After a truly epic homemade pupusa recipe fail today (I’m officially leaving that one to the experts!) I decided to scrap a dinner post in favor of sharing a fantastic tip for adding tons of volume to otherwise flat hair via, what else, Pinterest.
I realize this is primarily a food blog, but hey, variety is the spice of life! Pun intended.
A Ridiculously Easy Way to Add Volume to Flat Hair:
(Pardon the fuzzy iPhone pic!)
Backstory:
I have the most ridiculous hair in the world (is it just me, or does every girl feel this way?!) Each hair is fine, but there’s lots of it, and my mane will hold a curl for approximitely 13 seconds before becoming flat and stringy. Therefore I can wear it straight, straight, or – wait for it – straight.
Because of my hair’s texture, it’s also really hard for me to achieve volume at the roots and crown of my head without a wicked teasing sesh and half a can of hairspray. It works, I suppose, but then I’m walking around with crusty hair all day, you know?
Anyway, last week I was surfing Pinterest when I came across a post for giving straight hair, lasting volume. The post (which I can’t find now) was great, but a lot of the tips had to do with blow drying your hair upside down. This worked really well for the gal in the post, but I have wicked baby hairs and flyaways that stick straight up in the air all day if I blow my hair out upside down.
Still with me?
The moral of the story is, there was one tip in the post for achieving epic volume at the roots of your hair that I had never heard before, and was positively giddy to try.
The Tip:
Shampoo your hair with volumizing shampoo, then rinse clean like normal. Next, condition your entire head – roots to tips – with volumizing conditioner. Before you rinse the conditioner out, squeeze a bit of shampoo into your hands, then add a little water and work it into a lather. Work the lather into just your scalp, then rinse the shampoo and conditioner out. Blow dry and style like normal.
I am telling you, with no other changes made to my hair routine, I have gone from nearly no volume at the roots and crown of my head, to this (which is a lot of volume, for me!)
(Pardon the same fuzzy iPhone pic!)
I was leery about putting conditioner into my roots, because I’ve always heard it weighs hair down creating the dreaded flat-head effect, but from just this one, teeny-tiny change in my shower routine, my hair now has oomph like it’s never had before. Plus it lasts all day! I just had to share. :)
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Do you have “challenging” hair? What products and tips do you love?
What a great trick. Can’t wait to try this. I have fine hair with a little bit of wave, enough to hold a curl (at least on one side). I have been using Herbal Essences Slightly Tousled Shampoo, Conditioner and Mousse for awhile, because it’s just enough for my little bit of wave. I also use Bumble & Bumble Thickening Spray. Pricey, but it lasts a LONG time. AND I use a round brush dryer. I think it’s Conair (from Target) basically a round brush on the end of a hair dryer, because I am apparently one of the only people who is not coordinated enough to use a round brush while I’m blow drying…. :)
Haha you really made me laugh with this one! Not because of the topic, but how you put it :D I must say I’m blessed with volume, but this trick is awesome! Your hair looks great :) One of my friends has very ‘flat’ hair, so she’ll love this, I’ll make sure to tell her!
ooh i need to try this, my hair is exactly like yours thanks for the tip :)
I’m laughing because as I was reading your post about flat hair I’m trying to flatten mine out. I went for a haircut today and the hairdresser always poofs it up. I have too much hair and it’s course so in the blink of an eye it’s well…poofed big time. Ah we are never happy with what we have, are we?
I have tons of baby fine straight hair. The only thing i have found works for me, in addition to the blow drying upside down, is Redkin Wool Shake 08 Gel-Slush Texturizer. You put it on your roots and then either leave it be, or if you dry your hair afterwards, it softens up but still holds. Pretty awesome.
My hair is super thick and super fine at the same time, so I know your pain! Thank you so much for sharing.
Tresemme dry shampoo changed my world. It’s amazing for volumized roots without backcombing, and if I spray a fine mist of it all over my clean hair before I curl it holds the style so much longer. There’s also a product called Dust It that my stylist uses for my sad flat hair – it’s a little pricey (you can get it at Ulta) but it is awesome.
I love that shampoo and conditioner too! The price isn’t too shabby either :)
Sigh. I have super thick, long, wavy hair. Not nice waves either. I’ve found hairs that have curled up on themselves or ones that look similar in texture to African American hair. I’m completely hairstyling inept so I usually just toss it in a braid.
