If you have flat, thin hair, learning how to add volume to hair is easier than you think. Transforming from blah to ’90s bombshell bouncy just takes a few good products and tips. Not only are there plenty of hair styling techniques for instant volume, there are also haircuts that can create volume if you’re ready for an even bigger transformation.
Instagram content
This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from.
What causes hair to be flat in the first place? “[Hair] can look flat at the crown for a few reasons, but one of the most common is applying conditioner too close to the roots,” says Vanessa Ocando, a celebrity hairstylist in New York City. “This can weigh everything down, especially if your hair is fine or tends to get oily.” Another frequent problem is buildup from natural oils and sweat or styling products. “If you’re someone who stretches time between washes, make sure you’re shampooing thoroughly when you do,” she adds.
Flat hair can also be genetics at play. Things like “hair density, hair texture, and growth pattern affect your overall volume,” says Michael Dueñas, co-founder of Arove and celebrity hairstylist in Los Angeles. “Fine hair is typically limp and doesn’t have structure to stand up, but then very thick, heavy hair falls flat due to its weight. But the overall main factor is how the hair grows out. Some people just have hair that grows down instead of up or out.”
But not to worry: We’ve tapped three celebrity hairstylists to share all the tips about how to add volume to your hair so you can get maximum body and bounce in your strands. Ahead, the nine best tricks for ultimate volume, straight from hair experts.
Apply conditioner strategically.
Do you apply conditioner at your roots? This could be causing flat hair that looks like it’s constantly sticking to your head. “I always recommend applying conditioner from the mid-shaft down, or just on the ends, depending on your hair’s length and texture,” says Ocando. “If it still feels too heavy, try switching to a lightweight formula like Perseve’s Recure & Revive Conditioner.” Applying conditioner more strategically is also how to get volume in hair roots instantly.
Thoroughly cleanse your scalp.
If you’re a wash-your-hair-twice-a-week person but you’re noticing limpness in your hair, make sure you’re really deeply cleaning your hair and scalp when you do wash. “Especially in the summer, we sweat more and produce more scalp oils, so a double shampoo is key,” says Ocando. “The first helps break up buildup and oils, while the second truly cleanses the scalp and hair. You’ll see more volume, bounce, and shine immediately.” Consider investing in a clarifying shampoo to help remove buildup.
Here’s an insider trick for an effective shampoo: “I love treating the scalp in four sections when shampooing,” says Ocando. “Start at the top, then move to the sides, then the back (especially near the occipital bone, which holds more buildup), and finish of at the crown.” She recommends massaging each area “in circular motions for about five seconds.”
Herbal Essences Clarifying Tea Tree Shampoo
Walmart
Aveda Rosemary Mint Purifying Shampoo
Amazon
Nordstrom
This is a long-time favorite of Aveda-lovers and it’s dermatologist and trichologist-approved, too. Dr. Saedi and Yates both recommend the fresh formula with Dr. Saedi, saying “Aveda’s Rosemary Mint shampoo is a clarifying shampoo that’s a great choice for an oily or greasy scalp.” Yates adds, that it’s “Not necessarily created for hair loss, but designed to create a healthy scalp environment.” Whether you’re after fuller hair or simply want a new shampoo, this would be a good choice.
Add natural volume while styling.
Wondering how to get volume in hair naturally? It’s actually quick, easy, and product-free. To create natural volume, “style your hair in the opposite direction of how you typically style it,” says Suzette Boozer, celebrity hairstylist and Dippity-Do curly hair expert. “For example, if you part your hair on the left, blow dry or air dry it going to the right. Once it’s completely dry, flip it back to your preferred part, and you’ll instantly notice more lift and body.”
If you like to wear your hair styled back, the same idea applies: “Dry it forward and then flip it back to build volume at the roots,” she advises.
Use hair rollers.
Hair rollers like Velcro or hot rollers are a tried-and-true styling tool for getting bouncy, voluminous blowout-style hair. If you want to get volume in your hair overnight, rollers won’t be the most comfortable option. In those instances, opt for a heatless curling set to sleep in. “Also, sleeping with your hair in a loose high bun or braid can help preserve volume overnight,” says Boozer.
Velcro and heated rollers “lift hair from the root and give long-lasting bounce,” she says. “Use them on the crown to set the volume. Let them cool completely before removing.”
The secret to lasting volume with these tools? “Cooling time!” adds Ocando. “The longer the hair sets in rollers or clips, the more height and body you’ll get.”
Kitsch Ceramic Thermal Hair Rollers
Amazon
Ulta
Kitsch XL Satin Heatless Hair Curler Set
Amazon
Visit your hair stylist (or give yourself a blowout at home)
Can a hairdresser help add volume to your hair? Absolutely, through either styling techniques or a haircut (more on that later). When you visit your stylist, let them know you want to add volume to your hair (I often ask for a bouncy, voluminous, 90s blowout). Show them photos of what you’re envisioning. They may even give you some insider pro tips so you can get the same results at home.
