Every clever trick we can use to fake fuller hair fast – as thinning locks become our biggest beauty woe of 2025: POLISHED with Elise Wilson

Welcome to Polished with Elise Wilson, where FEMAIL’s qualified makeup artist and hair stylist answers your questions, shares advice and trials the up-and-coming beauty and skincare trends so you don’t have to.

It hit me mid-prosecco on a recent girls’ night out as we huddled around a friend’s phone, zooming in on a group selfie under very unforgiving bathroom lighting, that literally every single one of us was complaining about the same beauty dilemma.

Our hair is getting thinner. All of us.

One friend was complaining about post-baby hair fallout, another had started parting her hair on the opposite side to cover patchiness, and I’ll admit I’ve been clinging to my dry shampoo for dear life trying to create volume that just doesn’t seem to be there anymore.

Honestly, I always thought I had a decent head of hair. I don’t dye it anymore (thankfully the greys have stayed away this long), I minimise the use of heat tools, and I use nourishing masks, but it’s my hair’s density that’s my real bugbear.

Maybe it’s a blessing that I can’t physically see my full head on a day-to-day basis, because when I’ve caught a photo of myself taken from above or the side, I’ve fretted – more than I thought I would.

There it was in the picture, staring me in the face: a slightly-too-far-back widows peak, a suspicious amount of scalp peeking through, and a ponytail that looked more limp than lush.

The annoying part? No one else seemed to notice. Probably because they were all too worried about themselves and their own thinning insecurities, but I definitely did. And if you’re reading this, chances are… you’ve noticed yours too.

Whether it’s hormones, stress, age, tight ponytails, a lifetime of bleach and heat styling, or just plain bad luck, it seems like diminishing hair is now our biggest unspoken beauty battle.

The more I chatted to my friends, the more they kept asking me (resident beauty know-it-all in the group) ‘what can we do to fix it?’ and ‘how much is a great wig these days?’ with a cackle. Which is a helluva lot, btw, we googled them.

It’s interesting, because while it’s rarely talked about openly, trust me when I say there’s a booming, behind-the-scenes beauty industry designed specifically to fix thinning hair (or at least fake it pretty well).

In a world where we can buy anything we want, I decided to investigate what options were out there in Australia, and most importantly, weren’t going to break the bank while I was there.

What I found were so many clever tricks, tools, treatments, and even surgical options, that can help fake thicker, fuller, healthier-looking locks, instantly.

Some are subtle, some are scientific, and some are so effective, they’ll blow your mind. Dramatic, yes, but that doesn’t make it untrue.

So, before you spiral into a rabbit hole of expensive serums, half-empty volumising mousses, or panic over the growing pile of hair in the shower drain, this one is for you.

Here’s everything you need to know, from scalp tattoos, to ‘liquid gold’ injections and a $15 miracle product, to outsmart thinning hair like a pro.

It’s time to turn back the (hairline) clock.

DIY Hair Extensions 

Cost: $468  

Best for: A quick fix 

I’ll be the first to admit it that clip-in hair extensions have been my secret weapon for years now for faking thick, voluminous hair when mine’s feeling a little flat.

However, salon extensions can cost a small fortune, not to mention the upkeep – seriously, who has the time? That’s why DIY ones are great, and if you don’t like the clip-ins, try taped ones instead.

Muse DIY extensions use 100% Remy Human hair and feel completely natural, are super easy to tape in yourself, and cost just less that $500, which is a fraction of what you’d pay the professionals.

Plus, they’re so well hidden no one can tell it’s fake – just make sure you cut them in to match your own haircut to disguise them seamlessly.

Hairline Lowering Surgery

Cost: Approx. $5,000 

Best for: Women with a high forehead, not male pattern baldness

With every celebrity being candid with what they’re doing to their faces, it was refreshing of Chrissy Teigen to reveal her recent hair update in May.

A few days after she reportedly shared a video of herself with a bandaged head in the hospital, the model and cookbook author, 39, revealed the reason was down to hairline lowering surgery.

Say what?

‘Lost a lot in the front from babies and it’s just very thin up there,’ the mom of four said of her hairline on her Instagram story slide.

While hair transplants used to be the go-to fix, a growing number of women are now going straight to the source – the hairline itself.

Extremely intrigued I asked Dr. Mark Kohout, a renowned plastic surgeon based in Sydney, to explain it to me.

