People often get a little bit confused when I harp on about my thin hair. "Your hair isn’t even that thin,” they say. However, it’s important to note that just because somebody has a lot of hair doesn’t mean it’s thick. My hair is long, sure, but when my lengths are overdue for a cut, they look scraggly and my lack of actual strands becomes all too apparent.
However, that’s not to say that my hair isn’t consistently thin all over. At the nape of my neck, I’d say I have an average amount of hair, but as you move your attention toward the crown of my head, you could probably count the individual hairs sprouting out of my scalp. Over the years, I’ve become somewhat self-conscious of the bald(ish) patch where my thin hair parts at the crown of my head and have dedicated a lot of time and money to finding ways to disguise it. But there is one thing that has made this quest exceptionally difficult: I hate the feeling of volumising product in my hair.
I have found that most volumising hair products add so much unwanted grit, weight and density to my already-drab strands that they actually leave them looking as though they haven’t been washed for approximately three weeks. On top of that, I like my hair to feel clean, fresh and light, like a soft, fluffy extension of my being, and volumising hair products do their very best to dampen that vibe.
However, after years of turning my nose up at virtually every styling product that came my way (especially you, dry shampoo), and after one very special hairstylist showed me the difference the perfect formula could make, I started hunting out the best volumising hair products for thin, fine hair. And the truth is I’ve found a whole bunch that make my hair look much thicker and more textured than it really is. It’s just about knowing what to look for.
Not sure where to start? From shampoos to masks, keeping scrolling for the hair products that actually give my thin hair some volume without weighing it down.
Shop Our Best Volumising Products for Thin Hair:
- Best serum for thin hair: Vegamour Gro Hair Serum
- Best brush for thin hair: Beauty Pie Super Healthy Hair Pro-Dry Barrel Brush
- Best treatment for thin hair: Philip Kingsley Elasticizer Pre-Shampoo Treatment
- Best tool for thin hair: Dyson Airwrap Styler Complete
- Best mousse for thin hair: Larry King Hair Care My Nanna's Mousse
- Best dry shampoo for thin hair: Bumble and Bumble Prét-à-Powder
- Best shampoo for thin hair: Davines VOLU Volume Enhancing Shampoo
- Best conditioner for thin hair: Briogeo Destined for Density™ Conditioner
- Best mask for thin hair: Grow Gorgeous Intense Thickening Hair and Scalp Mask
- Best spray for thin hair: Living Proof Dry Volume & Texture Spray
1. Best serum for thin hair: Vegamour Gro Hair Serum
VEGAMOUR
Gro Hair Serum
Who What Wear UK's Beauty Editor Eleanor Vousden says: "Hair growth treatments are another avenue to add thickness and volume to your hair in the long run. I'm usually sceptical about hair growth serums, but this one is particularly impressive (just check out the before and after pictures)and has been clinically proven to aid hair regrowth and help prevent hair loss too. You'll need to use it consistently, but after three months you'll start to see great results."
Pros: Proven results
Cons: Takes time to see results
2. Best brush for thin hair: Beauty Pie Super Healthy Hair Pro-Dry Barrel Brush
Beauty Pie
Super Healthy Hair Pro-Dry Barrel Brush
Price shown is member price.
Who What Wear UK's Beauty Editor Eleanor Vousden says: "I'm often asked how I get volume at the roots and at the lengths of my hair, and this is the answer. A round brush isn't just for creating bouncy blowouts, but a great tool for adding volume as you blowdry as well as polishing the hair for a shiny finish. Take a section on top of your head and, using the brush on the underside, blowdry at the roots for instant lift and bounce."
Pros: Adds volume throughout
Cons: Needs practice to get used to the technique
3. Best treatment for thin hair: Philip Kingsley Elasticizer Pre-Shampoo Treatment
Philip Kingsley
Elasticizer Pre-Shampoo Treatment
Although this isn’t sold as a volumising treatment, I do find that it adds next-level bounce to my naturally drab locks. It’s hardworking, sure, but it’s not a particularly heavy mask, so it doesn’t create unwanted weight. The thing I love most about it, though, is the way that it leaves my hair feeling super clean without stripping it of oil and leaving it dry. Truthfully, I can’t be without a tub.