I use Aveeno shampoo and conditioner. It doesn’t wow me, but I hate going to the store and having to pick from the hundreds upon hundreds of shampoos. Anyone have any recommendtions? Has anyone ever tried the baking soda shampoo/ACV rinse method?
I have the same exact hair that you do! To get some body, I’ll tease the crown a tad and use hairspray. I’m definitely going to try your trick though. One Question: Do you air dry or blow dry?
I blow dry. If I air dry, my hair just sticks straight against my head like a helmet :(
I have super flat hair too but have always heard ‘don’t condition your roots’…I’ll give this a try though. Thanks for sharing!
I have curly hair, but it’s fine and I have a lot of it. I use something called sebastian potion 9. I just come it through and let my hair air dry. It works great every single time. Of course, I think it’s being discontinued because I have problems finding it in stores. I can still get it at ulta, or I buy it on amazon.
At my last haircut, my stylist introduced me to a crazy product called “Resurrection Dust” by Label M – just a sprinkle under a few sections of hair creates all sorts of funky volume. [I felt like Bill Nye the Science Guy should be there.] Throughout the day (or the next day), you can re-scrunch at the roots to bring it right back. At almost $30 for a teeny tiny jar, I couldn’t bare to buy it… but I think I will take the plunge soon!
http://labelm.com/uk/product/344/label.m-resurrection-style-dust
Love Kenra Platinum line for color treated hair. Feel like my color stays fresher looking a bit longer. Thick curly hair for me so just keep it short and I don’t have fuss with it too much. My favorite product is the Kenra Platinum Texturizing Taffy…it’s bright lavender-Fun! Adds definition to my curls & smells great :-)
Your hair is def straight and fine, but it’s great that the straight style looks so nice on you!
My lotsa straight, fine hair works best when I wash + condition (Aussie or Suave, usually), then use Aussie volumizing gel, then let it air dry in a giant pouf held by a claw clip on top (think sister-wife style). After 30-90 minutes of drying time, I blow it dry–usually upside down–and it has more oomph. Plus Aussie Sydney Smooth hairspray to keep it in place without too much crunch.
Can’t wait to try the detox salad from yesterday. Yum!
As a salon professional in one on Des Moines top salons for over 13 years,I can tell you if you are using Pantene that could be part of your volume problem. It has the highest concentration of wax as any “drug” store product. Your hair may look good at first but over time that wax will build up and leave a heavy residue that most people don’t even realize is there it is very “flattening” for fine hair texture, and as a fine hair girl I totally understand your problem!
That’s what clarifying shampoos are for.
This is false. Where are you getting your information? Show me the wax ingredient.
Your hair looks great! My hair is just like yours, so I cannot wait to try this tomorrow.
Have you ever tried Kenra setting spray to curl your hair? It is awesome! It protects your hair from the heat and helps the curl stay!
My hair is exactly as you describe yours!! When I was in high school (a hundred years ago) I was so desperate to have my hair hold a curl that I would SLEEP IN ELECTRIC ROLLERS (which back then was akin to sleeping on a pillow made of metal spikes). I was insane. In homeroom I would forbid anyone from opening the windows as the humidity would cause my hair to go straight after I had spent hours in electric curlers. But no matter, within a short time, hair was flat and straight. I find it hard to believe that the method you describe here actually works but it is certainly worth a try!! Thanks.
I love that you use regular drugstore brands!
I’ve tried Pureology, Aveda & Redken – along with ones from Ulta like Biolage – and find that they are not really any better for my hair. I do love the way Aveda smells though, so earthy, so I do sometimes use their purple conditioner, but for the most part I have switched back to drugstore. I am going to look into that Pantene Split End stuff. My hair is also very fine, yet very thick (lots of strands) and since I’m letting my hair grow out again I need to make sure it stays nice!
I have thick, wavy hair. I used to fight it as a teen, but I’ve grown to love it and work with it as an adult. I don’t wash it as often–usually every other day unless I’ve gotten in a workout–and I let it dry naturally. What a difference.
One other thing–Wonder why hairdressers are always telling us not to use Pantene? One minute they’re admiring the condition of my hair and the next warning me off the “horrible” product I’m using. Hmmm, maybe because it works as well as those expensive salon products.