How to Add Volume to Thin Hair: 10 Tips for Fuller Hair
Share
Fine or thin hair can look flat by lunchtime, get greasy quickly and refuse to hold a style. The right products and a few simple styling tricks can make a big difference to how full your hair looks — without weighing it down.
Quick answer: To add volume to thin hair, wash with a lightweight volumising shampoo, keep conditioner off the roots, use a light mask, apply a thickening cream at the roots before drying, blow-dry upside down or with a round brush, and finish with volume powder. Avoid heavy oils and creams near the scalp.
Fine Hair vs Thin Hair
- Fine hair describes the width of each strand — individual hairs are slender, even if you have lots of them.
- Thin hair describes density — fewer hairs on the scalp overall.
Many people have both. The volume tips below work for each. If your hair has recently become noticeably thinner, read Hair Fall: Causes, Prevention & Hair Care Routine and consider professional advice.
Why Thin Hair Looks Flat
- Fine strands are easily weighed down by oil and heavy products
- Scalp oil reaches the lengths quickly, flattening the roots
- Rich conditioners and masks applied at the roots
- Product buildup
- Air-drying hair flat against the head
How to Add Volume to Thin Hair: 10 Tips
1. Use a volumising shampoo
20 Volumizing Boost Shampoo is a gentle, sulphate-free cleanser for fine, flat or thinning hair. It removes excess buildup while giving weightless body, movement and fullness.
2. Wash often enough
Fine hair gets oily faster, and oil flattens roots. Washing daily or every other day is often better for volume. See How Often Should You Wash Your Hair?
3. Condition the ends only
Use a light conditioner on the ends and keep it well away from the scalp.
4. Choose a lightweight mask
The 20 Volumizing Boost Hair Mask is a lightweight formula with vitamin E that hydrates, thickens the hair cuticle and restores elasticity, leaving hair fuller and smoother. Leave on for 2–3 minutes and rinse with lukewarm water.
5. Apply a thickening cream before drying
Work 20 Volumizing Boost Thickening Cream through towel-dried hair from roots to tips, then style with your fingers or a dryer.
6. Blow-dry for lift
Dry hair upside down, or lift sections at the root with a round brush. Direct airflow at the roots and finish with a cool shot to set the volume.
7. Add volume powder
101 Create Volume Powder instantly lifts roots, adds body and creates natural-looking texture and hold. Sprinkle a small amount at the roots and massage in.
8. Switch your parting
Flipping your parting to the other side instantly lifts the roots.
9. Use a light-hold spray
101 Create Flex Soft Hold Spray gives buildable control for volume and texture with a flexible, touchable finish.
10. Avoid heavy products at the roots
Keep oils, serums and rich creams to the very ends. Read Hair Serum vs Hair Oil for how to use them without weight.
A Volume Routine for Fine Hair
- 20 Volumizing Boost Shampoo
- Light conditioner on the ends, or 20 Hair Mask once or twice a week
- 20 Thickening Cream on towel-dried hair
- Blow-dry with lift at the roots
- 101 Volume Powder and a light-hold spray to finish
Haircuts That Add Volume
Blunt ends make fine hair look thicker, while soft layers add movement. Very long, heavy lengths tend to pull fine hair flat. Ask your stylist for a cut that suits your hair's density.
Common Mistakes
- Using rich, heavy conditioners and masks at the roots
- Skipping washes, so oil flattens the roots
- Too much styling product
- Air-drying flat against the head
- Heavy oiling on the scalp without thorough washing
Frequently Asked Questions
Which shampoo is best for thin hair?
A lightweight, volumising shampoo that cleans thoroughly without leaving residue. Read Best Shampoo for Thin and Fine Hair.
Can products make my hair grow thicker?
Volumising products make each strand look fuller and give lift at the root. They don't change how many hairs you have — for real thinning, see a dermatologist or trichologist.
Is conditioner bad for fine hair?
No — fine hair still needs conditioning to prevent breakage. Just use a light one and keep it on the ends.
How do I keep volume all day?
Blow-dry at the roots, set with a cool shot, and use volume powder and a light-hold spray.
Find Your 20 Volumizing Boost Routine
The 20 Volumizing Boost range — shampoo, mask and thickening cream — is designed to give fine, thin hair more body and fullness. Finish with the 101 Create styling range.
Related Guides
- How to Use Hair Styling Products
- Best Shampoo for Thin and Fine Hair
- Best Hair Care Routine for Weak and Thinning Hair
- Hair Fall: Causes, Prevention & Hair Care Routine
- How to Build a Hair Care Routine
Shop: 20 Volumizing Boost Shampoo · 20 Thickening Cream · 101 Volume Powder · 20 Volumizing Boost range