Thick vs. Dense Hair: What’s the Difference?

Key Takeaways

• Hair density refers to the number of follicles on your scalp, while hair thickness measures the width of each strand—these are distinct characteristics,to check hair density, examine your scalp in the mirror; if your scalp is hard to see, you likely have dense hair. For thickness, inspect a single strand under light to determine its width.
• Thin or fine hair can achieve volume and fullness with the right products such as OLAPLEX® Volumizing Blow Dry Mist and Nº.4D Clean Volume Detox Dry Shampoo.

Jump to

• What Is Hair Density?
• How to Check the Density of Your Hair
• What Is Hair Thickness?
• How to Determine Thick Hair
• What If I Want Thicker or Denser Hair?
• Find Your Haircare Routine

Thick vs. Dense Hair: What’s the Difference?

Thick and dense are often used interchangeably, but when it comes to hair, these two are not equal. Hair density is the amount of hair on your scalp, while thickness is how wide your strands are. Here’s how to check if you have dense hair, thick hair, or both, and how you can style your hair to make it more voluminous—no matter your hair.

What Is Hair Density?

Hair density is all about how many hair follicles grow per square inch on your scalp. If you have highly dense hair, there’s more hair per square inch. Genetics, hair loss, and age can influence your hair density. 

How to Check the Density of Your Hair

To see if your hair is dense, go to a mirror, grab the section at the front of your scalp, and move it to the side. Can you see your scalp? You have dense hair if your scalp isn’t showing at all or is hard to see. On the other hand, if you can see the skin on your scalp or part of it, your hair is thinner.

What Is Hair Thickness?

Hair thickness is the width of each hair strand. Thick and dense hair aren’t directly correlated with one another. You can have thick hair, but not dense hair, or conversely, you can have dense hair, but fine strands.

How to Determine Thick Hair

Determining the thickness of your hair is simple. Take a single strand of your hair and observe it in the light. If the hair strand feels delicate and is almost invisible, your hair is probably on the finer side. If it’s opaque and thread-like, you have thicker hair.

What If I Want Thicker or Denser Hair?

You can’t change your hair type, texture, or natural density, but that doesn’t mean you can’t achieve volume and fullness. Thin or fine hair can look healthier and more voluminous with the right OLAPLEX® products:

Use a Volumizing Blow Dry Mist

Infuse more life into your hair with OLAPLEX Volumizing Blow Dry Mist. This reparative, humidity-resistant blow-dry mist provides weightless volume, body, bounce, and heat protection up to 450ºF. Follow these steps:

1. On clean, wet, detangled hair, mist a generous amount from roots to tip.
2. Blow-dry your clean hair until it is about 75% dry.
3. Apply Volumizing Blow Dry Mist all over, concentrating on the roots.
4. Section air as you blow dry.
5. Direct hair away from the head for more body and bounce.

Pro tip: for the added benefit or to refresh second-day hair, apply the mist to dry hair, focusing on the roots. Use a round brush to lift roots as you blow-dry. 

Boost Hair Between Washes with Dry Shampoo

Give your hair a pick-me-up between washes with OLAPLEX Nº.4D Clean Volume Detox Dry Shampoo. In a study, 97% said hair had volume after using Nº.4D.

To use this light-as-air dry shampoo:

1. Shake well before using.
2. Separate your hair into sections.
3. Holding the bottle 6-10 inches away from your hair, spray dry shampoo onto your roots.
4. Wait about 30 seconds and massage into the scalp.

You also don’t have to wait between washes to use dry shampoo: apply after washing and drying your hair for more volume!

Find Your Haircare Routine

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