*Editor's note: Karin's hair is bloody beaut - as is she inside and out! - but she makes an excellent and very relatable point.
To get any sort of volume, I blow dry my hair upside down and flop it over to one side. But after an hour or so, like clockwork, it just falls flat. Like a soufflé.
But guys, today is a good day. Because I’ve finally nailed the PERFECT routine that not only leaves my hair super voluminous BUT also aligns well with my lazy girl persona.
This easy fine hair routine leaves my hair looking absolutely flawless and bouncy and honestly, I feel like a million bucks. And what’s even better, it only has four steps that take me 20 minutes to do.
So, wash those beautiful fine locks (FYI I have a great fine hair shampoo recommendation, too) and follow me! I’ll show you the ropes.
My Styling Routine for Volumising Fine Hair.
Let's start with the before and after because, voila! Look at that bounce!!
On the left, you’ll see my hair before styling, you can see how fine my hair is. And on the right... well, I mean COME ON.
How do you get that kind of volume at home? Here's a short list of what you'll need for this super easy look:
Tutorial: How to Add Volume to Fine Hair.
Now let’s move onto the actual tutorial of how we use these bad boys.
Watch my video here, or read on for all the details!
Step 1: Start with clean, washed, damp hair. You want your hair to be around 70 per cent dry.
Spray the Pureology Instant Levitation Mist directly onto your roots, or you can do what I do, which is spritz it onto your hands and work it into the roots with a squeezing motion.
Step 2: OK, now for the mousse. Shake the can and spritz some mousse onto your hands, flip your hair over and work it into your roots.
This product gives your hair extra OOMPH from the roots and a little more hold. I also like to brush it out at the roots.
Step 3: Section your hair in however many sections you need. I have quite thin hair, so I usually work in three to four sections. Then, grab your Hot Tools Volumising Brush and section by section, work through your hair by half-wrapping, half-brushing.
Their hot brush with the small head works best on my short hair (you can also buy it in a pack with both the small and large heads if you're not sure which will work best for you.)
I have a bob haircut so I like my hair to flick inwards at the ends. But you can also use this hot air brush to flick your hair outwards if you like, or a mix of both.
I keep the heat on the lowest heat setting because I have fragile hair, but if you’ve got strong AF hair, there's a higher heat setting you can use too. (And a cold setting you can use to ‘set’ your hair, but I’m lazy and impatient so I skip that.)
Step 4: Last, take the Davroe Cloud Powder and spritz it onto where you feel like your hair usually falls flat the quickest. For me, it's my bangs. Always the bangs.
Volume Products For Fine Hair.
Finally, here's a quick review of each of the volume products I use in this routine and why.
1. Pureology Instant Levitation Mist.
Throughout my hair loss journey, I’ve become a BIG fan of the Pureology brand, and this product doesn't disappoint.
Starting with the scent, it’s actually reminiscent of caramel fudge. Love that. The nozzle provides an even and light spritz, and the formula itself is not too textured.
It lifts my roots up well, but not an overly dramatic amount, so if you’re looking for a subtle lift, then you'd use this product on its own.
2. O&M Rootalicious.
I was super sceptical of this product. I have bad memories of hair mousse from the early 2000s. I was bracing myself for a pungent smell and a very sticky/gluey situation...
But I was so pleasantly surprised! The formula is super airy and fluffy, and when you work it into your hands and roots, there is zero stickiness. Bonus: The scent is very fresh and doesn’t sting the nostrils one bit.
3. Hot Tools Black Gold Volumiser Small Head.
This hot brush gets its own selfie because I literally cannot love it anymore, even if I tried.
The small head size is perfect for styling short hair. And it’s really gentle to use on a low heat setting - I can even roll my hair up into it, without worrying it'll yank my hair out. A huge plus when you are losing hair.
Yes, it does sound a bit like a jet engine, especially if you have it on the highest heat or the cold setting. If I HAD to be picky, I wish you could change between settings with a flick switch. Currently, you have to use both hands to rotate the ring around the base of the head to switch between settings while you’re styling.
But that’s it, everything else about this brush is amazing. Particularly if you think the original size might be too bulky for short hair.
4. Davroe Cloud Powder.
I’ve used quite a few texture powders before, but this is one of my favourites.
The best thing about it, and what sets it apart, is the even and lightweight distribution of powder. It quite literally looks like a cloud. I sometimes have to double check the powder is actually coming out.
It also gives hair a nice matte finish that doesn't look like white dry shampoo in your roots, which is perfect for someone who gets greasy hair real quick.
So there you have it! My super easy routine to add oomph into fine hair.
And trust me, as a self-proclaimed lazy routine-lover, it doesn’t get any easier than this. The real plus side is I'm now learning to love my hair again.
P.S. For more on my hair loss and fine hair styling journey, watch my YouTube video below.
