Anyone dealing with thinning hair or hair loss knows it can be a difficult situation to handle. Trying to find a way to style your fine tresses in a flattering and discreet way can be even harder.
The good news is, professional hair stylists are here to help. They’ve shared three braided hairstyle ideas that are perfect for disguising thinning areas or hair loss.
Whether you’re looking for a singular braid, an updo or something in between, we have you covered. We checked in with Ghanima Abdullah, hair stylist, expert and cosmetologist at The Right Hairstyles for tips, suggestions and insight.
Hide Thinning Areas with These 3 Braided Hairstyles
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1. Loose Dutch, French or Frohawk Braid
Normally when hair starts thinning for women, it “does so in the crown and in the temples,” Abdullah says. Thankfully, there are “some ways to disguise that with braids.” She suggests one loose Dutch or French braid or large corn row “in the back of the hair,” depending on your texture, hair type and style you’re aiming for.
Whether you braid it from the “inside like a French braid” or “outside like a Dutch braid,” Abdullah says that a style like this is a “great way to hide hair loss in the crown.” To begin, she suggests “parting your hair from ear to ear.”
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Next, “gather the front section all the way up and begin to cornrow your hair to the nape.” When you’re done, she says “you can use a rattail comb to loosen the sections.” This, Abdullah stresses, will “conceal hair loss in the crown area.”
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2. Goddess Braid
Abdullah says that this style involves “thick braids passing the front of the head, forming a crown.” Goddess braids can effectively “hide thinning in the temple” areas, she adds. She deems them to be “very easy” to style. “All you need to do is make two pigtail braids, starting at the nape of your neck,” Abdullah says.
Next, “cross them in the back once, and wrap them both around your hairline and the perimeter of your head.” After that, she instructs “pinning them so they don’t fall down.” Lastly, she advises “pulling out wisps of hair on the front and sides to compliment your new hairdo.”
3. Braided Updo
If you want to rock elegant braids while also keeping your hair completely out of your face, Abdullah recommends opting for an updo. If you’re noticing thinning areas in the crown, she says this style can also help draw eyes away from that.
“Make two loose pigtail braids at the top of your head,” Abdullah notes, explaining this is the first step. Next, she says to “wrap and design them, pinning as you go along, until they look like a beautiful updo.” You can “make this a slick hairdo or a messy bun, as you like,” she continues, stressing that it is easily customizable.
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Overall, whether you want to try a singular braid at the back of your head, one across your crown or an updo, Abdullah has some essential parting advice. “Whatever you do, don’t pin your hair tightly in the area of the hair loss,” she concludes. She says to “avoid any tight pulling in those areas, as it can accelerate the loss of your hair.” (Good to know!)
