How to Add Volume to Hair for Extra Body, According to Stylists

If you have sky-high hair dreams but are living in a flat, thin-hair reality, you can still achieve your lifted-locks goal. Turns out learning how to add volume to hair is easier than you think—it only takes a few good products and some sneaky tips to transform blah into ’90s bombshell bouncy. From hair-styling techniques for instant volume to haircuts that can help you achieve voluminous hair, there are a wide variety of options to give you a big transformation. Here, we spoke with hairstylists who break down exactly how to breathe life back into strands for a fuller look that will make fine and thinning spots a thing of the past.

What causes hair to be flat in the first place?

“[Hair] can look flat at the crown for a few reasons, but one of the most common is applying conditioner too close to the roots,” says Vanessa Ocando, a celebrity hairstylist in New York City. “This can weigh everything down, especially if your hair is fine or tends to get oily.” Another frequent problem is buildup from natural oils, sweat, or styling products. “If you’re someone who stretches time between washes, make sure you’re shampooing thoroughly when you do,” she says.

Flat hair can also be genetics at play. Things like “hair type, density, hair texture, and growth pattern affect your overall volume,” says Michael Dueñas, cofounder of hair care brand Arove and celebrity hairstylist in Los Angeles. “Fine hair is typically limp and doesn’t have structure to stand up, but then very thick, heavy hair falls flat due to its weight. But the overall main factor is how the hair grows out. Some people just have hair that grows down instead of up or out.”

Does this mean you are doomed to a life of limp locks? We wouldn’t leave you hanging like that, so we’ve tapped pro hairstylists to share their tips on how to add volume to create maximum body and bounce in your strands. Ahead, the nine best tricks for ultimate volume, straight from hair experts.

How to add volume to flat hair

The first step on your path to a fuller mane is to invest in products that will give you a solid foundation to build on. Rogerio Cavalcante, a pro hairstylist and founder of The Second Floor Salon in New York City, recommends a shampoo for thinning hair that can help address buildup and thoroughly cleanse without stripping, plus a smoothing conditioner. He also stresses that a heat protectant is nonnegotiable if you’re going to style hair with a hot tool (like a curling iron or straightener) to help prevent damage that can lead to frizz and breakage. We’re looking for volume, remember, not an explosion of straw strands.

Get rid of buildup with a double hair cleanse.

If you’re a wash-your-hair-twice-a-week person but are seeing flat, greasy roots in the mirror, make sure you’re really deep-cleaning your hair and scalp when you do wash. “Especially in the summer, we sweat more and produce more scalp oils, so a double shampoo is key,” says Ocando. “The first helps break up buildup and oils, while the second truly cleanses the scalp and hair. You’ll see more volume, bounce, and shine immediately.” Consider adding a weekly rinse with a clarifying shampoo to your routine to help remove buildup.

Here’s an insider trick to ensure you’re getting the most out of your washday: “I love treating the scalp in four sections when shampooing,” says Ocando. “Start at the top, then move to the sides, then the back (especially near the occipital bone, which holds more buildup), and finish off at the crown.” She recommends massaging each area “in circular motions for about five seconds.”

When washing your hair, “use a volumizing shampoo and conditioner if possible,” says Suzette Boozer, celebrity hairstylist and Dippity-Do curly-hair expert. You also want to make sure the formulas are lightweight and hydrating so they don’t weigh down your hair. “Healthier hair can create much more volume,” says Dueñas.

Apply conditioner strategically.

Do you apply conditioner at your roots? This could be causing flat hair that looks as if it’s constantly sticking to your head. “I always recommend applying conditioner from the mid-shaft down, or just on the ends, depending on your hair’s length and texture,” says Ocando. “If it still feels too heavy, try switching to a lightweight formula like Perseve’s Recure & Revive Conditioner.” Applying conditioner more strategically is an easy way to boost volume in hair roots instantly.

Add natural volume while styling.

Adding volume naturally to your hair doesn’t have to be a whole thing. In fact, with a few tricky style moves, it’s actually quick, easy, and product-free. To create natural volume, “style your hair in the opposite direction of how you typically style it,” says Boozer. “For example, if you part your hair on the left, blow-dry or air-dry it going to the right. Once it’s completely dry, flip it back to your preferred part, and you’ll instantly notice more lift and body.” Sneaky, sneaky!

If you like to wear your hair styled back, the same idea applies: “Dry it forward and then flip it back to build volume at the roots,” she says.

Use hair rollers.

Hair rollers like Velcro or hot rollers are a tried-and-true styling tool for getting bouncy, blowout-style hair. Velcro and heated rollers “lift hair from the root and give long-lasting bounce,” she says. “Use them on the crown to set the volume. Let them cool completely before removing.” If you want to get volume in your hair overnight (lazy-girl hack), rollers won’t be the most comfortable option. In those instances, opt for a heatless curling set instead. “Also, sleeping with your hair in a loose high bun or braid can help preserve volume overnight,” says Boozer.

The secret to lasting volume with these tools? “Cooling time!” says Ocando. “The longer the hair sets in rollers or clips, the more height and body you’ll get.”

Head to the salon (or give yourself a blowout at home).

