Fine hair, big dreams: unlocking volume and body

Thick, lustrous, movie star strands - if you have naturally fine hair, you may well have longed for something more. While fine hair has its own beauty, without the right haircare and styling regimen it can tend towards being flat and lifeless, and holding a style can be difficult.

In this article, we’ll create a roadmap to help you unlock volume and body, with tips including how to choose the best shampoo and conditioner for fine hair - such as Essential Haircare’s VOLU/ range - what volumizing styling products to look out for and how to create a fine hair care routine that really works.

Meet VOLU/

What makes fine hair different?

Whether or not you have fine hair depends on genetics, with blondes often having particularly fine hair and dark hair being coarser.

You might think that people with fine hair have fewer strands of hair than everyone else but that’s not actually the case. Instead, each strand of hair has a smaller diameter, making the overall look appear less volumized. This is usually something that is genetically determined, just like color or type.

Because they’re that much slimmer, fine hair can be weaker and more prone to breakage or other damage from factors like heat, chemicals and brushing. It can also be more easily weighed down by products, especially moisturizing and leave-in treatments. Fine hair reflects light differently too, meaning that it can appear limp or flat.

What shampoo does

When it comes to choosing a shampoo and conditioner for fine hair, it’s important to look for dedicated products that don’t contain high concentrations of any ingredient that will saturate the cuticle or weigh the hair down.

Instead, lightweight, volumizing formulations may contain ingredients such as humectants to hydrate the hair without coating it, or hydrolyzed proteins to make each strand feel thicker while also improving its strength.

On wash day, you’ll need your shampoo to cleanse gently but well enough to get rid of any resident that could all add unnecessary weight. As for conditioning, apply most of the product to the mid lengths and ends of your hair, which will help avoid that heaviness.

Essential Haircare’s VOLU/ shampoo - and the VOLU/ shampoo bar - contains proteins from Regenerative Organic Certified™ Clementine peel extract¹ from Mr. Alessandro Malerba's farm, San Ferdinando, Reggio Calabria, Italy. This helps to deliver a volume boost while antioxidants protect the hair and keep it healthy-looking.

The family’s new fast-acting VOLU/ conditioner makes detangling effortless without weighing the hair down, boosting shine and natural body for hair that’s full of movement.

¹Sourced from Regenerative Organic Certified™ farms

Volumizing styling products for fine hair

There are several different types of product that can be used after a wash to help add volume and make styling fine hair easier.

For example, styling powders, dry shampoos and texturizing sprays contain ingredients like silica or clay that absorb oils, increasing friction between hair strands so that they stand away from each other, resulting in a fuller appearance.

A volumizing mousse or foam is another good option, creating a lightweight coating that temporarily increases the diameter and stiffness of each hair strand, giving body and lift, especially at the root. It’s important to choose a lightweight formula here, to ensure that it doesn’t become sticky or crunchy.

VOLU/ hair mist is a volumizing spray designed to lift the hair from the base, to create a fuller-looking style that lasts for up to 72 hours² as well as providing heat protection up to 230°C (446°F). Formulated so as not to leave any residue or cause buildup, it leaves hair soft, shiny and full of body with a silky weightless finish.

²ISO: 16128

Blow drying techniques to add long-lasting volume

As well as choosing the best products for fine hair, how you dry your hair can have a big impact on how much volume and body you end up with.

Start by towel drying upside down to give your hair an initial lift at the roots and remove excess water to minimize heat drying time. Use a microfiber towel and blot rather than rubbing so as not to damage the fragile strands or create frizz by disturbing the cuticles.

Having added any pre-styling products for fine hair - including an all-important heat protectant - it’s time to get your drying tools out. A round brush is a great way to create targeted lift at the root and shape the hair into a more voluminous style.

If you’re going for a smooth look, direct the airflow of your dryer from the root towards the end of the hair strand using a nozzle to prevent frizz. Alternatively, for curly or wavy hair, use a diffuser from the ends of the hair upwards to separate the curls and add extra volume. In either case, you can use a technique known as hair flipping, which essentially means drying your hair upside down to encourage the hair to stand away from the scalp, adding height from the roots.

Whatever method you choose, keep the heat on a moderate setting with a high airflow speed so as not to burn the hair. Take care not to over dry, which can dehydrate the hair and leave it more fragile and prone to damage.

Extra support for fine or limp hair

Unlock more volume

More tips and tricks for adding volume and body

There are several other techniques you can add to your haircare regimen in order to make fine hair look its best.

Velcro or heated rollers
If you’ve got a little more time for styling or it's a special occasion, using velcro rollers or heated rollers can add serious lift and inspirational curls that add loads of lasting volume to your look. They’re also versatile, allowing you to create anything from beach waves to tight ringlets.
Clip-in extensions
A slightly quicker technique, or one for those with straight hair, is using clip-in extensions. These add volume by strategically adding sections of real or synthetic hair, usually near the crown or mid-lengths to add lift. Make sure to choose lightweight products and place carefully so as not to stress the fine natural hair.
Teasing or backcombing
This is another technique that is sometimes recommended as a way to add volume at the roots. However, overdoing it can cause real damage to the cuticles, so go carefully and take advice from a hair stylist if possible.

With the right combination of products, tools and techniques, fine hair doesn’t have to mean flat, dull hair. Volume and body can be added in numerous different ways, whether your fine hair is curly, wavy or straight. Remember to experiment to find what works for you and keep believing - because with a bit of work, big dreams can come true.

If you’d like tailored advice to suit your hair needs, visit your nearest Davines salon to speak to one of our expert!