My least favourite body part? My hair. It’s thin. Fine. And flat as a surfboard. It’s a nightmare! For years, I’ve tried everything I could think of to give it just a bit more volume. Lots of things worked, but only for a few short hours. Then, my locks would fall flat on their roots again. That’s when I realised that, rather than keep trying random things, I had to create a haircare routine that, from start to finish, helped my hair gain, and keep, volume. Good news, it’s a lot easier (and quicker!) than you think. I just had to tweak my haircare routine here and there. Here’s how:
#1. Give it a good wash
Giving volume to thin, flat hair is difficult enough as it is. It’s gonna be impossible if it’s weighted down by all sorts of impurities and residues from styling products. So, let’s give it a good wash. I like using a volumizing shampoo, like Kerastase Volumactiv Shampoo. It cleanses well, removing everything that’s getting in the way of thicker, more voluminous hair.
#2. Use conditioner the right way
I only apply conditioner (my favourite is L’Oreal Elvive Nutri Gloss) to the length of my hair. Never the scalp. That’d just weight the hair down, taking away the little volume the shampoo had just given it back. For the same reason, I also make sure I rinse it off thoroughly.
#3. Blowdry upside down
This is the oldest trick in the book, and one I avoided for so long. I hate blowdrying my hair. It’s boring, and takes so much time. But when I bother to do it properly, the results are amazing. My hair looks so voluminous! Here’s how I do it. I blowdry my locks upside down until they’re 60% dry. Then, I lift my head upright, and keep blowdrying by picking up the roots. This small change in direction really adds more body to my hair.
#4. Dry shampoo is your new BFF
My hair isn’t just flat. It’s oily, too. The day after I wash it, it’s already a flat, greasy mess again. A good dry shampoo, like Batiste Dry Shampoo, takes care of both problems. It soaks up excess oil, making my hair look clean, and adds a ton of body. In a pinch, baby powder works just as well.
#5. Give mousse a chance
I know, mousse is so ’80s. It’s also very effective. It thickens hair while making it soft. I work it through my hair, from my roots to the mid-shaft, and then I do a gentle blowdry with my fingers. My favourite mousse? Bumble and Bumble Thickening Full Form Mousse.
#6. Layers & bangs
The right hairstyle can make all the difference. Layers, for example, do wonders for flat hair. They add volume and movement, making our locks look thicker and bouncier. Although I like to keep my hair short, I often ask my hairstylist to angle a few pieces of hair around my face. I’m not a big fan of bangs. But they can give the illusion of thicker hair too.
How do you add volume to thin, fine hair?
By Giorgia Guazzarotti
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