it our and following up with your conditioner. It’s vegan and cruelty-free, making it a go-to fix for seriously stressed-out hair.
5. Shea Moisture Amla Oil Bonding Strengthening Hair Oil
$15.98 for 97 ml, available at Walmart
This lightweight, multi-benefit oil is designed to strengthen and fortify dry, processed strands, making them five times stronger. Blended with amla oil and fair-trade shea butter, it coats the cuticle to smooth frizz for up to 24 hours, locks in moisture and protects your strands from styling damage. Amla oil, derived from the Indian gooseberry, is rich in vitamin C and antioxidants, known to soothe scalp inflammation and hydrate hair. Shea butter adds moisture and shine, while sunflower and castor seed oils provide emollient properties to soften and smooth. The oil is easy to use too, just apply one to two pumps to damp or dry hair, focusing on mid-lengths and ends, and style.
