Thick hairstyles is a blessing—especially when you know the styles that make it pop! Can I just say, as someone who spent my teenage years battling what I called “the lion’s mane,” I’ve completely changed my tune. Now I get stopped by strangers asking about my hair secrets (plot twist: it’s just my natural thickness styled right!).
While my fine-haired friends are layering products and praying for volume, those of us in the thick-hair club just need the right styles to showcase what we’ve already got. Trust me, I’ve tested these looks through rainstorms, workouts, and 12-hour workdays, and they don’t quit! Ready to turn that gorgeous thickness from frustrating to fabulous? Let’s dive in!
5 Effortless Thick Hairstyles You’ll Actually Have Time For
✨ 1. Voluminous Low Ponytail
Let’s be honest—the basic ponytail gets a bad rap as the “I gave up” hairstyle. But with thick hair? It’s an absolute showstopper!
I discovered this by accident when running late for a friend’s wedding. I quickly threw my hair back, tugged a few pieces loose on top, and suddenly received more compliments than the bride (okay, almost). Start with some haphazard waves—I literally wrap random sections around a curling iron while checking my phone—then gather everything at the nape of your neck.
Here’s my lazy-girl secret: after securing with a hair tie, I grab tiny sections around my crown and give them a gentle tug. Instant volume! My thin-haired roommate tried copying this and complained, “It just looks like I have a sad little tail.” Meanwhile, our thick hair transforms this basic style into something that looks deliberately elegant. Who’s high-maintenance now, Sarah?
💇♀️ 2. Textured Layered Lob (Thick hairstyles)
Remember when I finally chopped off eight inches after a bad breakup? (Tale as old as time, right?) That impulsive decision led me to the holy grail of thick hair cuts: the layered lob.
My stylist actually cheered when I sat in her chair. “Your hair type was MADE for this cut!” she exclaimed while liberating me from pounds of unnecessary length. The shoulder-grazing cut with invisible internal layers removed all the bulk that had been weighing me down—both emotionally and literally.
The best part? I now spend approximately 3 minutes on my hair daily. Wash, scrunch in some texturizing spray (sometimes just salt water from my beach swims), shake like a dog, and walk out the door. The compliments haven’t stopped for months, and people assume I spend ages styling. Should I tell them the truth? Nah, let’s keep the mystique.
🎀 3. Messy High Bun
This is what I call my “third-day hair miracle worker.” You know when dry shampoo can’t save you anymore but you’ve got lunch plans in 20 minutes?
Flip your head upside down (warning: momentary dizziness, but beauty is pain, right?), gather everything on top, and twist it into a bun—but here’s the trick I learned from my hairstylist cousin: don’t pull the hair all the way through on the last wrap. My first attempts looked like a sad doorknob on top of my head until I learned to keep it loose and deliberately messy.
I once wore this to a job interview thinking I’d fix it in the bathroom before, completely forgot, and ended up getting hired. My new boss later told me she loved my “effortlessly chic vibe.” If that’s not a testament to the power of this style, I don’t know what is! The best part? Our thick hair makes this look intentional rather than like we just couldn’t be bothered (even though, let’s face it, we couldn’t).
🌸 4. Half-Up Volume Boost (Thick hairstyles)
I call this my “Zoom meeting savior” because it looks like I made an effort when I really just need to hide my roots. This style has gotten me through countless video calls where I needed to look professional up top while still wearing pajama bottoms.
Take just the top section of your hair (from temples back), give it a quick tease underneath if you’re feeling fancy, and secure it back with literally anything—I’ve used pencils in desperate times, though a cute clip is preferable for public outings.
My colleague with thin hair borrowed my office clip to try this during lunch, and it slid right out within minutes. Meanwhile, my thick hair grips onto accessories like they’re the last lifeboat on the Titanic. Finally, a win for us! This style somehow photographs like I spent hours at a salon, which is why it’s my go-to for unexpected group photos.
💫 5. Big, Soft Waves (Thick hairstyles)
Confession: I wore this style to my high school reunion specifically to make my former crush regret his life choices. Mission accomplished!
The secret isn’t in creating tight, perfect curls (which look dated anyway). It’s all about creating movement with a large barrel curling iron, then—this is crucial—brushing it all out thoroughly afterward. The first time my stylist brushed out my freshly curled hair, I nearly had a heart attack, but those soft waves that emerged were magazine-worthy.
What my fine-haired friends don’t understand is that I can sleep on these waves and still look decent the next day. My thick hair holds the pattern longer than their relationships last! And when I’m feeling extra, I sleep with my hair in a loose bun on top of my head—I wake up with effortless waves without any heat damage. Thick hair perks!
Real Talk: Quick Styling Tips That Actually Work for Our Hair Type
- Root boost or bust: I learned this after years of flat-top syndrome. Flip your head upside down, apply volumizing mousse ONLY at the roots, then blow-dry just that section first. Game-changer! My hairdresser actually gasped when I told her I’d been applying product all over. “You’re suffocating your gorgeous thickness!” she scolded.
- Make friends with your stylist: I literally bring mine coffee bribes to ensure she gives me those magical internal layers that remove weight without sacrificing length. After years of triangle-head haircuts from people who didn’t understand thick hair, I’ve learned this relationship is more important than any romantic one.
- Product minimalism: After emptying my bank account on heavy styling creams that left me looking like I hadn’t showered in weeks, I’ve learned that with thick hair, less is more. I now use a single lightweight serum, focusing on the ends only. My hair looks shinier, bounces more, and my wallet is happier.
- The wide-tooth comb changed my life: Seriously, throw away your brushes! After destroying countless bristle brushes and creating enough static to power a small city, I switched to a $3 wide-tooth comb. My shower detangling time went from 15 minutes of pain to 2 minutes of easy gliding.
Let’s Be Real
Having thick hair with the right styles is like having a superpower that you once thought was a curse. It’s taken me years to stop fighting my natural volume and instead find ways to flaunt it—and now I wouldn’t trade it for anything (well, except maybe on humid days when I briefly consider shaving it all off).
These five styles have been my thick-hair salvation, turning those “I hate my hair” mornings into confidence-boosting good hair days. They’re my go-tos whether I’m rushing to work, heading to a wedding, or just want to feel put together for the grocery store (because isn’t that where we always run into people we know?).
Remember, that thickness you’re sometimes frustrated with is what gives you styling superpowers that your fine-haired friends can only dream about. Embrace it, work with it, and watch the compliments roll in!
👉 Want more easy glam hair ideas from someone who actually understands thick hair struggles? Explore our full hairstyle guide here »