Voluminous hairstyles are the bomb! They make us feel beautiful, sexy, and powerful, ready to conquer the world and everyone in it.
There is a reason why you will look and feel like a goddess even when you are wearing your old jeans and a ratty T-shirt, but your hair is full, thick, and healthy because your hair is 90% of your look!
If you have fine hair, you might find it challenging to achieve the volume you want. Sure, we all have a few tricks up our sleeves when it comes to “volumizing” our locks, but guess what… our trusted methods sometimes do more harm than good!
Let’s see the five things you are almost certainly doing wrong if you have fine, thin hair and love voluminous hairstyles.
1. Teasing
Teasing – or backcombing - might seem like the obvious solution for those who were not born with thick locks but want to achieve a voluminous ‘do. However, teasing has irreparable damage to your hair because it means combing against the direction of your cuticles which can lift them or even strip them entirely from the hair fiber. If you tease your hair regularly, you risk being left with damaged, lifeless, breakage-prone hair with split ends and no volume whatsoever. Take good care of your hair and only tease it on special occasions, if at all!
Pro tip: for elaborate updos that often require teasing, try absorbent inserts and clips that will give you volume exactly where you need it, and you will be able to remove them at the end of the night easily.
2. Using the wrong products
Some products are formulated for specific hair types or problems, and not all of them are a good fit for your fine, thin hair. For example, extremely dry or curly hair may require oily products to seal in the moisture and soften its texture. Curly hair, again, needs oil to smooth it down. However, if you have fine hair, avoid products with heavy oils because they will make it look flat and lifeless.
Lightweight clarifying shampoos can also remove product residue, and buildup works best for fine, thin hair.
3. Too much conditioner
Conditioners fill in the gaps in your cuticle, making your hair easier to manage and, well, heavier. Make sure only to apply conditioner to the bottom half of your strands, and use about half as much as the amount of shampoo you use.
The same goes for most other products as well. It will have the same flattening effect on your hair if you use too many gels, mousses, mists, heat protectants (hello, oil!), and other hair products.
Intensive moisturizing products and hair masks should also only be applied to the bottom half of your hair, otherwise expect them to decrease its volume instead of adding to it.
4. Layers
Layered haircuts are fun, and they look amazing on thick-maned celebrities gracing magazine covers (after a blow-dry by a Hollywood hairstylist and some Photoshop). Still, they will make thin hair look even thinner.
Instead, opt for a blunt cut (as below) that will give you the optical illusion of fuller hair.
5. Not exploring alternative options
Products, haircuts, and proper care will only get you so far when it comes to adding that much-desired volume to your hair. Think for the long term and explore other options! For example, if you want your daily hair routine to be faster and more accessible, and you don’t want to permanently damage your hair trying to make it look like something it isn’t, you might want hair extensions installed.
There are two main types of hair extensions: hand-tied and tape-in extensions. They both have their pros and cons, and if you read some of our more in-depth articles on hair extensions, you will be an expert on the topic in no time and be able to choose the type that suits you best. Learn about how to choose the best extensions for thin/fine hair.
But in a nutshell, the more expensive hand-tied extensions last longer and look more natural thanks to their thin wefts that lay flat against your head. In contrast, tape-in extensions are faster and easier to install and are an excellent option for those just starting on their hair extension journey and are not yet ready to commit. Both types of extensions are a wonderful way to give your hair some extra volume (and length!) because they are virtually undetectable and safe for your natural hair.
Check the fabulous transformation below made by one of Hairlaya's certified hairstylists.👇
No matter which hair extensions you choose, make sure they are always applied by a certified and experienced hairstylist and regularly scheduled maintenance appointments. This way, you will be able to reuse your extensions repeatedly and have beautiful volume and easy-to-style hair every day of the year.
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