I have a lot of hair on my head. Probably enough for four people. But somehow, despite all of that hair, I seem to fight flat, limp hair. I’ve found a lot of tips over the years that help my hair look more voluminous, hopefully they help you as well.
It’s All In the Cut
I did say that I have enough hair on my head for 4 people, and that causes issues! My hair actually weighs itself down. When it is too long, the weight alone flattens out the top. I have long layers cut into my hair, and my stylist removes weight from them as well. They still look like a lot of hair, but thinning out the hair helps take away some of the weight without changing how my hair looks.
Don’t Condition Your Roots
I grew up knowing this trick, but not everyone knows. You should apply your shampoo primarily to the roots of your hair, it will work it’s way down to the ends of your hair. Conditioner should be applied in the opposite direction, primarily from mid-shaft area and down. Conditioner leaves behind a coating of product that helps condition your hair, but can weigh it down as well.
Use the Right Products
Smoothing products are definitely not the same as volumizing products. If you want volume, you’ll need to make the swap, and probably change up the type of product that you’re using.
You’ll want to start with a root product, this helps give your hair the strength to resist being flat! My favorite is this spray mousse, I direct it right at the roots on the top of my head and the move it around with my fingers to distribute it.
The rest of your hair will need a product to help create a little hold and substance. A mousse or gel will work well. My recent favorite is this cream/gel duo that gets the job done without feeling sticky in my hair.
Dry In Volume
When drying my hair, I’ve found that the top really needs to be dried straight up to help add volume. I flip my head upside down and dry my roots this way. I hit my roots with the cool shot before flipping my head the right way, you want them to be dried, heated up, and then cooled while standing up from your scalp. If you aren’t drying your head upside down, I suggest rolling your hair into one big curl (pretend you have a 3 inch roller in it) and then clipping it into place with an alligator clip while it cools down.
Move Your Part
When you part your hair in the same location each day, you’re really training your hair to lie a certain way. Moving your part, even just an inch or so, makes your hair lie a different way. Having a side part can especially help add volume, as you’ll have a lot more hair on one side of your head. So, just move your part!
Add Texture
My hair is very smooth, and I need to add a little texture to have the time I spent styling my hair count. If my hair is wet, I’ll add in a little bit of this beachy spray, it offers more hold than other salt sprays. If my hair has already been styled, I’ll spray it a little bit with a shine/texture spray. I like this expensive one, and this option has a little more hold. Finally, if I’m on day 2 or 3 of my wash, I’ll swap out to a dry shampoo instead. Just a light mist all over my roots, let it sit a few minutes and then move it around some with my fingers. Here’s my favorite salon brand dry shampoo and my favorite drug store brand dry shampoo (which is better at adding volume than the salon brand).
If You Must Tease….
I’m a child of the 90s, not the 80s. So, I’m not really a teaser. I didn’t do it in high school, and it took me a while to get the hang of it as an adult. I actually watch YouTube tutorials to learn how to do it correctly, and I think the best one is definitely this how to tease your hair video, created by Kate at The Small Things Blog (here’s a link to her YouTube channel).
Watch her video, and then make sure you have the right tools to help you out. I like to use a teasing brush rather than a comb. I also use a light hair spray like this one, or this lower priced alternative. If it is humid out, a little of this spray wax and the hair spray makes a huge difference in staying power!
What are your favorite tips to add volume to your hair?
I’m a doctor, a mommy and a bit of a beauty addict. If you let me, I can take 2 hours to get ready in the morning. Really. I'm on a quest for faster beauty that works!
I spray dry shampoo on my almost dry hair and then blow dry. It gives my very fine, thinning hair noticeably more volume. I also find that I can’t let my hair grow long or it just pulls it down.