Some of us are unfortunate enough to be born with the bad fine thin hair gene, myself included, and I’m receding to boot. Obviously it is an accepted normal process for us guys, though we hate it; but for women it seems so much more devastating and not so talked about. It seems almost a taboo.

If you have always had thin hair, have you ever tried wearing your hair shorter, at least layering the top more? It’s easier to conceal how thin you are if you can get more body in your hair, perhaps with a little teasing, but not too much (try not to get too helmet-y or overstyled). This works even better if you have a bit of natural wave but if you don’t, have you tried some color? Either a full base tint, highlights or both can be great for giving you some added body and dimension (consult with your colorist; you don’t want to get too overprocessed, although a little damage to the cuticle can work wonders in giving you some texture).

Also, you could go topical and start using Rogaine for women. I have seen several of my clients totally thicken up their stressed locks with the stuff and I have to be honest, I use the men’s version myself and have noticed a marked difference. I think it’s stopped my hair from receding further as well as thickening the crown.

There is also the approach of concealment. There is this great trick in the form of Toppiks, a powderlike fiber that is sprinkled on the scalp and roots after blow drying, before final styling. It comes in several shades and appears to color the scalp a little as well as adhering to the hair follicles so you can’t see the scalp through the hair. It gives the hair a thicker look. It’s very effective and I was quite impressed the first time I used it. Several of my regulars use it religiously.

And last, dare I say it, there are always wigs!

There are so many to choose from nowadays, and so long as you keep close to your natural hair color or colors that suit your complexion they can be really effective. My friend Teddy Antolin along with Raquel Welch herself helped design all the wigs for the Raquel Welch line of wigs (www.Hairwear.com). I’ve seen many of them up close, and they are very realistic and with a large range of style and color. If you get a real hair wig they often have too much hair in them and need to be cut, styled and razored by a professional to get them right for you, but they can be quite transforming and boosting to your self image. They can actually be rather fun; you can almost be someone else.

If you are really concerned, though, and are having a noticeable hair loss or change in your hair, it might be a change in your hormones and a visit to your doctor could give you some answers.

Matthew Shields was attending Fashion College in England when at 16 he realized that hair styling was the natural extension of his creativity. At 21 he moved to the United States and has found great success. Fifteen years ago, he was discovered by international stylist Sally Hershberger, who developed his eye and honed his talents. His career includes working on movies and with actors such as Meg Ryan, Jane Fonda, Greg Kinnear, Ellen DeGeneres, Lisa Rinna among others. Send your questions to matthew@smartnow.com.