9 Super Effective Hacks for Adding Volume to Thin Hair

Tools and materials:

• Scalp scrub/exfoliator
• Shampoo and conditioner
• Thickening/volumizing product
• Velcro rollers
• Curling wand

This was my hair before following these 9 awesome hair volume hacks. Read to the bottom of this post to see the end result!

1. Use a scalp scrub or scalp exfoliator

Scalp scrubs are just like facial scrubs. They remove dead skin cells, products, build-up, dirt, and excess oils that gather at the root of the hair.

Why is this good for fine hair and does it help you achieve volume? Well, fine hair tends to get weighed down significantly faster and weigh more than any other hair type.

That’s because if we have any product buildup on our scalp, our hair is so fine it can’t lift through that.

Place the product directly on the scalp and massage it with your fingertips in circular motions before shampooing and conditioning.

This is the first step in your hair care routine. I don’t suggest doing this more than 1-2 times a week. 

2. Don’t condition the roots

This hack is so simple. Only condition the mid-shafts and ends of your hair and don’t condition the roots.

If you’re struggling with keeping volume, make sure you don’t have conditioner on the root of your hair. Conditioner is a surefire way to weigh that hair down.

You do still need to condition your hair every time you wash it, even if you have fine or oily hair. It’s very important to close that cuticle down to give it more moisture and make sure it’s not breaking or getting super dry and damaged.

Just avoid those virgin roots where all of the new growth is coming in and you’ll be able to get a boost of volume without anything to weigh it down. 

3. Shampoo and condition simultaneously

To take it a step further, apply your conditioner from mid-shaft to ends first.

Give it a few minutes to do its job, and then apply your shampoo on your scalp and let it run through your hair.

In this order, you’re getting all of the conditioner benefits but removing any weight from the conditioner predominantly on your scalp before you style.

4. Part your hair when shampooing

Make sure when shampooing, you’re parting your hair and shampooing the entire scalp, not just the front.

Product can build up and weigh the hair down in the back, especially if you’re neglecting to get enough shampoo in the nape and center of the head. 

5. Rinse the shampoo thoroughly

Make sure to rinse it thoroughly. Your hair can build up shampoo residue very easily, so make sure you’re parting your hair and getting all of the water running through it to get the shampoo out.

6. Apply a thickening product before blow-drying

Before blow-drying, apply a thickening product to wet hair before you infuse it with hair.

A volumizing product is going to support that fine hair so it’s able to be infused with volume through hot tools.

Spray the product evenly over towel-dried hair and brush it from roots to ends, evenly saturating your hair. Then blow-dry as normal.

7. Incorporate Velcro rollers

Velcro rollers are amazing for people with fine hair!

When you’re blow-drying your hair, section out the middle portion of your head. Blow dry it section by section, forwards and backward, to get super smooth results.

While your hair is still hot, put the Velcro rollers in the top middle section and let it cool for 10 minutes.

Hair is very malleable when it’s hot and sets its shape when it’s cool. 

When you remove the rollers, you’ll see the huge amounts of lift you get.

8. Dial your hot tools down

Sometimes using a hot tool will collapse the volume as soon as you go in.

To get around this, make sure you use a really low heat setting. You’ll still get a result and maintain volume if you have fine hair.

When you want waves or curls, use a curling wand instead of a curling iron. Curling wands only heat on one side, so you’re not clamping your hair between two plates and collapsing the volume.

9. Use root power

Part your hair and shake root powder on your scalp. It creates a gritty texture that gives you loads of lift without backcombing.

I sprinkle it along the top of my hair on the underlayer and rub it in.

How to add volume to thin hair

Now you know my best tips and tricks to add volume to thin hair.

Let me know which hack was the most surprising for you, as well as which hack you would like to try the most!

For more fine hair content, check out my post on 5 Pro Hairdresser Secrets on How to Make Hair Look Fuller & Thicker.