Men who want to increase the volume of their hair may have various reasons for doing so. Often, the intention is to achieve a more youthful appearance, to be more attractive and appear more energetic at work. In some cases we try to hide the thinning hair as much as possible and to create the impression of volume typical of the hair of younger people. In other situations, more voluminous hair is desired for a special occasion, such as a costume party. Whatever the reason, there are a few ways to add volume to your hair in a short time.
Steps
Method 1 of 5: Use Volumizing Products
Step 1. Follow a regular washing routine
Many men find that washing their hair too often can accelerate hair loss or make it look thinner. In fact, the opposite is true. Greasy or dirty hair creates tangles, leaving parts of the skin more exposed. Wash your hair as often as it makes it more voluminous. Many volumizing shampoos and conditioners, which you can use every time you shower, coat the hair follicles with a special polymer designed to give volume to the hair. Before deciding which hair treatment to apply after a shower, be sure to try products designed specifically to add volume to your hair.
- For best results, try using a volumizing shampoo paired with a volumizing conditioner. Reading the labels of these products you will often find suggested combinations.
- Volumizing shampoos and conditioners don't actually make your hair more voluminous, but rather give the impression of volume. You should notice a difference in the appearance of your hair right after using these products.
Step 2. Rinse your hair with warm water or room temperature
Never use very hot water. Hot water can damage the follicles and make your hair look even thinner. Warm or room temperature is ideal for removing volumizing shampoos and conditioners from your hair.
Step 3. Use a hair styling product that gives it volume
Plenty of gels, waxes, sprays, foams and other products used to style hair promise to increase their volume. Unfortunately, these solutions don't work for everyone. Try to identify the points where your hair is thinnest and choose products that can increase the volume of those areas.
- Use "light" or "airy" products. Gels, sprays, mousses and heavy waxes can tangle your hair, make it look greasy and consequently thinner. As a general rule, the less you feel the product on your hair, the greater its volumizing effect.
- Foams are usually preferable to waxes and gels as they leave less residue on the hair.
- The effect of volumizing products should be evident immediately after its application.
Step 4. Avoid products that make your hair stiffer
If a volumizing product leaves your hair dry or not very flexible, it is probably not suitable for increasing the volume of your hair. The more elastic your hair will be after the treatment, the more voluminous it will seem.
Step 5. Make sure you use volumizing styling products regularly
While gels, foams, sprays and waxes help add volume to your hair, their effects are temporary. You will need to apply them at regular intervals if you really want to make your hair more voluminous.
- It's best to follow the directions on the volumizing product label to decide how often to apply it. In general, overdoing the doses of any hair styling product will leave too much residue on the scalp, tangling the strands and creating patches. Use the amount recommended on the label or less if possible.
- Almost all styling products need to be applied to damp hair. This way they can coat your follicles evenly.
Step 6. Use a hair dryer after applying a volumizing styling product
Dry hair appears more voluminous than wet hair or hair that is too loaded with products. For best results, dry your hair immediately after the volumizing treatment.
Method 2 of 5: Change Your Hairstyle
Step 1. Avoid combing your hair
Although combs have always been considered the ideal tool for styling a man's hair, they can make your hair look less bulky. They can pull and tear the roots and push the hair in unusual directions, making large portions of the skin visible. Use your hands to style your hair if you want to make it more voluminous.
Step 2. Apply the styling products to the ends and not the roots
Using a volumizing product on the hair roots can even reduce their volume. Again, this happens because the hair would have a tendency to form tangles, exposing certain areas of the skin.
Step 3. Experiment with different hairstyles
To be able to find the hairstyle that makes your hair look more voluminous you have to proceed by trial and error. Spend some time experimenting with different techniques to find the one that works best for you.
- Use your fingers and hands to get the desired results. If you have naturally curly or wavy hair, try parting the curls and locks with your fingers to make them more voluminous.
- If you have straight hair, try "lifting it at the roots" to give it more volume.
