No, this isn’t the ’80s calling—we’re talking about healthy, body-full locks that never go out of style.
By Rebecca Dancer, Shape
Gone are the crunchy hairsprays and flaky gels of the past. A new crop of volume-boosting mousses, sprays, and shampoos are here to restore limp, lifeless locks. Add these products and tips to your arsenal, and you’ll get fabulous, fuller-looking hair.
Gone are the crunchy hairsprays and flaky gels of the past. A new crop of volume-boosting mousses, sprays, and shampoos are here to restore limp, lifeless locks. Add these products and tips to your arsenal, and you’ll get fabulous, fuller-looking hair.
Get to the Root of It
"To achieve volume, it all starts at the scalp," says Jonathan Colombini, a L’Oréal Paris consulting hairstylist. Keep your roots clear of oil and debris that could weigh them down by shampooing regularly with a nutrient-dense, volumizing formula, such as Love Beauty and Planet Volume & Bounty Shampoo (target.com). That doesn’t mean you need to be afraid of conditioner: Today’s formulas are infused with ingredients like amino acids, which will fortify and densify strands without heavy silicones. Look for a thickening formula, such as Aveda Invati Advanced Thickening Conditioner (amazon.com) or John Frieda Luxurious Volume Core Restore Conditioner (ulta.com).
Style Strategically
It might seem as though nothing you do could ever match the volume you can get from a professional blowout, but a few small tricks can go a long way toward making your hair look fuller. "If you're not adept at blow-drying while lifting your hair by the roots with a round brush like a pro, flip your head over and use a paddle brush while drying instead," says Jennifer Yepez, a celebrity hairstylist for Kérastase. "This will ensure that the air hits the roots at an upward angle, creating more lift." Pre-blowout, prep your hair at the roots with a few spritzes of texturizing spray such as Hair Rituel by Sisley-Paris Volumizing Spray (nordstrom.com) or Philip Kingsley Max-imizer ($38; philipkingsley.com). Post-blowout, set your style with a lightweight spray, like Tresemmé Compressed Micro-Mist Hair Spray (target.com)—it provides lasting hold without any hard, sticky residue, so your hair can still move naturally. (Here are quick ways to boost your volume after a workout.)
Master Mousse
Those who prefer to air-dry their hair should consider using mousse as their styler of choice. "The latest formulas will thicken your hair without making it stiff," says Colombini. Apply a golf- ball-size amount of a light, volume-boosting mousse, such as It’s a 10 Haircare Miracle Styling Mousse (itsa10haircare.com) or Kérastase Densifique Densimorphose (sephora.com), to clean, damp hair. "Work it through from your roots down the hair shaft but not to the ends," says Colombini. "It will plump your strands while also giving them a soft look." (Related: How to Air Dry Your Hair So You Actually Like the Way It Looks)
Do Your Part
Something as simple as changing your part can also make your hair look fuller. "By flipping your hair to the side you don’t normally wear it on, you create natural lift at the root," says celebrity hairstylist Christopher Naselli. Another pro tip: When styling, spray a bit of volumizing product, such as Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray (nordstrom.com), on a clip and attach it lengthwise along your part line. "Let it sit for a few minutes before removing—it will give your part a great root boost," says Naselli.
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