Pros: Great for damaged hair
Cons: Not quick to use
Dyson
Dyson Airwrap Multi-Styler and Dryer With Presentation Case
Just hear me out. I know this is slightly (okay very) expensive for a hair dryer, but since I started using it, it’s upped my hair game tenfold. Getting my hair to hold any form of volume from a blow-dry was virtually impossible, and then the Airwrap came along. When I’ve got an extra half an hour on my hands, I go full out and use the curl barrels for the ultimate bouncy look. Surprisingly, though, my most-used attachment is the smoothing brush, which gives lift at the roots while minimising frizz.
Pros: Can be used for multiple styles
Cons: Takes time to master the technique
5. Best mousse for thin hair: Larry King Hair Care My Nanna's Mousse
Larry King Hair Care
My Nanna's Mousse
I recently got a cut at the Larry King Notting Hill salon, where the hairstylist ran this mousse through towel dried hair with their fingers ahead of blow-drying. I couldn't get over how big and bouncy the finished look was, without feeling weighed down or crunchy.
Pros: Instant and lasting volume
Cons: Only works on damp hair
6. Best dry shampoo for thin hair: Bumble and Bumble Prét-à-Powder
Bumble and Bumble
Prêt-à-Powder
I find it’s quite difficult to go overboard with this stuff. If I want serious texture and lift in my roots, I apply it straight from the bottle, whereas if I want to just add some subtle volume through the body of my hair, I puff it into my hands first and run it through the lengths. I’ve used it for years and have no intention of ever giving it up.
Pros: Great for oily scalps
Cons: Takes time to get used to using
7. Best shampoo for thin hair: Davines VOLU Volume Enhancing Shampoo
Davines
VOLU Volume Enhancing Shampoo
Davines is quite possibly my most-loved haircare brand. As someonewho has spent a lot of time trying to stay away from all-natural products that rely on oils, as they can weigh down my hair, when I first tried this shampoo, I was left dumbstruck. My hair was so bouncy and fresh-looking that people were asking me if I’d had a blow-dry. While my obsession with Davines products continues, this shampoo holds a really special place in my heart.
Pros: A little goes a long way
Cons: Can feel stripping on dry hair
8. Best conditioner for thin hair: Briogeo Destined For Density Conditioner
Briogeo
Briogeo Destined for Density™ Conditioner
Above anything else, the main selling point for this particular conditioner is its unbelievable smell. It’s honestly so good I struggle to express my overwhelming, all-encompassing love for the fresh, citrusy aroma. It smells sowonderful that I quite literally had topriseit from my boyfriend’s hands when I found out he’d been secretly borrowing it. But besides the fact it smells out-of-this-world, it also gives my hair lightweight hydration and added bounce, which is a bonus, I suppose.
Pros: Smells incredible
Cons: Needs to be rinsed out thoroughly
9. Best mask for thin hair: Grow Gorgeous Intense Thickening Hair and Scalp Mask
Grow Gorgeous
Intense Thickening Hair and Scalp Mask
The first time I laid eyes on this mask, I was sceptical that it would do anything good for my limp locks. It’s a very thick hair mask, and, given past experiences, these sorts of formulas make my hair look even flatter than it already does. In fact, even as I applied it, I still wasn’t sure. It wasn’t until I actually dried my hair that I realised just how great it is. My hair didn’t feel coated or heavy (it actually felt surprisingly light), my roots looked lifted, and my ends looked healthier. I’ve used it once a fortnight ever since.