Struggling to achieve the sky-high strands you crave? Paying a visit to your stylist could help you get some bounce to your do. When you visit your stylist, let them know you want to add volume to your hair (I often ask for a bouncy, voluminous ’90s blowout). Show them photos of what you’re envisioning. They may even give you some pro tips so you can get the same results at home.

If you want to get that salon-quality root boost at home, there are a few steps that can help you get better at blowouts. After washing, apply heat protectant, grab your hair dryer, and “blow-dry your hair upside down to 85% or 90% dry, depending on your texture,” says Ocando. You want your roots to be mostly dry but your hair to have some dampness to it.

Next, “flip your head back up and continue rough-drying,” she says. “As you dry, flip the hair from side to side, as this helps reset the scalp’s part memory and builds natural lift.”

Once your rough-dry is done, “blow-dry in one-inch sections,” she says. “Always direct airflow upward, lifting the roots. For best results, use a round brush sized between 1.25 and 1.5 inches to maintain tension and movement.”

After each section is dry, “roll the hair up and secure with a duck clip or Velcro roller,” she says. Make sure to roll from the ends up to the roots. “Let the hair cool in that lifted shape to lock in volume.”

In a pinch at home, you can also use a blow-dryer brush if you’re not as comfortable with the hair-dryer-and-round-brush combination. If you want to use any styling products, Ocando first recommends a root lifter. “Because root lifter can dry quickly and cause stiffness if not styled fast enough, apply section by section until you’re comfortable,” she says. “Finish with a thickening spray and light hairspray.” Bonus tip: Use your hair dryer with a nozzle attachment, says Boozer, as it “directs air precisely for better root lift.”

Get a haircut.

No, seriously. While it might seem odd to cut hair off when you want to make it look as though you’ve got more of it, long hair can sometimes look flatter and less voluminous than short hair. “Shorter haircuts naturally appear fuller, especially when layered properly,” says Boozer. Thin or fine hair that’s also long can look stringy, but if you’re willing to part with your long locks, then shorter cuts (or at least some strategically placed layers) will be a game changer for you.

“Shags can add more volume by releasing the weight at the top,” says Dueñas. The choppy, layered hairstyle gives a messy, undone look that has tons of movement and delivers natural-looking volume.

If you want to keep your hair long, Boozer has a trick: “Cut subtle, shorter layers at the crown, almost like a hidden underlayer,” she says. “These shorter pieces act like a kickstand, lifting the longer hair above them for built-in volume without adding frizz or flyaways.” Genius!

Cavalcante agrees that the right haircut can make all the difference. “Blunt cuts, soft layers in the right places, and adding movement around the face can instantly create the illusion of fullness,” he says. Adding hair extensions is another option worth discussing with your stylist, who can apply sew-in strands to help build fullness and layers.

Though layers are a great way to give movement and volume to your blowout, you may be wondering where to start. “There’s a wide range of haircuts that can complement your texture and length, so if you’re looking to elevate your next haircut, I always suggest bringing inspiration photos to your stylist,” says Ocando.

Invest in volumizing products.

With so many volumizing styling products out there, these will make a real difference in your blowout. “Apply a lightweight volumizing mousse or a root-lifting spray to the crown and midlengths of your hair,” says Boozer. The most important part: “Avoid heavy products that can weigh hair down,” she says, as this is what causes hair to fall flat in the first place. You want to find a product that adds body without weight.

When applying a root-lifting spray, “target the roots and create lift right where you need it,” Boozer says.

You can also buy texture or volume powder: “These powders add instant grip and lift at the roots, making them great for reviving day-two hair,” Boozer says. Just don’t go crazy with the application—too much, and your hair will look powdery and feel rough.

Of course, hairspray and texturizing spray are must-haves as well. If you already use them and feel like they’re not doing enough, try spritzing them on wet hair at the roots, Dueñas advises. Doing this will “give tons of volume and a light, workable texture,” he says. “You won’t feel it when your hair is dry, but you will see the volume.”

Tease your roots.

Teasing your hair at the roots will add instant volume without any styling products needed. You’ll want to tease “just at the underlayer near the crown or temples,” says Ocando, as this “adds structure without creating frizz. Just make sure you smooth the top layer over.”

To tease your roots, Boozer says to use a fine-tooth comb for volume that lasts all day.

How to avoid flat hair

According to Cavalcante, the most important thing to avoid if you have thin or fine hair are occlusive products. “Stay away from heavy oils at the roots, thick hair masks every wash, and layering five styling products,” he says. Fine hair gets overwhelmed very quickly, and the biggest mistake is trying to compensate by using more product, he says. “Usually less is more. Fine hair responds really well to the right products used in small amounts. The goal isn’t to force volume but to create lightness and movement so the hair can naturally do more on its own.”

Meet the experts

• Vanessa Ocando, celebrity hairstylist in New York City
• Michael Dueñas, cofounder of hair care brand Arove and celebrity hairstylist in Los Angeles
• Suzette Boozer, celebrity hairstylist and Dippity-Do curly hair expert
• Rogerio Cavalcante, pro hairstylist and founder of The Second Floor Salon in New York City