Best Ways to Volumize Fine Hair: Tips and Tricks
Fine hair is no reason to fret in front of the mirror every day. There are great hairstyles and tips that can give thin hair a lot of volume.
When is fine hair really thin?
Scientists speak of fine hair if the diameter of the individual strands is not wider than 0.04 millimeters. Normal hair, on the other hand, is on average about 0.05 to 0.07 millimeters wide, thick hair is called anything above that.
How our hair presents itself to the outside world is something we were practically born with. The genes determine whether they sprout curly, robust or fine. The actual thickness of the hair cannot therefore be influenced. So it is of little consolation that fine hair grows thinner, but more numerously. Unfortunately, due to the lack of millimeters, even 50,000 additional hairs do not really make themselves visually noticeable.
Bu gönderiyi Instagram’da gör
For fine hair: Never leave home without an umbrella
Fine hair leads to amazing behaviors. Because the hairstyle collapses quickly in sudden downpours, some women never leave the house without an umbrella, even in bright sunshine. Turbulence caused by unpredictable gusts of wind is defied with a precisely rehearsed incline of the head.
Dance the night away? Only in clubs with electric hand dryers in the toilets, so that you can “blow dry a bit”. On short weekend trips, the cosmetic bag looks like you’re staying for at least a week, and the hairspray that is always ready to hand often does not survive the screening at the airport.
And even decrepit hot-air brushes are lovingly restored with Sellotape over the years, because “so good experiences have been made with this model, which has long since been discontinued, for more attachment volume”.Fortunately, there are a few more ways to get a little more volume, grip and hold into fine hair: with the right care, intelligent styling or the right haircut.
Care for fine hair: The rougher, the better
Fine hair is sensitive and therefore needs special care. As they are usually closer to the scalp, they quickly become greasy and weak, so they need to be washed more often. The shampoo should be mild and sparingly dosed (e.g. baby shampoo).
In addition, daily cleansing should not overburden the hair with too much care substances, otherwise it will quickly become weakened. New volume shampoos try to achieve exactly this balance between gentle cleansing and light care.
How do volume shampoos work?
Dr. Andreas Koller, Head of Product Development at Nivea Haircare, explains:
In contrast to products for dry or damaged hair, volume shampoos have a reduced level of care. This does not mean, of course, that they do not contain any care substances, they are just easier to dose. In addition, substances are used specifically to improve the condition of the hair without weighing it down. For example, vitamins such as niacinamide, which provide elasticity and shine. Of course, these shampoos cannot do as much “building work” as corresponding volume products that remain in the hair – but they are ideal as preparation for subsequent styling.
What do I really need for fine hair?
When it comes to styling, “less is more” always applies. If you constantly use too many products, residues can accumulate on the hair over time, which make it dull and heavy, known in technical jargon as the “build-up effect” (in order to remove them, do without foam, conditioner, etc. for a few days or use an exfoliating shampoo). It’s best to try out what is good for your own hair in the long run.
A mild shampoo and care product plus a styling product are usually sufficient. The 50/50 shampoo-conditioner combination, which does not weigh down the hair, is also great. If you want to do without shampoo, you can also try Cleansing Conditioner. The cleansing conditioner does not contain surfactants or sulfates and is particularly gentle on fine hair.
When fine hair is still dry…
If the hair is dry, split or brittle, which unfortunately happens very quickly due to too much blow-dry heat and excessive styling, alcohol-free spray treatments with Panthenol are ideal. The active ingredient migrates into the hair shaft and is a great moisturizer.
“Overcare” is not possible with panthenol, for example, because the hair only absorbs as much of it as it really needs. Liquid keratin, actually the main component of hair, is also used in spray cures. If it is applied to the hair from the outside, it penetrates its outer covering and strengthens it. At the same time, the spray cures have a styling effect and give volume and hold.
Special volume rinses with amino acids, wheat and milk proteins smooth them and make the hair easier to comb. Ingredients such as acacia resin and finely ground clay are brand new. They attach to the hair and roughen the surface a little, an effect similar to that of highlights. This means that the hair can no longer slide past each other so easily and the hairstyle holds.
After particular exertion (sun, salt water, coloration), apply rich treatments only to the tips or, best of all, leave them on before shampooing. Or use products especially for fine hair, for example with bamboo. The mineral-rich extract contains up to 77 percent silica (Silicea). Ideal for making the fibers strong and supple without weighing them down.
