Skinny jeans are awesome. Skinny hair, not so much.
When your mane's fine, getting it to stand tall seems like a mission impossible. You tousle it around, blow it out, curl it up but it always stubbornly falls back flat. Limp. Lifeless. Forget Beyonce's full out locks. You can't even get your bob to be a little bouncy.
Not all hope is lost though. Yes, fine hair is a struggle to deal with, but with a few tweaks to your haircare routine you can inject some life and bounce into it. From using a sea salt spray to flipping your head upside down, here are our favorite tips and tricks to add volume to fine and limp hair:
Wash the buildup away
Fine hair barely has any volume of its own. The last thing it needs is your natural oils and conditioner pushing it down even more. So, wash them all away with a clarifying shampoo. At least every third wash. I know it seems like it's too much, but all that gunk can add up pretty quickly, taking your hair down with it.
Conditioners, styling products, and even most shampoos all contain waxes and fats that stick to the hair. When this builds up on fine hair it eventually starts to cause breakage as well. So let your hair breathe and it will reward you with shine, bounce, and even some extra length!
Oh, and when you do wash it, remember to go easy on the conditioner. A few drops make your hair soft and shiny. A big dollop will bring your locks down before they even had the chance to rise up again. And try using it only on the ends. If your hair's fine, putting anything right on its roots is a huge no-no.
Use Dry Shampoo
Have no time to wash your hair? Grab a bottle of dry shampoo instead. Dry shampoo uses cornstarch to absorb all the oil and grease in your hair, making your tresses look like they've just been freshly washed. And, unlike too frequent washing, it doesn't dry out your scalp.
Plus, dry shampoo gives even the flattest hair a volume boost. Win win win. There are so many new varieties of dry shampoo on the market today, you may need to try a few out to find the perfect fit for your hair type and color. Once you find your match though, you'll wonder how you ever lived without it!
Turn Your Head Upside Down
This is the oldest trick in the book but it never fails to add a few precious inches of volume to your mane. Next time you blow dry your hair, flip your head over. Yes, it sounds silly, but there's a reason why your hairdresser always asks you to do it before taking out the blowdryer. When your hair's upside down, your roots are lifting off your scalp automatically. That's how you want them to dry.
(P.S. Have bangs? You can still use this trick but always dry them the right side up first!)
Add Texture With Sea Salt
If you have fine hair, a sea salt spray is your BFF. Sea salt, like you've probably noticed after splashing around in the ocean in the summertime, adds texture and volume to your hair and gives you that chic, effortless, beach waves look. The trick is to spray a little bit on your lengths only. Never on your roots. You should never apply anything there, remember? That'd just sabotage your efforts and get your hair to lie flat. Again.
One more thing. Sea salt can dry out hair, if used too often. That's why we've added glycerin and panthenol to our Ocean Hair Mist Hair Texturizing Spray. They keep hair nicely hydrated, giving your hair a lift without any nasty side effects.
Add Volume To Hair With A Monthly Protein Treatment
Just as you'd apply polish to weak nails, a protein treatment can add the same protection and thickness to fine hair. I often compare our Pure Protein treatment to nail polish, as it's the same concept.
Fine hair has a very thin coating of it's own keratin, so adding more of precious protein can be extremely beneficial. First, it adds a layer of protection to guard against damage so hair grows to longer lengths easier.
Protein is what conditioners and beneficial ingredients actually stick to. These are the ingredients in your products that make your hair shiny, bouncy, and keep it healthy. So, if your hair lacks protein, your products cannot work their magic.
Lastly, protein helps your hair keep it's styles longer. Longer lasting curls, more moisture-resistant blowouts, and when you dry your hair upside down ... those results will last longer, too.
Cheers to BIG HAIR!
