Flat, dull and lifeless hair is a real plague for many women, who crave a supple and healthy-looking hair. Fortunately, giving volume to hair is not an unattainable fantasy, it is a realistic goal that anyone can overcome with a pinch of knowledge. Read this article to discover the right techniques, products and styles for fabulously volumized hair.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Wash and Dry the Hair
Step 1. Use a volumizing shampoo and conditioner
It is assumed that the first thing to do to volumize your hair is to use the right products when washing. They have a lighter formulation than the other products; it means they will not weigh down the shaft, causing it to flatten on the scalp. This will cleanse and moisturize your hair effectively, and also leave it light and supple. There is a combination of volumizing shampoo and conditioner for all budgets, from supermarket to stylish hairdressing brands.
- When shampooing, use enough product to create lather. Make sure you massage it into your scalp as this will add volume to your dry hair. Rinse them thoroughly and then repeat if necessary.
- Apply the conditioner from the lengths to the ends of the hair, using any product residue in the area near the roots. Massaging too much conditioner into this area will make your hair greasy and flat.
- While the conditioner is still on, untangle the knots with a wide-toothed comb, starting at the tips and working your way up to the roots. This will help prevent breakage, which can make hair look thin.
Step 2. Use a neutralizing shampoo once a week
Most shampoos and conditioners contain plastic substances called silicones and polymers, which envelop the hair shaft like a sheath and weigh it down, making it flat and lifeless. Neutralizing products remove build-up of these chemicals and other deposits, resulting in a lighter and more voluminous hair. Most people should opt for this type of shampoo once a week, so the results will be excellent.
- Just like shampoos, hair care products like mousses, waxes and sprays contain chemicals that build up on the hair, causing it to lose volume. As if this were not enough, hard water and chlorine in swimming pools can leave deposits.
- Those who swim frequently are more likely to find themselves with accumulations of various types of substances on the hair, therefore it is necessary to use a neutralizing shampoo more often, perhaps two or three times a week.
- If you have dyed hair, choose a sulfate-free neutralizing shampoo; they are more suitable products for dyed hair, as they are safer. You can find them online or in a store that sells beauty products. You can use it less frequently, about twice a month.
Step 3. Apply a volumizing mousse
There are so many volumizing products on the market, some extremely effective. One of them is the volumizing mousse; sprinkle a nut on the palm of your hand and work it on wet hair from roots to ends, with the idea of guaranteeing texture and mass. When finished, you can allow your hair to dry naturally, favoring the formation of voluminous waves and curls by "crumpling" them from the bottom up, or turn on the hair dryer for a more shiny as well as voluminous look.
- Among the other recommended voluminizing products, sprays or creams for the roots, which must be worked directly in this area (starting from the ears and continuing upwards) before drying.
- Some volumizing products can dry out your hair a lot, so be careful not to overdo it.
Step 4. Attach the diffuser to the hair dryer
Use this accessory, which is a great option if you are looking for naturally voluminous curls. This tool dims the airflow coming from the hairdryer, so the hair does not become smooth and flat. The diffuser is available online, in hypermarkets and at the hairdresser. The best technique to use it is the following.
- Let the hair air dry for 15-20 minutes after washing, then apply a volumizing mousse from roots to ends, as described above.
- Turn on the hair dryer, set it to cold temperature and dry your hair upside down, "crumpling" it with your hands from the bottom up.
Step 5. Dry your hair upside down
Whether you're looking for a straight or curly look, putting your head upside down is a proven way to add volume. This procedure allows gravity to lift the hair roots off the scalp and gives you the ability to brush them without flattening them.
- Using the nozzle of the hair dryer, stand upside down and dry your hair roughly for five to ten minutes. Use your fingers to separate the sections and let the air be directed towards the roots. This allows you to get rid of excess water.
- Once the hair is semi-dry, take a round brush with soft bristles to finish the procedure and give a smooth finish to the hair. If the stem is very thick, you can divide it into several sections before doing this.
Step 6. Use a dry shampoo
Little time to wash and dry your hair? Dry shampoo is a quick and easy to use product for adding volume and is sold as a spray or powder. This product works by absorbing the sebum from the hair, leaving it fresh and clean, with an extra charge of volume. All you have to do is spray or spread a generous amount on the roots and massage with your fingers.
- You may have to experiment and make mistakes to find the right dry shampoo, as some products leave a residue on the hair or create a sticky feeling.
- Like so many other hair products, dry shampoo can dehydrate them a lot, so avoid relying on it too often, however useful it is.
Part 2 of 3: Haircuts and Styling
Step 1. Cut your hair
The more they grow, the heavier they will become, which explains the cause of the low volume of long hair. As a result, one of the quickest ways to add volume is to opt for a cut. A layered cut made by an expert and tailored to your needs or an even cut can make your hair immediately look lighter and fuller, not to mention its visibly healthier appearance.
- Go to a hairdresser you trust and who listens to your needs exactly. A good professional cut will give your hair more life than any styling product or method.
- Bring photos of your favorite styles so you can show the cut you want. For best results, look for photos of models that have a similar face shape to yours and also the same hair type.
Step 2. Experiment with color
Highlights can give an impression of depth and thickness to the hair, making it appear more voluminous than it actually is. Dark colors will make your hair appear fuller than lighter ones, so consider darkening it a couple of tones to create an illusion of volume.
