How to Create Volume for Thin Hair

I’m really excited to present a guest post by professional hairstylist Giles Lever, on how to create volume for fine, thin hair:

When your hair is fine and lifeless, it can be frustrating to achieve volume. For the most part, the composition of fine hair can’t be changed; your hair will always be fine. However, you can achieve volume in other ways by using the correct products and strengthening your roots with volumising techniques.

Volumising thin hair is a simple, three step process:

• Nourish your hair to replenish nutrients
• Support your hair and strengthen your roots with proper brushing and blow drying techniques
• Style your hair to accentuate the volume you do have

Nourish – Use the right volumising products
There are many ranges of volumising hair products on the market. Read the labels carefully to find a product that contains volumising ingredients.

Shampoos
In shampoos, you should look for a product that is fortified with protein (for strength). Some shampoos also contain nutrients, such as pro-vitamin B5, that nourish the hair and can make it thicker over time.

Examine the product labels carefully and look for active ingredients that differ from the brand’s regular products. Shampoos are not regulated by the FDA, so manufacturers can advertise anything as “volumising” or suitable for fine hair. Shop around!

Styling Products
Mousses and styling gels contain polymers that bind to the hair to add strength and thickness, which in turn gives lift and volume. However, care should be taken not to use too much product, which can make your hair greasy and weigh it down.

With all volumising products, look for quality brands like Wella System Professional and Tresemme. Also, ask around to find out what products your friends, family and hair stylist recommend.

Support – Learn the right volumising techniques
Styling techniques that “pick up” the hair from the root are key to adding volume to fine hair.

You can use a round bristle brush to help achieve lift from the root. Don’t brush straight down; instead, brush with a lifting motion. If your roots are strong, even fine hair can look very voluminous. Combine this technique with blowdrying to help reshape your hair from the root.

Style – Embrace hairstyles that add volume
Certain hairstyles will give the illusion of volume. For example, long, fine hair can be turned into beautiful curls, which add volume and give the appearance of much thicker hair.

To create loose curls, use a flat iron with a round barrel, such as the GHD IV styler, and twist your hair around the barrel of the plates. The heat will style your hair into beautiful, natural curls and create a simple but effective illusion of fullness for your hair.

Nourish, Support and Style
When trying to add volume to fine hair, a multi-faceted approach is always best. Combining quality products, good volumising technique, and embracing volume-enhancing hairstyles will help you achieve a winning style for even the thinnest hair types.

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Giles Lever is a professional hairstylist in the United Kingdom and director of Edward’s Hair Solutions (http://www.edwardshairsolutions.co.uk).

Tagged as: hair