- Apply more products on the areas where the hair is thinner and use less in the areas where it is already voluminous. This should ensure a treatment that gives the hair a natural and not too heavy look.
Step 4. Ask someone's opinion
When trying to style your hair so that it appears more voluminous, it is important to ask another person what they think about your "new" style. We often fail to judge our appearance well, because we are too involved and observe the problem too closely. Ask a trusted friend or relative for an opinion to better evaluate the effectiveness of your choices.
It is important to note that thinning hair may look better on you than bizarre hairstyles that add volume. Since each person's hair is unique, the solutions must also be
Step 5. Do the report
If your hair is thinner at the top of your head, in some cases it may be useful to comb thicker hair from other areas towards that point. Many men, even if they do not have baldness problems, wear hairstyles with a side carry. This method can be used easily to cover the areas where the hair is thinnest, without giving the appearance that you are trying to hide something.
While carry-over can be helpful in some cases, it is a well-known method often associated with hair loss. It is also not very effective if the area to be covered is large or very low in hair. In those situations, carryovers only make the problem more evident
Step 6. Make your hair grow longer
Since the hair is not equally thin in all areas of the head, it can often be useful to grow it, in order to cover the bare areas. In particular, if your hair is thinner in the forehead and temples area, you can drop the longer locks on those parts, in order to give your hair a more voluminous appearance.
Step 7. Cut your hair short or to zero
In contemporary society, some men decide to keep their hair short as a style choice, regardless of their volume. With a military cut or a shaved head you could look good and hide the lack of volume in your hair very well.
Method 3 of 5: Use Color or Hair Growth Products
Step 1. Try all other options
Hair growth products can be expensive and often do not produce the desired results. For this reason it is important to try the least expensive and least invasive strategies before buying them.
Step 2. Find hair growth products with good reviews
It is important to remember that other people have the same problem as you. Search the internet to find other men in your condition who have tried to increase the volume of their hair with specific products and ask for their opinion. You will likely find someone with a very similar problem to yours who has had success with a particular brand or product.
- The two most popular products on the market contain minoxidil (Regaine) and finasteride (Propecia). Minoxidil is a topical treatment, while finasteride is taken in pills. It is important to note that both of these drugs are more effective in stopping hair loss than in promoting hair regrowth.
- Topical products that contain monoxidil can take up to four months to work. Follow the application instructions and be patient.
Step 3. Buy hair growth products from a reputable supplier
Hair thinning is a common problem for many men. For this reason, many sellers, on the internet and not, offer solutions to stop hair loss. A good number of them, however, sell non-branded or "on offer" products that do not have proven effectiveness. Make sure you buy your hair growth products from a supplier you trust so you can be sure your money is well spent.
Step 4. Read the instructions carefully
Hair growth products are composed of various active ingredients, many of which can be harmful to a person's hair and overall health if they are not applied correctly. Be sure to read all instructions and warnings on a product's packaging before using it.
- Some hair growth products have been linked to decreased libido in men, so read the warning labels carefully and be careful if you notice any of the side effects listed.
- Some hair growth products, especially those that contain finasteride, have been shown to be dangerous for pregnant or breastfeeding women. For this reason, be sure to store the product carefully and avoid leaving any visible or crumbled pills lying around the house.
Step 5. Apply the product as directed
Follow the instructions on the package and use the medication in the area where the hair is thinnest. Usually, you need to gently massage the product into the skin for 3-5 minutes, twice a day; the precise method, however, varies from product to product. Also consider that it takes between 12 and 16 weeks to get good results, so don't expect immediate improvement.
Step 6. Decide if coloring your hair can make it appear more voluminous
Often, darker hair looks thicker. If you think this advice would be useful to you, find a reliable coloring product, choose a shade that suits your natural color well and follow the application directions.