Pros: Nourishes hair
Cons: Can be heavy if too much is used
10. Best spray for thin hair: Living ProofDry Volume & Texture Spray
Living Proof
Full Dry Volume & Texture Spray
This was the first product that really encouraged me to start experimenting with volumising hair products, and it has recently been reformulated. Before this, I really didn’t want anything to do with volumising products because I hated the weighty feeling they left behind. This dry spray, however, adds grit and lift to roots while absorbing grease and oil, making any style possible. If I could only keep one styling product, I think it would be this.
Pros: Multitasking benefits
Cons: Often sold out
Shop More Volumising Products for Thin Hair:
11. Hair by Sam McKnight Cool Girl Volume Blow Dry Foam
Hair by Sam McKnight
Cool Girl Volume Blow Dry Foam
Heavy mousses are best avoided if you have fine hair. Hair foams, on the other hand, have a lighter, frothy texture that lends all of the volume without any of the heaviness or stickiness. I love this buy from Hair by Sam McKnight.
Pros: Non-sticky
Cons: Expensive
12. Temple Spa Good Hair Day Shampoo
Temple Spa
Good Hair Day Shampoo
If you have fine hair, it can quickly look limp after a couple of days, especially if you have an oily scalp. A good shampoo that you can use daily will help lift away product build-up and oils from the scalp, leaving roots lifted and weightless. This one from Temple Spa does the trick and leaves hair super shiny, too.
Pros: Gives a deep cleanse
Cons: Can be too much for a sensitive or dry scalp
13. Beauty PieThe Healthy & Happy Hair Kit
Beauty Pie
The Healthy & Happy Hair Kit
Price shown is member price.
Sometimes hair can benefit from support from the inside out, as well as topically. This set from Beauty Pie includes the brand's popular Healthy Hair Capsules and the Renewed Density anti-hair loss treatment which work in tandem to reduce hair shedding while encouraging health hair growth from the root.
Pros: Works from the inside out
Cons: Takes time to see results
14. GHD Root Lift Spray
GHD
Pick Me Up - Root Lift Spray
I like to keep a bottle of this somewhere in the house for the rare times that I fancy going full-on bouffant with my hair. It’s slightly weightier than other volumising products that I love, but it’s that grit and weight that make it ideal for updos. I just spray at the roots, rub it in and chuck my hair up for the perfect thick-looking messy ponytail.
Pros: Adds texture
Cons: Can weigh hair down
15. Pureology Instant Levitation Mist
Pureology
Instant Levitation Mist
I try to stay away from styling products full of heavy silicones, and this heat-protection mist proves there’s no need. It’s lightweight, gives strands a subtle boost of moisture and uses soy protein to strengthen. I simply spritz it over my hair before I use the hair dryer, and itprovides that extra bit of body my locks crave.
Pros: Hydrating
Cons: Only works on damp hair
16. Aveda Sap Moss Weightless Hydration Shampoo
Aveda
Sap Moss Weightless Hydration Shampoo
This product isn’t specially formulated to create volume,but itwas created specifically to offer weightless nourishment—and that’s all I ask for. While thick shampoos and conditioners make styling any volume into my hair near impossible, lightweight formulas like this one make adding lift easy, breezy.
Pros: Effortless results
Cons: Often sold out!
17. Redken Volume Injection Shampoo
Redken
Volume Injection Shampoo
Unlike other volumising shampoos, this one really doesn’t leave a film over strands. In fact, I still get the squeaky-clean feeling that I love post-shampoo without any dryness. It transforms my hair into the perfect blank canvas before styling.
Pros: No sticky film
Cons: Too much can leave buildup
18. Oribe Swept Up Volume Powder Spray
Oribe
Swept Up Volume Powder Spray
This tiny little bottle packs a serious volumising punch. It might seem surprising at first that a powder product has the ability to create next-level volume, but this powerful stuff really is transformative. What I love the most about powders is that the intensity of the result is really down to how much you use. Given how fine my hair is, I use the tiniest amount and rub it into the roots at the crown for added hold when backcombing.
Pros: A little goes a long way
Cons: Takes time to get used to using this formula
19.The Nue Co. Supa-Thick Hair Treatment
The Nue Co.