Here’s what to expect when you head to the hair salon. You can recreate the style yourself by following the same steps. After washing, apply heat protectant, grab your hair dryer and “rough dry your roots by flipping your head upside down and drying to 85-90%, depending on your texture,” says Ocando. You want your roots to be mostly dry.
- Courtesy of brand
- Original photo from Alanna Martine Kilkeary testing Davines Melu Hair Shield
ChevronChevron
Davines Melu Hair Shield
Amazon
Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer
Amazon
Dyson
Next, “flip your head back up and continue rough drying,” she says. “As you dry, flip the hair from side to side, as this helps reset the scalp’s part memory and builds natural lift.”
Once your rough dry is done, “blow dry in one-inch sections,” she recommends. “Always direct airflow upward, lifting the roots. For best results, use a round brush sized between 1.25 and 1.5 inches to maintain tension and movement.”
After each section is dry, “roll the hair up and secure with a duck clip or Velcro roller,” she says. Make sure to roll from the ends up to the roots. “Let the hair cool in that lifted shape to lock in volume.”
In a pinch at home, you can also use a blow dryer brush if you’re not as comfortable with the hair dryer-and-round-brush combination.
Ibiza Hair Round Boar-Bristle Brush (B Series)
Amazon
Shark SmoothStyle Heated Comb & Blow-Dryer Brush
Amazon
Nordstrom
If you want to use any styling products, Ocando first recommends a root lifter. “Because root lifter can dry quickly and cause stiffness if not styled fast enough, apply section by section until you’re comfortable,” she says. “Finish with a texture spray and light hairspray.”
Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray
Nordstrom
Amazon
John Frieda Volume Lift Hairspray
Amazon
An extra tip: Use your hair dryer with a nozzle attachment, recommends Boozer, as it “directs air precisely for better root lift.”
Get a haircut.
It may seem counterintuitive, but long hair can sometimes look flatter and less voluminous than short hair. “Shorter haircuts naturally appear fuller, especially when layered properly,” says Boozer. Thin or fine hair that’s also long can look stringy, but if you’re willing to part with your long locks, then shorter cuts (or at least some strategically-placed layers) will be a game-changer for you.
“Shags can add more volume by releasing the weight at the top,” says Dueñas. The choppy, layered hairstyle gives a messy, undone look that has tons of movement and delivers natural-looking volume.
If you want to keep your hair long, Boozer has a trick: “Cut subtle, shorter layers at the crown (almost like a hidden under layer),” she says. “These shorter pieces act like a kickstand, lifting the longer hair above them for built-in volume without adding frizz or flyaways.” Genius!
Though layers are a great way to give movement and volume to your blowout, you may be wondering where to start. “There’s a wide range of haircuts that can complement your texture and length, so if you’re looking to elevate your next haircut, I always suggest bringing inspiration photos to your stylist,” says Ocando.
Invest in styling products.
With so many volumizing styling products out there, these will make a real difference in your blowout. “Apply a lightweight volumizing mousse like the Dippity-Do Girls with Curls Curl Enhancing Mousse or a root-lifting spray to the crown and mid-lengths of your hair,” advises Boozer. The most important part: “Avoid heavy products that can weigh hair down,” she adds, as this is what causes hair to fall flat in the first place. You want to find a product that adds body without weight.
When applying a root-lifting spray, “target the roots and create lift right where you need it,” she suggests.
You can also buy texture or volume powder: “These powders add instant grip and lift at the roots, making them great for reviving day-two hair,” Boozer adds.
Of course, hairspray and texturizing spray are must-haves as well. If you already use them and feel like they’re not doing enough, try spritzing them on wet hair at the roots, Dueñas advises. Doing this will “give tons of volume and a light, workable texture,” he adds. “You won’t feel it when your hair is dry, but you will see the volume.”
Nexxus Root Lift Thickening Spray Unbreakable Care
Amazon
Kenra Professional Volume Spray 25
Amazon
Best for Fine Hair: SexyHair Big Powder Play Volumizing and Texturizing Powder
Amazon
Sexy Hair Big Spray & Play Volumizing Hairspray
Amazon
Ulta
Try a volumizing shampoo and conditioner.
When washing your hair, “use a volumizing shampoo and conditioner if possible,” says Boozer.
You also want to make sure they’re lightweight and hydrating so they don’t weigh down your hair. “For this, I recommend using Arove Aerious Waterless Powder Shampoo and Conditioner,” says Dueñas. “Healthier hair can cause much more volume.”
JVN Embody Daily Volumizing Shampoo
Amazon
- Courtesy of brand
- Original photo from Alanna Martine Kilkeary testing Fable & Mane Volumizing Shampoo
ChevronChevron
Fable & Mane Volumizing Shampoo
Sephora
Tease your roots.
Teasing your hair at the roots will add instant volume without any styling products needed. You’ll want to tease “just at the underlayer near the crown or temples,” says Ocando, as this “adds structure without creating frizz. Just make sure you smooth the top layer over.”
To tease your roots, Boozer says to use a fine-tooth comb when you want volume to last all day.
Catharine Malzahn is the contributing associate beauty editor at Glamour.
The post How to Add Volume to Hair for Extra Body, According to Stylists appeared first on Glamour.
