The 10 Best Volumizing Products Will Overhaul Your Fine Hair Routine

Tested for maximum volume.

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three women with fine hair with lots of volume
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I almost certainly learned about volume in middle school science class, but they didn't teach me anything worthwhile about adding it to my fine, flat hair. For those lessons, I had to turn to John Hughes movies and the stuck-in-the-last-century styles of the ladies at my grandma's hair salon. The consensus was "use lots of hairspray," but I'm happy to report I've found solutions that are more of-the-times.

"Voluminous hair has a kind of effortless confidence to it. When hair has lift and movement, it reads as healthy, youthful and intentional even if the styling itself is very minimal," explains professional hairstylist Goldie Locks CEO Devin Graciano. "Most of my clients aren’t necessarily looking for big hair, but they do want presence. That could mean more lift at the crown, more fullness through the mid-lengths, or simply hair that doesn’t collapse by lunchtime.

That's what I wanted: presence. Not necessarily the best outcome of the formula base area x height, but volume around my face and some necessary shape. It took a lot of testing, and of course some expert advice, but I got there: a routine full of the best volumizing products on the market.

"Volume communicates presence. It shifts posture. It changes how you enter a room. There is something psychological about lift at the root," Sarah Hindsgaul tells Marie Claire. And while we're definitely seeing '80s silhouettes return (a situation the Emmy-nominated stylist is obviously fine with), our modern approach to volume is slightly different. "Those shapes were beautiful. But the difference now is refinement and freedom," Hindsgaul explains.

Ahead, discover 10 of the best volumizing products for some impressive modern lift.

The Best Volumizing Hair Products

What Should I Look For in a Volumizing Hair Product?

  • Format

Search “the best volumizing hair products" and you’ll be met with dozens of search results: shampoos, conditioners, dry shampoos, dry texturizers, root sprays, thickening sprays, hot tools, the list goes on.

Here’s the thing: One particular type of product isn’t going to deliver better results. You have to use them in tandem, or figure out what works best for you on its own.

"Products only work if the foundation is right. If the scalp is not properly cleansed, you are fighting gravity before you even start. Buildup kills lift," says Hindsgaul. "Technique matters, but without the right base, no styling will last."

  • Ingredients

You’re going to want to pay attention to two things on your volumizing product's ingredient list: What’s going to add volume to your hair (some use ingredients like hydrolyzed wheat protein or emblica to swell strands) and what’s going to dry out your hair.

While not inherently bad, alcohols or texturizing fibers might not be ideal for your specific hair type. They work to volumize by creating resistance between strands, and the process can be drying, damaging, or at least really tangling.

Michael also likes to use sulfate-free volumizing products that protect hair color and let you let go of scalp buildup and dull hair worries. "Another big plus is any volumizing or thickening product that contains biotin," he adds. "It increases strength and nourishes hair."

  • Texture

In the styling product realm, you’ll normally find three distinct textures: A powder, a spray, or a mousse. The best option for you is largely personal preference.

“You could put the same formula in two different cans that have slightly different disbursement methods and still get the same effect. Basically, it all boils down to the ingredients and what they do. Do they create friction and thus give the illusion of density when the strands fight each other for space? Does it swell the hair shaft to give the look and feel of more density?” New York-based stylist Blake Bruck previously told Marie Claire.

How Do I Make Volume Last?

Hindsgaul notes that volume is all about how the hair sets. If it dries in the right direction with support at the root, it will hold. This might happen naturally, depending on the way you air-dry, or thanks to some controlled airflow from a dryer. The principle is the same either way, no matter what product you use.

"The hair must settle in the shape you want. You do not need excessive heat or heavy tools. You need control, direction, and the right foundation," says Hindsgaul.

A few other key points to remember: product placement should be focused—"roots for lift, mid-lengths for movement—never everything everywhere," explains Graciano—and velcro rollers will always be the best secret weapon. "A few placed at the crown while your hair cools can create soft, editorial volume without teasing," she adds.

Can I Have Too Much Volume?

