How to get voluminous hair
If your hair is volume-challenged, then listen up: I feel your pain! Over the years, I’ve dealt with my fair share of limp locks, falling curls and bangs that were glued to my forehead.
As I am working with many hairstylists and steal all their best tips – These are some pro tips are tried and beauty editor-tested, so I KNOW they work (and if I can do them, you can do them). Some you’ll want to incorporate into your daily routine, and others you’ll want to bust out for special occasions.
1 Change Your Part
Chances are, you have a favourite place to part your hair. It’s where your hair likes to fall naturally (somewhere in the middle or off-centre), or on the side closest to it. Problem is, that’s also where your hair lies the most flat, and you’re training it to stay that way.Flipping your part to the opposite side creates instant volume at the crown; if you’re worried about looking lopsided, then do it while your hair is still wet. To build the most height, try a deep side part on the opposite side in dry hair, misting lightly with hairspray to hold. This is the model-esque swoosh I’ve been talking about lately, which is a little bit ’80s and VERY sexy.
2 Back-Brush It
Teasing has a bad rep. It doesn’t have to mean aggressively back-combing your hair with a fine-toothed comb to create massive tangles (which are a nightmare to get out in the shower). You can actually create soft volume by back-brushing the roots, using a large paddle brush instead.
My preferred technique is to pin up the uppermost layer of the hair, and then back-brush the rest, working section by section. Holding each section taut and away from the head, brush in a downward motion at the roots in three quick strokes. To make the volume last, spray each back-brushed area with hairspray. Once you’ve completed all the sections, let down the rest of the hair, leaving it smooth.
3 Blow Dry Upside Down
The best shortcut to a voluminous blowout is just flipping your head upside down. It sounds too easy, but its exactly how most hairstylist dries customers hair every time I get a haircut. They finishes off ends with a flat iron, for a “straight with volume” look.
The reason this works is because upside down, your roots are automatically lifting off your scalp, which is how you want them to dry. I like to use this method to get my hair about 90 percent dry, and then I might do my final smoothing with a round brush. Note: If you have bangs, always dry them right side up first!