Supa-Thick Hair Treatment
I’m not usually a fan of hair supplements. Yes, I believe that supplements can make your hair healthier. I’m just not sure how much they can make new hair grow. This supplement, however, comes in a very different form, as a thickening treatment that’s to be applied to the scalp. I’ve noticed a significant change in the lift and health of my roots since using it. My hair feels bouncier, thicker and more full of life.
Pros: Easy to use
Cons: Takes time to see results
20. Amika Un.Done Volume and Texture Spray
Amika
Amika Un.done Volume & Texture Spray
This stuff is ideal if your hair is naturally tousled or curly. Despite the fact that my hair is more or less poker-straight, for days when I’ve tonged it or used the wand attachment on my Airwrap, this provides the ultimate hold.
Pros: Great for curly hair
Cons: Can feel a little crunchy
21. IGK HairBig Time Volume Mousse
IGK
Big Time Volume and Thickening Mousse
This thickening mousse is super buildable and gives hair a workable grit that keeps roots lifted all day long. And I use the word grit loosely. Yes, it delivers the same long-lasting hold as a traditional mousse, but it doesn’t have the sticky weight that usually comes with that.
Pros: Adds texture
Cons: Expensive
22. Percy & Reed Turn Up the Volume Volumising No Oil Oil
Percy & Reed
Turn Up the Volume Volumising No Oil Oil
While it’s rare that I opt for a polished hair look, for days when I want my hair to look sleek and glossy, this is my go-to. It adds shine, sleekness and gloss while also helping boost volume and bounce.
Pros: Smooths frizz and flyaways
Cons: Too much can make hair look greasy
23. Christophe Robin Cleansing Volumising Paste With Pure Rassoul Clay and Rose Extracts
Christophe Robin
Cleansing Volumising Paste With Pure Rassoul Clay and Rose Extracts
At first, it seems counter-intuitive to use a thick paste to cleanse your hair and add volume, but as soon as you have rinsed out this cleanser, everything makes perfect sense. Roots are left unexpectedly lifted and with added texture. Plus, the rose scent is heavenly.
Pros: Smells amazing
Cons: Adds an extra step to your routine
24. Virtue Volumising Primer
Virtue
Volumizing Primer
When I first saw the word primer, I was worried this would be a thick cream that would make my hair instantly greasy. Luckily for me, it’s actually formulated as a spray, making it much more lightweight than I anticipated. It kind of creates volume without the feeling of product in the hair, which is my dream.
Pros: Easy to use
Cons: Expensive, and runs out quickly
25. Colab Dry Shampoo Spray Original
COLAB
Original Dry Shampoo
I absolutely despise the feeling of dry shampoo on my roots. Half of the time, I feel as though it does the opposite of what I want it to, leaving my hair clumpy and greasy-looking. However, this particular formula is so lightweight that actually, I’m not mad at it. Granted, I’m yet to find a dry shampoo that feels as though it actually cleans my hair, but it does give my roots a lifted refresh—and all for less than £5.
Pros: Affordable
Cons: Often sold out
26. R+Co Zig Zag Root Teasing + Texture Spray
R+Co
Zig Zag Root Teasing + Texture Spray
First of all, this stuff smells incredible. It also looks great on the shelf. It helps then the formula itself is equally as stunning. For when you want hair to look lifted, beachy and tousled, this root styling spray makes for the ultimate reach-for.
Pros: Instant results
Cons: Can feel a bit crunchy
27. Hershesons Zhoosh Foam
Hershesons
Zhoosh Foam
This stuff takes a little getting to used to, but I can assure you it’s worth it in the end. You apply the mousse-like foam onto dry roots and work it in with your fingers. At first, hair will feel wet and sticky. But after a few minutes, the product dries, leaving strands looking suitably bouncy and refreshed.
