1. Start with the Right Foundation
Volume begins in the shower and at the salon. Heavy, oil-based conditioners can weigh your hair down, so focus on applying a lightweight conditioner only from the mid-lengths to the ends. This keeps your roots from getting slick and flat. Once a week,
use a clarifying shampoo to remove product buildup that kills volume. The right haircut is also crucial. Long, heavy hair often pulls itself down. A blunt bob, a textured lob, or soft, well-placed layers can create the illusion of fullness by removing weight and adding movement. Ask your stylist for a cut that builds shape and works with your hair's natural texture.
2. Choose Your Prep Products Wisely
Styling products are essential for creating the grip and structure needed for volume. On damp, towel-dried hair, apply a volumizing mousse or a root-lifting spray. A golf ball-sized amount of mousse is usually enough; work it in from the roots downward. These products work by plumping the hair cuticle and giving it the texture needed to stand away from the scalp. Don’t apply them to soaking wet hair, as the product will just slide off with the excess water. Aim for about 75% dry for the best effect.
3. Master the Blow-Dry Flip
This is one of the oldest tricks in the book for a reason: it works. Flipping your hair upside down to blow-dry lifts the roots directly away from your scalp as they dry. Power-dry your hair upside down until it's about 80-90% dry. Then, flip back over. You can finish with a round brush to smooth the ends and add polish. For extra lift at the crown, try parting your hair on the opposite side as you dry it. When you flip it back to its normal position, your roots will have an instant, noticeable boost.
4. The Cool Shot Is Your Best Friend
Heat styles your hair, but cool air is what sets it. After you’ve dried a section of hair with a round brush, hit it with the “cool shot” button on your hairdryer for five to ten seconds before releasing the brush. This blast of cold air locks the shape and lift in place, making your volume last significantly longer. If you use hot rollers or a curling iron, letting the curls cool down completely before you touch or brush them serves the same purpose. Pinning the warm curls up while they cool is a classic celebrity stylist trick.
5. Tease Delicately and Strategically
Teasing gets a bad rap, but a little strategic backcombing at the crown is the secret to lasting height. The key is to be gentle. Take a small, one-inch section of hair at the crown, hold it straight up, and use a fine-tooth comb or a teasing brush to gently push the hair down toward the root two or three times. Focus only on the area closest to the scalp. Do this for a few sections at the top and back of your head. Then, gently smooth the top layer of hair over the teased sections so the volume looks natural, not messy.
6. Finish with the Right Kind of Spray
Not all sprays are created equal. A traditional firm-hold hairspray can sometimes be heavy, but a dry texturizing spray is a modern must-have for airy volume. After styling, lift sections of your dry hair and spray it from roots to ends. Texturizing spray provides a light, grippy hold that adds fullness and a lived-in feel without being sticky. For second-day hair, dry shampoo is your hero. Spray it at the roots not just to absorb oil, but to provide a fresh boost of volume and make your style easier to touch up.
