How to add volume to hair — © The Skincare Edit

10 Sneaky Ways to Add More Volume to Your Hair

Bigger is better! Fake a fuller look with these foolproof volume-building tricks.

Author:
Michelle Villett
Nov 19, 2014

If your hair is fine, flat and volume-challenged, I feel your pain! Over the years, I’ve dealt with my fair share of limp locks, falling curls and bangs that were glued to my forehead.

Fortunately, I also happen to have this weird job called “beauty editor,” where I get to meet and interview tons of top hairstylists—and steal all their best tips. You can bet your blow-dryer that I’ve been collecting ALL their tricks for creating maximum volume with minimum effort. And now I’m passing them along to you!

These 10 pro tips are tried and beauty editor-tested, so I KNOW they work (and if I can do them, you can do them). Some you’ll want to incorporate into your daily routine, and others you’ll want to bust out for special occasions.

Here’s how to cheat your way to more voluminous hair.

Change Your Part

Chances are, you have a favourite place to part your hair. It’s where your hair likes to fall naturally (somewhere in the middle or off-centre), or on the side closest to it. Problem is, that’s also where your hair lies the most flat, and you’re training it to stay that way.

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Flipping your part to the opposite side creates instant volume at the crown. If you’re worried about looking lopsided, then do it while your hair is still wet. To build the most height, try a deep side part on the opposite side in dry hair, misting lightly with hairspray to hold. This is the model-esque swoosh that I’ve been talking about lately, which is a little bit 1980s and VERY sexy.

In this photo, I’m using the Mason Pearson Rake Comb, but I also like the Mason Pearson Styling Comb (which has narrower teeth).

Back-Brush It

Back-brushing — Back-brush the roots of the under-layers of your hair for soft volume.

Teasing has a bad rep. It doesn’t have to mean aggressively back-combing your hair with a fine-toothed comb to create massive tangles (which are a nightmare to get out in the shower). You can actually create soft volume by back-brushing the roots, using a large paddle brush instead.

My preferred technique is to pin up the uppermost layer of the hair, and then back-brush the rest, working section by section. Holding each section taut and away from the head, brush in a downward motion at the roots in three quick strokes. To make the volume last, spray each back-brushed area with hairspray. Once you’ve completed all the sections, let down the rest of the hair, leaving it smooth.

My all-time favourite brushes are from Mason Pearson—either the Junior Mixture, Handy Mixture or Popular Mixture styles. These have a mix of nylon and boar bristles, and they last forever. One you try this brand, you’ll never want to use anything else!

Blow-Dry Upside Down

Haven’t perfected your blow-drying technique? No worries—the best shortcut to a voluminous blowout is just flipping your head upside down. I know it sounds too easy, but it’s exactly how my hairstylist dries my hair every time I get a haircut. (Then he finishes off my ends with a flat iron, for a “straight with volume” look.)

The reason this works is because upside down, your roots are automatically lifting off your scalp, which is how you want them to dry. I like to use this method to get my hair about 90% dry, and then I might do my final smoothing with a round brush. Note: if you have bangs, always dry them right side up first!

I love the Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer (it really is worth the investment!), but if that’s out of your budget, I also recommend T3. I used their dryers for more than a decade before I upgraded, and they never failed me!

Boost Your Roots

Root booster — Use a root booster on damp hair before you blow-dry.

Root-boosting products are your friends. Think of them as the scaffolding to your hairstyle. They provide structure and support for any lift that you manually create near the roots, helping your style to last all day (or even several days).

Look for a product specifically designed for fine hair, so it won’t weigh you down, and apply it all over the head, right at the scalp. Make sure you use it on damp hair—root-boosters won’t work once hair is dried. And don’t be afraid to layer your volume-building products, adding mousse and/or blow-dry spray through the lengths.

Products to try:

Put in Hot Rollers

Everybody forgets about hot rollers. But hot rollers are awesome! Unlike curling irons and flat irons, there’s no special technique required. Just throw them in while you’re doing your makeup and 20 minutes later, you’ll have sweet volume. This is a great trick if your hair is already dry and it’s too late to build volume into your blow-dry.

All you need to do is choose which direction you want your waves. Rolling away from the face gives you glam Hollywood waves, while towards the face creates a more vintage, Veronica Lake effect. To make your volume last, mist each section with hairspray before rolling, and let the rollers cool completely before taking them out. Then brush out and shape your waves for a soft, modern look.

My favourite hot rollers are the T3 Volumizing Hot Rollers LUXE. Before I invested in them, I used a cheap drugstore set, and there really is no comparison! The T3 is so much less damaging, with clips (instead of pins) to hold the rollers in place, and it doesn’t create any weird dents in your hair. You won’t regret getting these rollers!

Use a Volume-Building Shampoo

It’s a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised at the difference a good shampoo makes to your volume goals. My rule of thumb is to use products that are clear or at least translucent, since they’re the least likely to be loaded with heavy conditioning ingredients. Nothing white and creamy for my hair, please!

Also go easy on the conditioner. I only apply it to the bottom half or third of my hair, and I make sure to rinse it extra-thoroughly.

My current favourite volumizing shampoos are:

Crimp Your Roots

For real! Crimped hair was big in the 1980s, and now it’s making a comeback—but in a brand new (and non-tacky) way. Just crimping at the roots, in the under-layers of the hair, is a fantastic way to rough up the texture and make it stand out from the scalp. Can you say soft, natural-looking volume?

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