Don't choose a color that is much darker than your natural tone, as everyone would understand that you dyed your hair. Also, a very dark coloring product could make your hair look less voluminous if it contrasts strongly with the color of the roots
Method 4 of 5: Undergo a Hair Transplant
Step 1. Consider the pros and cons of hair transplant surgery
This is a drastic solution, which you need to consider carefully. If your hair is only slightly thinning, surgery is probably not the right solution. These are very expensive procedures, which in some cases can have negative side effects. Make sure you are well informed about this before you decide to go through it.
Step 2. Schedule a consultation with a hair transplant specialist
By talking to a professional, you can get a better idea of the effects the surgery will have on your specific problem. Furthermore, he is able to give you all the information regarding the limitations, side effects and costs of the operation.
Step 3. Consider the costs
As mentioned earlier, hair transplants can be very expensive and are almost never covered by insurance plans. Be prepared to pay for the surgery out of your own pocket and, before fixing it, make sure the benefits are worth the money.
Step 4. Be prepared for the consequences of hair transplantation
Often, your skin and affected areas will be sore during your recovery. Be prepared to take days off from work and your other responsibilities, because during the recovery period you will need to take heavy pain relievers.
Step 5. Undergo the procedure
Almost all hair transplants involve removing a part of the skin where hair grows from the back of the head and grafting it in the areas where the hair no longer grows. The surgery should be performed on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia.
Step 6. Follow post-surgery directions
It is very important that you follow the instructions given by the doctor who performed the operation, in order to ensure its success. For a period of time, you should avoid strenuous activities, washing or combing your hair, and touching the newly transplanted follicles too much.
- The recovery time after a hair transplant varies from person to person. On average, 3 to 10 days of convalescence are required.
- Be aware that the transplanted hair will fall out after the surgery. You should see regrowth 9-12 months after the operation.
Method 5 of 5: Using Folk Remedies
Step 1. Consider the limitations of folk remedies
For centuries, men have tried to give their hair more volume with homemade solutions. Many of the testimonies proving the effectiveness of such remedies are anecdotal and their impact is not guaranteed by medical research.
Step 2. Mix the vinegar and mayonnaise
According to some anecdotal testimonies, this compound can give volume to thinning hair and accelerate its growth. Mix the ingredients together, then apply a generous amount to the hair, rubbing it into the scalp. Let the mix sit for at least 20 minutes before washing it off with water and using the shampoo as normal.
- The effect of this treatment is gradual, so be patient and repeat it every month.
- To increase the effectiveness of the treatment, wrap your hair with cling film and cover your head with a towel.
Step 3. Apply some eggs to your hair
Proteins play an important role in giving volume to the hair. A folk remedy is to break one or two eggs (depending on the length of your hair) into a bowl, mix them with a whisk, and then apply the mixture to damp hair. Let the egg sit for at least 30 minutes before rinsing it with warm water. Use this method once or twice a week.
It can take several months for you to notice a significant difference in the volume of your hair thanks to this treatment
Step 4. Apply oils to add volume to your hair
It is believed that some oils, traditionally associated with cooking, can make hair more voluminous. Both olive and castor oil have this property. To try this method, rub a generous amount of oil into your hair and massage your scalp. Let the oil sit for 30-45 minutes before washing it off with a mild shampoo. You should repeat the treatment every 15 days.
As with other home remedies, the impact of this treatment is also gradual. It can take two to three months to notice a difference in the volume of your hair
Step 5. Try using a combination of natural products
Avocados have been shown to contain Vitamin E, which can give your hair more volume. If you want to try this natural food treatment, blend one whole avocado, one banana and one tablespoon of olive oil together. Gently massage the mixture into your skin and let it sit for 30 minutes before washing it off with a mild shampoo.
Advice
- Hair thinning can be a hereditary defect or a symptom of a health problem. Before attributing hair loss to the natural course of things, visit your doctor and make sure that no pathology is causing it.
- You may need to adopt more than one strategy than described in the article if your hair is very thin. For example, using a volumizing shampoo and hairspray together could be the ideal solution. Experiment with different combinations until you find the best one for your specific case.