Pros: Smells incredible
Cons: Too much can weigh hair down
28.Kérastase Energising Scrub
Kérastase
Energising Scrub
One thing I have learned about my thin, flat hair is that if the roots are clean, the bounce and volume is 100% improved. This cooling scrub helps to remove any build-up and residue from the roots that could be weighing hair down. "When my hair is flat, it's usually from product build-up which weighs my lengths down. However, this scalp scrub detoxes the roots, leaving them not only feeling really clean but as a result leaves me with weightless lift at the roots and extra bounce through the lengths," says Who What Wear UK's Beauty Editor Eleanor Vousden.
Pros: Great for removing buildup
Cons: Can irritate sensitive scalps
29. Sam McKnight Cool Girl Super Lift Root Boost
Hair by Sam McKnight
Cool Girl Super Lift Root Boost
If it's lift that you want, then you can't go wrong with Sam McKnight's Cool Girl Super Lift Root Boost, which delivers weightless volume to limp roots. Plus, it smells incredible.
Pros: Long-lasting results
Cons: Runs out quickly
30. Ouai Fine Hair Shampoo
Ouai
Fine Hair Shampoo
So many volumising products leave build-up on the hair over time, making it feel limp and lifeless. All of Ouai's shampoos are incredible, but this one adds weightless volume, shine and bounce without any heaviness.
Pros: Smells amazing
Cons: Expensive
31. Color Wow Xtra Large Bombshell Volumizer
Color WOW
Xtra Large Bombshell Volumizer
When you don't have time for multiple products or styling techniques, run this volumising mousse through your lengths after washing your hair. Add heat and it creates instant (and long lasting) volume.
Pros: Works for even thick hair
Cons: Always sells out
How Can You Style Your Hair for More Volume?
Now that I've introduced you to the best volumising products for fine hair, I’ve enlisted the help of celebrity hairstylist and co-founder of Percy & Reed Paul Percival to reveal his top thin-hair tips.
Tip 1. Opt for Lightweight Conditioners
This is possibly the most important thing that I have learned in my pursuit of more voluminous hair. It makes a lot of sense too, right? The thicker the conditioner, the heavier and limper your hair will be. Percival reveals, "You have to make sure that you don’t use a conditioner that’s too heavy for your hair, as it will make achieving great volume more difficult. Avoid products that are too oily, too thick, wax-based or heavy creams that add weight.”
Instead of reaching for thick cream formulas, I’ve discovered that my hair can get its moisture kicks in other ways that allow it to maintain its bounce. My favourite? Oil. Whereas my skin seems to detest everything about oil, my hair can’t get enough of it. "Using natural ingredients such as camellia-seed oil restores moisture and protects. Then macadamia-seed oil penetrates the scalp and hair for strength and elasticity. Finally, vitamin-rich carrot-seed oil works great to rejuvenate and regenerate,” says Percival.
Tip 2. Create Lift
I’d say that lift is just about my biggest bugbear in that my hair doesn’t have any. I can backcomb to my heart’s content, but within minutes, it’s dropped out and my floppy mop is back. To counteract the issue, Percival insists that you need heat, and you need to know what you’re doing. "It’s all about the blow-dry! Make sure you are lifting from your roots in an upright motion as you dry each section, this will give you a great foundation. Finish your blow-dry with a cold blast of air and hair spray.”
So why is it that I feel as though when I give myself a blow-dry, it never seems to last longer than an hour? "It is essential to let each section cool before running your hands or a brush through it so that the style can ‘set.’ Otherwise, you will undo all your good work,” explains Percival.
Tip 3. Find the Right Styling Product
The words styling product are enough to send a chill to the very cores of those with thin locks. For those with thick hair, it seems styling products are more or less foolproof. However, when you’re not working with a lot, fine-tuning your styling routine is a lot easier said than done. "Using the right formulation is vital,” says Percival. "Start by using less of the product to begin with. Then add more if your hair needs it. Some volumising products can be heavy, so make sure you pick a lightweight formulation and work it into the root.”
This story was published at an earlier time and has since been updated.