A professional dye job or highlights will benefit your hair a lot more than a home kit. This is because experienced hairdressers can mix different shades and hues to find the perfect color for you, giving your hair an added dimension that can't be found in a box
Step 3. Toss your hair
A rather effective way to volumize the hair is backcombing. This technique might be intimidating at first, but it's really easy to practice and can be used to add oomph to any hair style. It works best on hair washed a day or two before and requires a fine-toothed comb. Those suitable for this procedure are available in most perfumeries. The correct method for backcombing hair is as follows:
- After washing them with a volumizing shampoo and applying a volume mousse or spray, leave your hair as it is for a couple of days before backcombing. Do the parting as usual and then take a section 2.5-5cm wide from the top of the head. Comb it to untangle it.
- Hold the hair vertically, grabbing it by the tips. Insert the teeth of the comb into the middle of the section and comb them down towards the scalp. It is not necessary to proceed with delicacy, backcombing works best if it is implemented slightly abruptly. Repeat two or three times and then move on to the next section of hair, working all over the head.
- You can backcomb the entire hair or just the upper sections, that's up to you. Don't worry if it looks like a birds nest, that's the point for now. Then, take the comb back and smooth the top layer of the hair very softly, without touching the lower ones. Spray some hairspray for a good hold and, voila, voluminous hair perfect for any hairstyle!
Step 4. Make the row somewhere else
If your hair naturally flattens out once the usual parting is done, you can give it instant volume by simply changing this look. Try something different, whether the parting is in the middle, very sideways or zigzag! Use a fine-toothed comb or small comb to make it come out more precise, then brush your hair before sprinkling some hold hairspray.
Step 5. Use hot rollers
This tool is an excellent method of giving hair elasticity and volume, with a touch of pin-up girl glamor. If you don't want tight curls, don't worry, thicker curlers will give your hair volume and life, but won't make it curl too much. When using them, make sure they have been heated to the right temperature before putting them in contact with your hair.
- If possible, use curlers on hair washed the day before. Start with the front sections, rolling your hair up and moving from the face to the back of the head. Once you have them all on, leave them on for 10-15 minutes, or until they have cooled completely.
- Generously spray the hairspray all over your head before removing the curlers. When you're done, use your fingers to rock the curls and remove any knots. Brush your hair lightly if you prefer a softer look.
Step 6. Make the perm
Although people tend to associate the word "permanent" with the crazy, fluffy treatments of the Eighties, this procedure is actually gaining momentum and can be a great way to add volume and texture to your hair (without the poodle effect.). Modern perms can allow you to get tight curls or soft beach waves, it depends on your personal preferences. It is extremely easy to maintain and can last between two and six months.
- Just be sure to consult with your hairdresser to determine if you have the right hair type and if you are both on the same page with regards to the end result. Bring photos for inspiration.
- Perming is not a good idea if your hair is dyed or has highlights, as it will dry it out further, making it look frizzy and damaged. Going for a layered cut is a good idea instead, because it will prevent the perm from giving your hair a pyramid shape.
Part 3 of 3: Home Treatments
Step 1. Make an avocado mask
This fruit contains an abundance of natural oils, which can penetrate the hair shaft and leave it healthy and nourished. Healthy hair is less prone to breakage and damage, so a weekly application of this treatment will make the hair thicker and fuller over time. To make it happen:
- Make a mash with two small, ripe avocados, half a cup of honey, two tablespoons of olive oil, and one egg yolk. Apply this mix to all of your hair from root to tip, cover it with a shower cap and leave on for an hour or two, or until the mask has hardened.
- Shampoo normally (you may need to do two applications), apply conditioner, blow dry your hair and style it as usual.
Step 2. Use the egg
Hair is made up almost entirely of protein, so all treatments containing this nutrient will benefit them positively. Eggs are packed with protein and will leave your hair strong and thick. All you have to do is beat two eggs and then massage them into wet hair. Leave them on for 10-15 minutes, rinse your hair and shampoo as usual.
- Do not rinse your hair with hot water; you risk that the egg will start cooking while you have it in your head.
- Alternatively, you can mix an egg with hair oil, such as Argan or coconut oil, and use this treatment instead of the previous one.
- This treatment is good for the hair and if you want you can prepare it two or three times a week.
Step 3. Try apple cider vinegar and lemon juice
A mix of apple cider vinegar and lemon juice is a volumizing tonic that gives dull, flat hair great support. To make it, add a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and a teaspoon of lemon juice to a cup of cold water. Flip the ingredients to combine. Shampoo and conditioner and then use this tonic for the final rinse.
Step 4. Rinse your hair with non-carbonated beer
This product has been used by women for years as a remedy for flat hair. The hair absorbs the beer, making the locks denser and more voluminous. The beer also leaves a slight residue on the surface of the hair, giving it extra volume.
- To use it, open a can of ordinary beer and leave it there for several hours so that it is no longer carbonated. Take it to the shower and use it for the final rinse after shampooing.
- The best type of beer to use is one that has traditionally been brewed in a hop dryer, as it contains many nutrients.
Step 5. Use henna, a natural product generally used to color hair, but also to give it thickness and volume
Make a mash by pouring lukewarm water over 100g of henna powder. Stir it until it takes on a pasty consistency and put it away for six hours in a warm place.
Combine the henna-based paste with a cup of your favorite conditioner and then sprinkle the mix on your hair. Cover them with a shower cap and leave on for as long as you like. Rinse with warm water and apply conditioner as usual
Step 6. Try castor oil
This product can help stimulate hair growth and prevent breakage, promoting healthy and voluminous hair. Heat good quality castor oil until it is lukewarm and apply it to the hair roots; Gently massage it into your scalp with small circular motions, using your fingertips. Shampoo to remove it.
