Why thin hair looks thinner than it is
Two things make hair look sparse. The first is light. Overhead light, whether the midday sun in an Amman summer, the downlights in a restaurant or a camera flash at a wedding, falls straight onto the scalp, so every gap between hairs shows. The same hair can look full in soft side light and thin under a spotlight.
The second is how the hair lies. Fine hair that sits flat separates into strands, and the gaps open up along the part and at the crown, where hair grows in a swirl. Wet hair clumps the same way, which is why thinning looks most obvious straight out of the shower. Anything that lifts the roots or narrows the gaps makes hair read as fuller.
Styling habits that add fullness
Before any product, a few habits change how much scalp shows, for men and women alike.
- Dry the roots first. Blow-drying them against the direction they fall lifts hair away from the scalp, so it covers more of it.
- Move the part. A part worn in one place for years lies flat and looks wide. Shifting it slightly, or softening it into a zigzag, stops it reading as a stripe of scalp.
- Keep heavy products off the roots. Rich conditioners, oils and thick creams weigh fine hair down; keep them on the lengths and ends.
- Choose a cut that suits the density. Long, one-length hair pulls flat under its own weight, while layers or a shorter cut with texture on top usually look fuller. For men, shorter sides make the top look denser.
- Check the crown with two mirrors. It is the area you never see and everyone else does, especially in wedding photos taken from above.
What hair building fibers do
Styling lifts hair; fibers close the gaps. Toppik Hair Building Fibers are colored keratin fibers, made of the same protein as hair. Shaken over a thinning area, they cling to the hairs already there, so the scalp stops showing through. The difference is visible as soon as they are on and lasts until the next wash, resisting wind, rain and perspiration. A light mist of FiberHold Spray strengthens the bond for longer wear.
They work with all hair types and come in five shades. The full routine is in our guide to applying Toppik hair fibers; in short, they help most in these places:
- A wider part: a light shake along the line, then a gentle pat.
- The crown: shaken over the center of the swirl, where scalp shows from above.
- The hairline and temples: built up slowly, a little at a time, so the edge stays soft.
- Fine hair all over: a light layer across the top after styling.
What fibers don't do
Fibers change how hair looks, not how it grows. They don't affect hair growth either way, so they are not a treatment for thinning and don't change what is happening at the scalp. And they wash out with the next shampoo.
They need hair to hold on to. A thinning part or crown still has plenty of hairs for the fibers to cling to; completely smooth skin has none. And a shade that doesn't match the hair shows, however lightly it is applied, which is why we wrote a separate guide on choosing your Toppik color.
Fibers alongside a doctor's advice
Thinning hair has many causes, from genetics and hormones to stress, diet and medical conditions. A dermatologist is the person to see about the cause and any treatment. Treatments that help usually take months to show, and that wait is when people most want their hair to look like theirs again.
This is where fibers fit: they cover the look while a treatment does its work, or while the decision is being made. After a hair transplant, ask the clinic when cosmetic products can go back on the scalp; if a doctor has prescribed something for the scalp, ask how to time it with fibers. If the scalp is itchy, sore or red, see the doctor first. Toppik is for external use only; stop using it if irritation or a rash appears.
If the part, the crown or the hairline is where it shows, start with the 12 g bottle in the shade that matches the roots, and set it with FiberHold Spray. Not sure of the shade? Contact us and we will help you match it.
Questions
Do hair fibers make hair grow?
No. Toppik fibers don't affect hair growth in either direction. They change how hair looks and wash out with shampoo. For hair growth itself, a dermatologist is the person to ask.
Can hair fibers cover a completely bald area?
Not well. The fibers cling to existing hairs, so they need some hair to hold on to. They suit thinning areas such as a wider part, the crown or the hairline, rather than smooth skin.
Do Toppik fibers work for both men and women?
Yes. They work with all hair types, straight, wavy or curly. Men often use them on the crown, hairline and beard, women more often on the part and crown. The method and the shade rules are the same.
Will hair fibers look natural?
They should look like hair, not like a product. That comes down to a shade that matches the roots, a light hand, and patting the fibers in so they settle and blend with the hair around them.
How long does a bottle of Toppik last?
The Regular 12 g bottle lasts about 30 days, the Economy 27.5 g about 60 days or more, and the Giant 55 g about 120 days or more, depending on the size of the area.
