Hair: Pump Up Your Volume!
It's back: big, sexy, full-body hair. Here, the pros reveal their top tress-transforming tricks.
By Didi Gluck
Special Offer
Cleanse carefully: Use volumizing conditioner and shampoo (even if you have curly hair) and apply conditioner only to ends. "These products are formulated explicitly not to weigh hair down," explains London-based stylist Peter Gray.
Try: Dove Extra Volume Shampoo and Conditioner
Give your roots a boost: "Everyone can benefit from a root lifter," says celebrity stylist Harry Josh. Apply the product before blowing dry, from midshaft to root ‑- unless your hair is fine, in which case you should aim for the base of your roots only.
Try: Aveda Volumizing Tonic
A better blow-dry: For maximum oomph, lift sections of hair toward the sky as you blow-dry, directing hot air toward your scalp. This "cooks" the roots and dries them in an upright and lifted position.
Upside-down is not a do: Flipping your head over to blow-dry gives your hair width (think Bride of Frankenstein), not height (think Gisele), notes Josh.
Learn to back-brush: Instead of teasing your tresses with a comb (a surefire way to get volume, even if your locks are limper than yesterday's linguine), use a flat-backed brush, which will damage your hair less since the bristles are spaced apart more widely, says Gray. His favorite brand? Mason Pearson.
Try a tail: If you have natural volume but can't quite seem to rein it in, New York City-based Aveda stylist Ted Gibson suggests a look he calls "The Puff" (see model at far right). Start with a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner, then apply a cream-based styler. Next, diffuse your wet locks and gather into a high pony. The result? Sexy but subdued body.
Try: Matrix Biolage Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioning Balm, Redken Contour 08 Shaping Lotion
Mist, don't douse: The ultimate volume slayer: heavy hairspray. If you must use a finishing product, Gibson recommends spritzing it into the air and walking through the ensuing cloud. Or, spray it onto your hands and then run them over your tresses.
Try: Suave Professionals Flexible Hold Finishing Spray
Exaggerate your ends: If your hair is curly or wavy, you tend to have body at your roots and straggly ends. For balance, Kerry Warn, who has styled volume vixen Nicole Kidman, often blow-dries hair straight first, then adds body back in using a curling iron or rollers from midshaft down.
