People often get a little bit confused when I harp on about my thin hair. āYour hair isnāt even that thin,ā they say. However, itās important to note that just because somebody has a lot of hair doesnāt mean itās 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.Ā
However, thatās not to say that my hair isnāt consistently thin all over. At the nape of my neck, Iād say I have an average amount of hair,Ā 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, Iāve 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 moneyĀ 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 havenāt beenĀ 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 theĀ differenceĀ the perfect formula could make, I started hunting out the best volumising hair products for thin, fine hair. And the truth is Iāve found a whole bunch that make my hair look much thicker and moreĀ textured than it really is. Itās just about knowing what to look for. Before we get into the products that work for me (and to save you a bunch of time in trial and error), Iāve enlisted the help of celebrity hairstylist and co-founder of Percy & ReedĀ Paul Percival to reveal his top thin-hair tips.
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.Ā Percival reveals: āYou have to make sure that you donāt use a conditioner thatās 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.āĀ
Instead of reaching for thick cream formulas, Iāve 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 canāt get enough of it. āUsing natural ingredients such as camellia-seed oil restores moistureĀ andĀ protects. Then macadamia-seed oil penetrates the scalpĀ andĀ hair for strengthĀ andĀ elasticity. Finally, vitamin-rich carrot-seed oil works great to rejuvenateĀ andĀ regenerate,ā says Percival.
Iād say that lift is just about my biggest bugbear in that my hair doesnāt have any. I can backcomb to my heartās content, but within minutes, itās dropped out and my floppy mop is back. To counteract the issue,Ā Percival insists that you need heat, and you need to know what youāre doing. āItās 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 airĀ and hair spray.ā
So why is it that I feel as though when I give myself a blow-dry,Ā it never seems to last longer than an hour? āIt is essential to let each section cool before running your hands or a brush through it so that the style can āset.ā Otherwise, you will undo all your good work,ā explains Percival.
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 youāre not working with a lot, fine-tuning your styling routine is a lot easier said than done. āUsing the right formulation is vital,ā says Percival. āStart 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 formulationĀ andĀ work it into the root.ā
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.
This post was published at anĀ earlier time and has since been updated.