You spend all morning applying product and wrestling hot tools only for your blowout to look limp and lifeless come lunchtime. Sound familiar?
If your hair has a habit of falling flat, it’s time to step up your styling game and pump up the volume. To give your strands fuller body and more bounce, take note of the totally-doable tricks below. No glam squad needed!
Use a designated dryer
Not all blow-dryers are created equal. Some will leave you with a fresh-from-the-salon blowout in half the time while others can cause frizz and damage. A professional-grade dryer with a diffuser attachment is ideal for smooth results, regardless of your texture. Also, make sure your dryer has multiple heat and speed settings.
The Harry Josh Pro Tools Pro Dryer ($250; dermstore. com) uses nonionic heat to deliver mega volume. Pro tip: Flip your head upside down to add lift while drying your roots, then flip it back over and use a brush to help smooth the length of strands.
Choose the right prepping products
Selecting the right products for your hair type is key. If you have wavy or curly hair, polish your look with a gel-serum, like Suave Professionals Luxe Style Infusion Curl Defining Gel Serum ($5; target. com). This will help define your waves and curls without weighing them down – but the real beauty of this product is that it won’t make your strands stiff in the process.
If you’re looking for looser waves, you’re going to want to use a lightweight mousse. Similar to a serum, it will help create soft definition, but with body that’s a bit more undone. A fan favorite: Oribe Surfcomber Tousled Texture Mousse ($39; bergrdorfgoodman. com). Work it into towel-dried hair before blow drying. Then, create a loose, high bun as you finish getting ready; let it out for a bouncy, sultry look.
Straighter or finer hair types should go for a volumizing styling spray to add oomph – not heaviness or stiffness – to limp strands. Try Bumble and Bumble Thickening Spray Pre-Styler ($39; ulta. com). Spritz it directly onto your roots before blow drying as usual.
Style a side part
This is an easy, do-anywhere trick for extra volume. When your hair is looking deflated, simply swap your part to the opposite side, rubbing your fingertips along your roots for added texture.
Recharge your roots
Dry shampoo or texturizing spray will help pump up the volume from your scalp, where hair usually falls flat first. Keep a small bottle stashed in your purse for backup on a humid day or to use after an intense sweat sesh.
Create volume while you sleep
Tie hair into a loose bun, high on top of your head, using an elastic that won’t cause a crease. Let it down the next day and watch your strands spring to life.
Use this quick trick
Pull strands back from your temples and clip at your crown to create a pouf a la Snooki. When ready, release and tousle for instant lift.