Volume shampoos: e.g. B. “Volume Shampoo” with vitamins and niacinamides from Nivea Haircare, “Non-Stop Volume” from Elvital, “Extra Thickening Shampoo” with panthenol and milk proteins from Nicky Clarke. Spray care with panthenol: e.g. B. “Liquid Styler” from Nivea Haircare; with keratin: “Gliss Kur Volume Liquid” from Schwarzkopf. Light volume rinses: e.g. B. “Pure Abundance Volumizing Clay Conditioner” with acacia resin from Aveda, “Extra-Body Daily Rinse” with amino acids from Paul Mitchell, “Résistance Volumactive Vitaliseur” with polymers and silica from Kérastase, “Catwalk Thickening Conditioner” with wheat amino acids from Tigi Haircare. Pack of bamboo: e.g. B. “Lifetex Nutri-Care Volume Mask” from Wella.
Styling for fine hair: Help from competitive sports
Fresh from the laboratories of the research departments comes an active ingredient called creatine. Competitive athletes have known the body’s own substance for years. It supports the energy metabolism in the muscles and is considered a reliable supplier of more power. It is already used in anti-aging care to revitalize tired cells.
Now new studies have shown that even flabby hair benefits from the substance, especially when it is contained in serums and emulsions that are added to damp hair after washing.
Dr. Christian Springob, Head of Development at Wella, has tested the effect of creatine:
The substance penetrates into the hair and stabilizes it from the inside by placing itself between the longitudinal fibrils (fibers) and connecting them more firmly. This makes the hair stronger and has more standing.
Professional hair care with power active ingredients
From American laboratories comes the “Bond Styling Technology”: First the hair is pre-treated with a lotion, then an active ingredient ampoule with a mix of proteins and keratin is massaged. The firming effect should even withstand two to three washes. So-called “booster” products have been specially developed for the hairline. With fine cannulas or easy-to-dose spray heads, they can be applied in a targeted manner. They usually work with different polymers (long-chain molecules) that lie around the individual hairs and form a fine mesh when drying. This type of “support corset” helps to straighten up the hair.
Volume serum with creatine: e.B. “Volume Emulsion” by Wella System Professional; with Bond Styling Technology: e.B. “Body Double Thick Extreme Treatment” by Sebastian. Approach Lifter: “Taft Volume-up Spray” by Schwarzkopf, “Extra-Body Daily Boost” by Paul Mitchell, “Volume Maker” by Maniatis, “Catwalk Root Boost” by Tigi Haircare, “Styliste Support Hairspray” by Elvital
Hairspray: Finally fragrance neutral
Before using a blow dryer plus round brush, styling creams and mousse are of course also a good way to fix fine hair. At the same time, they protect against excessive heat. Similar to the approach lifter, they cover the hair with “film formers”. The volume foams are even available with different degrees of hardness so that you can make a very individual decision.
And: A lot has happened in terms of hairspray as well. The all-purpose weapon for durability and protection against humidity is now available as a fragrance-free version or with a light perfume to drown out the typical smell.
Volume mousse: “Tecni.art Body Volume” and “Volume + Extra” from L’Oréal Professionnel, “Extra-Volume mousse” from Gard, “Fructis XXL Volume” from Garnier, “Building Volume Foam” from Alcina. Styling creams: e.g. B. “Volumactive Gelée de Soin” from Kérastase, “Styling Serum” from Modern Elixirs, “Create” from Clynol. Fragrance-free hairspray: “Elnett Parfumfrei” from L’Oréal. Hairspray with protection against moisture: “Frizz-Ease Umbrella” by John Frieda
Extensions: With air pressure or ultrasound
View this post on Instagram
There are various ways to make fine hair look fuller with the help of glued strands. Which method is individually suitable depends on the condition and resilience of the own hair. This should be analyzed by the hairdresser beforehand.
In order to check the compatibility, it is worthwhile to try a test strand for one to two weeks first. Depending on how fast your hair grows, the glued strands can last four to six months. For this, of course, they have to be welded tightly.
How the volume method works with extensions
At its upper end are artificial keratin or horn plates, which are connected to one’s own hair by means of heat, laser light, ultrasound or a special air pressure method (“Air Pressure”).
The most innovative and natural is the laser beamer NANO method, which can compact and lengthen the hair. It does not work with laser light, but with bondings (connection points): With the laser beamer Nano, 5 strands can be attached to the own hair at the same time, which is much faster and the strands gently and naturally attached to the own hair.
The air pressure system works fastest and most cost-effectively, as seven to ten strands can be attached at the same time by foil. For medium-length hair, you need about 10 to 15 of these film strips for more volume (cost: approx. 20 USD per foil).
Ultrasonic welding is relatively gentle, as it does not require heat. For this, each strand of hair has to be glued individually by hand, which of course takes longer (cost: around 300 USD).