‘I make an incision along the hairline and another below this, approximately two centimetres into the forehead. This strip skin is removed, [and] the scalp is then pulled down and stitched [which] effectively advances the hairline two centimetres lower,’ he said.

The hour-long surgery requires just a week of downtime, and while it can leave a small scar (usually hidden under a fringe), the payoff is big.

‘[It] restores the aesthetic balance between the height of the forehead and the scalp,’ Dr. Kohout continued, who’s seeing a rise in demand, especially from women inspired by social media and celebrity aesthetics.

It’s particularly effective for those suffering from traction alopecia (yes, those tight ponytails we’ve all worn aren’t helping) and those genetically predisposed to a high forehead.

Dr. Kohout also notes that hairline lowering is generally faster and less expensive than a transplant, which can cost upwards of $20,000.

PRP – Scalp Rejuvenation

From $750 per session (3-4 recommended) 

Best for: Mild hair thinning, post-partum hair loss, shedding

If you’ve heard beauty insiders talk about PRP (aka the ‘vampire facial’), you’ll know it’s the golden child of skin rejuvenation, but it works wonders on the scalp, too.

For those not in the know, Aly Rosen, Cosmetic Nurse and Founder of Aly Rose Aesthetics in Sydney, explained: ‘We draw a small vial of your blood, spin it to isolate the platelet-rich plasma (liquid gold), and inject it into the scalp.

These growth factors wake up lazy hair follicles and encourage new growth,’ she said.

The treatment is quick, relatively painless, and has minimal downtime, although expect a sore scalp and maybe a bruise or two.

Most people see results within a few months, especially in the form of reduced shedding and stronger regrowth.

‘It’s a great post-partum option,’ Aly added. ‘And because it’s your own blood, the risk of reaction is very low.’

Scalp Micropigmentation (SMP)

Price varies, approx. $400–$1000 per session (2–4 may be required) 

Best for: Receding hairlines, patchy spots, visible scalp

Think of it as a tattoo for your scalp. I discovered this treatment a year ago and was sceptical, but after just two sessions at Scalp Revival SMP in Wollongong, I was a convert.

Using ultra-fine needles and custom pigments, technicians mimic the look of real hair follicles.

The result? A natural illusion of density, especially around the part line, temples, or thinning crown. It’s perfect if your hair is thinning but you’re not ready (or suitable) for transplants.

Ana James, Owner of Inkd SMP, told me: ‘We customise the pigment to match your skin tone and natural hair colour. It’s painless, precise and incredibly subtle, no one will ever know.’

Best of all, it’s low maintenance and lasts years with proper care.

The instant fixes you can buy right now

If needles and scalp surgery aren’t quite your thing, don’t worry, there are still genius, budget-friendly ways to fake volume and hide scalp show-through at home.

1000HOUR Dab-On Hair Colour Concealer ($14.99) – This cult classic works like a magic marker for your scalp. Just dab, swipe and go. It conceals gaps and blends in roots or sparse patches, and trust me, it does not budge all day.

Growth Bomb Post Pregnancy Bundle ($94.47) – Designed for post-baby hair woes, this range helps soothe dry scalps, reduce shedding, and stimulate regrowth. Bonus, the products smell divine and are ultra-gentle on sensitive skin.

Hairification Pure Grow Leave-In Spray ($20) – A no-fuss, leave-in spritz that smells fresh and helps stimulate regrowth over time. Plus you can pic it up from your local Coles and Woolies.

DermapenWorld EXO GROW Scalp Mask ($69.99) – This weekly mask detoxes the scalp while reactivating hair follicles. Think of it as a deep-clean for your scalp, with added regrowth perks.

ROBE Hair Tonic ($69.99) – A bit more bougee, this one is packed with botanical extracts and peptides to treat thinning from the root. Apply nightly for best results.

If hair loss or thinning is affecting your confidence, I’m here to tell you you’re not doomed to daily top knots and strategically placed headbands.

With everything from surgical fixes to pigment trickery and potent serums, there’s a whole new world of realistic, achievable options available – no wigs required, unless you really want to, of course.

The best part is that most of these treatments are virtually undetectable. Which is why, for every celeb or influencer you see with perfect ‘I woke up like this’ hair… chances are, they probably didn’t.