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10 Ways to Add Volume to Limp or Fine Hair

Over half the women in the U.S. think their hair is fine, limp or lacks body. No wonder there’s a new slew of hair thickeners and growth-enhancers popping up on retail shelves. But using the right products for adding volume is just one of the ways you can fatten up limp or fine hair. Try these top ten suggestions, and see what happens!

1. Get a great haircut from a specialist ~~ When fine or thin hair is shorter and blunter, it looks a lot fuller. But that’s not the only thing to consider when getting a haircut. Start by looking for a fine-hair specialist. Not all hairstyle salons have them, but chances are, older hair stylists or those who have fine hair themselves will be better at handling your hair, If your hair is super-fine, avoid hair stylists who have a lush head of curls, unless they tell you they specialize. Call hair styling salons and ask who is best at cutting fine hair. Or, ask fine or thin-haired friends with a well-shaped haircut where they go. Salons that sell products especially formulated for fine or thinning hair, such as Nioxin or a version of Rogaine, are also a good place to start.

   Once you locate a good hair stylist, talk to him or her about how to get more volume. You should be willing to keep hairstyles above the shoulders for maximum impact. A few, long layers add movement and life, but fine or thin hair can’t take too many. Don’t try to cut your own hair or have a friend do it; fine or thin hair has special needs and can look great with the right haircut.

2. Get regular trims ~~ The hallmark of a great haircut is how long it holds its shape, falls into place while styling and suits your facial shape and lifestyle. Usually, a haircut can last six to eight weeks, but if your hair is fine or thin, expect six weeks to be the high side, unless your hair grows slowly. If ends are feathered a bit, you can go a little longer—as long as you style your hair daily, flipping ends up or turning them under.

3. Don’t shampoo every day ~~ What’s known as “second-day” hair looks a lot better when hair is fine or thin. Hairstyles will look fuller the second day if you don’t shampoo every morning. However, this only works if you don’t overdo the use of hair-sprays and gels.

4. Use conditioner on ends only ~~ Anyone with fine or thin limp hair does not need to condition the root area. Add conditioner to the ends only and rinse thoroughly. If your hair is also dry, use a deep conditioning treatment once a week, all over. Experiment to find products that rinse out well and don’t leave hair overly limp, Your best bet is to choose ones formulated for fine hair.

5. Dry your hair for root lift ~~ When blow-drying, direct heat at the roots first as you lift them straight up with a brush or wide-toothed comb. This works better than bending at the waist as you lift roots with your fingers—doing that only adds subtle lift to fine hair.

6. Use hair thickeners ~~ There are several hair thickeners on the market; most are crème or liquid formulations. These products are formulated with wheat proteins and amino acids that actually plump up every strand. They are not stylers, but they can be used alone when you blow-dry your hair or let it dry naturally, pinned up on top of your head. Start with a dime-sized amount and make certain you distribute the product evenly, using a wide-toothed comb. If you don’t distribute these products well, you’ll get sticky or flaky areas once they dry. Also, if you use too much, your hair might look greasy the next morning, creating the need for daily shampooing.
   “Over half the women
   in the U.S. think their
   hair lacks body”

7. Check out volumizers ~~ Dozens of mousses, gels and sprays are formulated to add volume to fine thin hair; the trick is how to combine them with thickeners Apply the thickener first and dry your hair on high heat, since these products usually heat-activated. Once hair is nearly dry work in a small amount of volumizer mousse, gel or spray, comb thoroughly and begin styling using your blow-dryer and a brush. Set the dryer on medium heat. While you’re shopping, look for companies with entire product lines for fine thin hair include shampoos, conditioners and products.

8. Don’t overuse styling products ~~ Experiment with products until you find one or two that work great for you. Remember a little goes a long way. Avoid hairsprays that coat the surface of your hair and weigh it down. Also, very few pomades, waxes or shine sprays work well with fine thin hair; they, too, weigh it down too much and tend to build up. If you want to try a spray look for one that says it’s good for fine thin hair (like Paul Mitchell’s), and use a very small amount.

9. Beat flyaways ~~ Fine thin hair often gets flyaways when the air is dry—usually in winter or when you’re in an office or an airplane. Use a humidifier indoors and try moisturizing conditioners. To get rid of flyaways fast, quickly mist a bit of water on unruly and wayward strands. Using a thermal protector while heat styling also helps.

10. Get Set ~~ Don’t just blow-dry hair; check out all the other ways style it. Roller sets are perfect for root lift, body and end movement. Use hot rollers when you are in a hurry regular rollers and allow damp hair to air dry when you have the time. The larger the diameter of the roller, the more body and volume you get. Like the look? Try out a body perm if your hair isn’t colored. (Two chemical treatments on fine thin hair is just too much.)

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