How to Add Volume to Fine Hair

Hair is one those things where you have to work with what you have. Dealing with fine or thin hair is frustrating. It can be a challenge to style and then have a hard time holding a style. Fortunately there are products and techniques you can use to make your hair look its best.

Fine hair can be weighed down by ingredients in styling products. It is important to use a clarifying shampoo twice a week so you don't get build-up. Build-up will not only weigh down your hair, it can dry it out by keeping conditioner from penetrating the hair strands.

Hair has the most volume when it is kept shorter, but you can get away with keeping it long if you take good care of it and take advantage of these styling tips:

Frequent trims, every 6 weeks, keep the ends blunt and not stringy. A deep conditioner is best applied only to the ends, as it can weigh down the hair at the roots and make them look greasy.

When styling, keep in mind that volume starts at the roots. There are even hairstyling products called root lifters, which are sprayed on the hair before styling.

Starting with wet hair, blowdry it until it is almost dry. Then apply to the roots your chosen styling product: a root lifter, gel, or mousse. Bend over so your hair falls over your face and blowdry, pulling gently on the roots as you do so. Continue to do this until the hair is dry. Then, and this is a very important step: still bending over, use the cool air button on your blowdryer to blow cool air on the roots. This locks in the root volume. Put a few small clips in your hair to hold the roots in this forward position.

Leave the clips in as you do your makeup and finish getting ready. This last step helps to set the style. Take the clips out and arrange your hair how you want it, smoothing over the top layer with a brush very gently so you don't crush the volume you've created.

Backcombing and using large rollers are two other techniques that add volume. You can also buy clip-in extensions to literally add thickness to your hair..