10 Ways to Boost Volume

Keeping hair styled in the same way over time encourages it to lay flat. For instant lift, switch your part to the other side or lose it altogether by sweeping your hair straight back, like '60s icon Raquel Welch (left). A mist of hairspray will help keep it aloft.

It sounds crazy, but reversing your shower routine will keep your hair from looking limp and flat, according to Philip B., celebrity hair and scalp expert. "Conditioner does nourish the hair but can also weigh it down," he says. "If you shampoo after, it will whisk away any residue. Clean hair is bouncy hair!"
 

Matrix Biolage VOLUMEBLOOM shampoo ($12; jcpenny.com) and conditioner ($13; jcpenny.com)

"A one-length cut makes hair look its thickest," says N.Y.C. hairstylist Garren, who has worked with Cameron Diaz. "Too many layers can look stringy." Ask your stylist to angle pieces around your face for movement.

If you want sexy volume, embrace fluff. Remove your hair dryer's air concentrator to roughen up hair as it dries and help cuticles maintain their lift. Finish by blasting the roots with lower heat to make your hair appear even thicker.

Brazilian Heat After Dark dryer, $120; belsonproducts.com for more info.

Greasing your hair to increase volume sounds about as logical as a cheeseburger diet. But guess what, it works. "Light plant and flower oils"—such as palm or coconut—"help dissolve the heavier oils on your scalp," Philip B. explains. "When you shampoo, you'll get a much deeper clean."

Leonor Greyl Huile de Palme oil treatment, $49; folica.com.

Ever notice how clean hair can feel slippery and limp? Flip your head upside down, spritz on dry shampoo, and then gently shake your strands with your fingertips. This will add major lift—without any powdery white residue.

John Frieda Luxurious Volume Anytime Volume Refresher, $7; drugstore.com.

If you have fine hair, a lightweight misting volumizer will coat strands to pump them up. For thicker textures, look for cream formulas; they'll tame frizz without zapping fullness. Somewhere in the middle? Go with a mousse, which adds just the right amount of bulk without weighing hair down.

Sally Hershberger Plump Up Thickening Mist, $13; ulta.com for store locations.
Oliver Ifergan Atelier XNLT Thickening Creme, $18; oliverifergan.com.

If your strands seem straggly, your scalp may need TLC. "Studies have shown that a healthy scalp is critical for hair growth," says cosmetic chemist Ni'Kita Wilson, who recommends stimulating follicles weekly with a vitamin-rich treatment.

Phyto Phytopolleine Universal Elixer Scalp Treatment, $32; sephora.com.

Stylists swear by it, real women fear it. To master the difficult art of teasing, "be sure to fully remove the teeth of the rattail comb from your hair after each precise, downward stroke," says Dove hairstylist Mark Townsend. "That way, you're actually building up the mass of hair, not just pushing it around."

Rollers aren't just for ringlets. "Many hairstylists set their clients' hair in curlers no matter what style they're going for, from updos to long waves," says Garren. "They give the hair a lush fullness you can't get otherwise." Rough-dry hair and roll 2-inch sections from ends to roots, allowing hair to dry fully before taking the curlers out. Loosen any too-perfect curls with fingertips, then style any way you want.

Ricky Care Fusion Self Grip Rollers, $6–$7/set; rickysnyc.com.