A prerequisite for artificial hair compaction is about eight centimetres long top hair. In addition, your own hair must not be too fine or damaged, otherwise they cannot hold the weight of the foreign strands. For any form of hair loss, whether hormonal or due to other factors, experts advise against welded strands. Then either colour-matching hairpieces are available, which can be attached to the head by clip and removed at any time.
Or you can use a hair integration technique called “Hairweaving”: Here a kind of woven edge is woven with the hair, to which hair pieces can then be attached. At the latest every four weeks the band has to be reattached (costs starting at $650, after-treatments around $60).
For pony thickening or quick strand effects (also with color) there is the possibility to work with “Quikkies”: The hairdresser can integrate tiny, self-adhesive strips of a special, feather-light microfiber fabric, to which high-quality human hair strands are attached, into the hair.
Hair thickening with air pressure or ultrasound: e.g. from Great Lengths (information under www.greatlenghtshair.com). With the “laser beamer nano method”: e.g. from Hairdreams (info under www.hairdreams.com). Hairpieces to clip on: e.g. from Bergmann Zweithaar. Hairweaving: information e.g. from www.Haarpraxis-Rasch.de
Color in fine hair
View this post on Instagram
Different coloured strands are by no means as hard-wearing for hair as a complete coloration. Balayage, for example, is one of the favorite strand techniques in hair salons, because the hand-pinched strands look beautifully natural. In addition, they not only add fine hair beautifully. Just like with make-up, you can also contour the face with hair colors: Colour Contouring is the coloring technique with which you can emphasize cheekbones, cheating curves narrower or distract from a wide chin.
Dyeing or bleaching makes the hair a little more grippy and the surface rougher. This gives the hairstyle more support.
Which hairbrush is the right one?
Basically, you should always blow-dry from the beginning upwards or against the line. Either with the help of a pot-bellied round brush (with smaller brushes, the tips can bend when rolled up) or with so-called skeleton brushes; the “holey” brush head lets the warm air through better.
Alternative: wide warm air curling brushes or very large velcro brushes for the upper parts. Of course you can also use only your fingers for volume styling. Simply pull up strand by strand and blow dry from the roots. Finally, fix the hairstyle with cold air or let it cool down briefly with a brush or curler.
To get more stand in the bangs, you can mist it with some styling lotion, then pin the hair at the sides with a few hair clips and blow dry. A good trick is also to vary the parting more often. So that nothing can lie flat in the long run.
Cut for fine hair: Chin length is optimal
View this post on Instagram
Ideal for fine hair are chin-length cuts, whether with bangs, feathery or dull cut contours. Slight steps and individual shorter cut sections make the hairstyle look fuller. Bob hairstyles are ideal for this. Or a long bob after all? This is considered a hairstyle that suits every woman. In 2021, the bob with bangs will also be one of the hottest trend hairstyles.
If the hair falls down to the shoulders, the tips should be trimmed more often. Because of the “bumping”, the ends tend to split more easily.
Cut for fine hair: long and layered
View this post on Instagram
Even long hair can have great volume. The trick is an exact step cut: the upper part is equal length up to the chin, only the rear neck and the sides are cut in stages. For styling, first massage a nourishing volume emulsion into the moist hair. Pull a deep apex and blow the upper cover hairs with round brush or curling stick bulbous inward. Then add some styling cream to the hair ends and give the lower part a slight outer wave. Pluck sides with your fingers frantes. Fix tips and pony with some hairspray.
Cut for fine hair: Short and frizzy
Quite casual and fast made is this strongly graded short haircut with longer cover hair. For this purpose, the towel-dry hair smoans over the head.
Start at the hairline and pull individual parts against the growth direction with your fingers away from the head. Keep the hair dryer at a distance (at least 15 to 20 centimetres). Then spray hairspray or an attachment lift into the hair (preferably also upside down), let it dry briefly. Pluck the hairstyle with your fingers, add a light structure to the tips with glossy cream and pull some of it outwards.
Cut for fine hair: Shoulder length and smooth
View this post on Instagram
So that the stepped side parts get a nice swing forward, add volume foam to the damp hair and blow dry upside down. Finally, turn in strands for strands with a round brush as large as possible, blow up briefly and allow to cool down. Add a mini portion of Gloss serum to the ends.
Cut for fine hair: Curly bob
View this post on Instagram
A few light steps bring the natural wave to the fore. The curls jump even better when volume or curl foam is kneaded into the sides. Dry the hair carefully with a hairdryer plus diffuser attachment so that a lot of lukewarm air gets to the roots. Smooth the area around the crown by hand.