Credit: Instagram/rachel_mypark
Not everyone is genetically blessed with commercial-worthy, bouncy, voluminous hair. And it doesn’t help that with Singapore’s heat and humidity, all the time and effort spent on giving hair an extra lift often falls flat (pun intended).
The truth is that getting volume can be difficult. But it is not impossible. It all comes down to finding the right products to help amplify your hair instead of weighing it down.
Here’s our five-step guide to getting sexy hair with lots of volume:
The right shampoo can make all the difference. If you have fine hair, make sure that your shampoo isn’t too rich and moisturising as that can weigh down already flat locks even more.
Also make sure to cleanse thoroughly at the roots to remove oil and impurities, which can also leave hair limp and lifeless.
At the same time, you should include a clarifying shampoo once a week as a treatment. This removes product build-up, dead skin cells and excess sebum that weigh the hair down, contributing to its flat appearance.
TRY: Shiseido Professional Sublimic – Airy Flow Shampoo, $38
This lightweight shampoo gets hair clean, and keeps it airy and manageable, bringing out its natural bounce and shine. Hair looks soft but never flat, and totally commercial-worthy.
Available at Shiseido Professional salons – Hair Atelier by Shunji Matsuo at #04-04 Ion Orchard; Cosmo Hair & Beauty Salon at #03-120 Great World City; Hair Inn at #03-33 Nex. For a full list of stockists, visit https://www.shiseido-professional.com/en/salon-locator
TRY: Act+Acre Cold Processed Scalp Detox, $62
The once-a-week treatment removes product build-up, dirt and impurities, leaving the scalp clean. Plus, it can even be used as an overnight treatment to soothe and rebalance the scalp.
Available at Sephora stores.
Most of the volume you seek lives in the roots of your hair. There are many ways to maximise this. You can simply change your hair parting – flipping it over to the other side instantly gives you a mini makeover and lift.
You can also use a few rollers at the crown — place them close to the roots and under the top layer of your hair, then blast with a hairdryer for a few seconds. Remove the rollers when hair is cool for va-va-voom volume at the top.
Alternatively, use a root-boosting product – at the roots, where else? – then blow-dry hair for extra lift and height.
TRY: IGK Next Level Nordic Cotton Heat-Activated Volume Spray, $42.
It’s infused with Nordic cotton and geranium extracts, and coconut oil, that boost hair volume while still remaining lightweight. It also contains heat-activated styling polymers that ensures workable volume so your ‘do won’t fall flat. Apply to slightly damp hair, concentrating at the crown and roots for extra lift.
Available at Sephora stores.
Do as the salon pros do and give your hair an easy blowout. Start by flipping your head upside-down. Run your hair through your hands while moving the hairdryer back and forth. This roughs up the hair cuticles so locks look naturally fluffier, maximising volume. When hair is more than 50 per cent dry, get upright and you’ll instantly get more height.
But for even more lift and to amplify the effect of your volume-boosting hair product, use a round bristle brush to smoothen hair, gently pulling in an upwards motion as you blow-dry. This only locks in volume to give flat hair an extra lift.
TRY: Verb Round Brush, $24
This vented round bristle brush helps create volume during blow-drying as it helps circulate hot air. It not only smooths and detangles hair, but gives it a healthy shine and bounce.
Available at Sephora stores.
Texture is one easy way to make flat hair look fuller. Be it curls or waves, it adds volume while giving hair height at the same time. Create large curls with rollers or a curling iron, or use a sea salt spray to build luscious waves. Just remember that adding texture works best on day-old hair, unwashed hair.
TRY: Kristin Ess Sea Salt Air Dry Spray, $21
This is fine hair’s BFF. Mist over slightly damp or towel-dried hair, then scrunch and twist hair into sections to create waves. Let hair air dry to achieve tousled volume.
Available at Sephora stores.
Ever wondered why your hair starts to look a little limp and lifeless by mid-day? This is because of the natural hair oil and sebum at the crown, which weighs hair down, making it droopy. The solution? Wick the oil away and hair will once again be light and airy.
TRY: Rene Furterer Naturia Dry Shampoo with Absorbent Clay, $29.90
For a mid-day refresher, keep this dry shampoo handy – one in the bag and one in the office. It contains four absorbent powders that absorb oil and impurities to keep feeling clean and fresh, restoring volume and lightness once more. Spritz near the roots at the crown, gently massage in to ensure it is well distributed, then gently brush hair to style.
Available at Watsons and Guardian Pharmacies.