As mentioned, bigger isn't always better. When you feel like you've overdone it in the volume department ("it definitely happens, especially when you’re working with texture sprays or backcombing," says Graciano) the best thing you can do is try to soften the style—not flatten it.

"A quick trick I use is warming a tiny drop of serum between my palms and lightly skimming the surface of the hair. It relaxes the lift just enough and brings back shine. You can also brush through the roots with a soft bristle brush to redistribute the product," adds the expert. "The goal isn’t to erase the volume, it’s just to refine it so it still feels natural and balanced. Hair should move when you walk into a room, not arrive five seconds before you do."

Why Trust Marie Claire

For more than 30 years, Marie Claire has been an internationally recognized destination for news, fashion, and beauty trends, investigative packages, and more. When it comes to the products Marie Claire recommends, we take your faith in us seriously. Every product that we feature comes personally recommended by a Marie Claire writer or editor, or by an expert we’ve spoken to firsthand.

How We Tested

Sophia Vilensky's volumizing product testing process merged long-time editor favorites with new discoveries. After asking the Marie Claire team to share which leave-in conditioners they use in their daily lives, she tapped professional hairstylists to learn about their favorites and revisited her own tried-and-trues before calling in additional products for testing.

Taking many showers. using her Airwrap way more than usual, and applying her selections in between washes as well, she evaluated each product on lift, texture, grittiness, packaging, and ingredients before choosing the ten best offerings on the market.

Meet the Experts

Sarah Hindsgaul poses for a headshot.
Sarah Hindsgaul

Sarah Hindsgaul is a two-time Emmy-nominated hair designer with more than two decades of film and television experience. Originally from Denmark and now based in Los Angeles, she is best known for her decade-long tenure as Hair Department Head on Netflix’s global phenomenon Stranger Things (Seasons 1–5). Sarah designed the hair for Charlie Kaufman’s acclaimed Netflix film I’m Thinking of Ending Things, starring Jesse Plemons, Jessie Buckley, and Toni Collette - a project that earned her the prestigious Capri Award for Makeup and Hairstyling. Her feature work includes a range of celebrated films such as the Cannes-winning You Were Never Really Here starring Joaquin Phoenix; The Great Gilly Hopkins with Kathy Bates and Glenn Close; and Learning to Drive with Sir Ben Kingsley. She also served as New York Hair Department Head for Noah Baumbach’s Oscar-winning Marriage Story and for Ride, directed by Oscar-winner Helen Hunt. On the television side, Sarah has department headed ABC’s Madoff starring Richard Dreyfuss and HBO’s Show Me a Hero starring Oscar Isaac.

In 2026, Sarah launched Hindsgaul Hair, her eponymous hair care line featuring four essential products -The Puff Dry Shampoo, The Mousse Soft Hold, The Scalp Scrub Shampoo, and The Mask Conditioner. Inspired by her two decades of work in the film and TV industry, Hindsgaul Hair is a high-performance haircare line formulated with to create weightless hairstyles with movement – that last from early call times through the final take. Rooted in Scandinavian simplicity, the line is formulated with pea peptides and nourishing ingredients like cloudberry and Nordic cotton from Sarah’s native homeland, delivering healthy hair and effortless, all‐day movement.

Julius Michael Headshot
Julius Michael

Julius Michael is a trailblazer in the beauty industry, setting the bar high for new trends. Celebrities rely on Julius to help them create their glamorous style. Julius is known for his mastery of color, highlights, and Balayage. He is also sought after for his original, virtually undetectable, permanent or clip-on hair extensions. Julius’s signature looks can be seen on television and at red carpet events from coast to coast and internationally.

Julius has more than 18 years experience, including working with Rita Hazan and Oribe Hair Salon. He has a true understanding of what style works for any situation. Julius is passionate about his work and makes every one of his clients  feel like a friend during an appointment and be a star as they walk out the door, loving the way they look.

A woman with long blonde hair, Devin Graciano, smiles in her headshot.
Devin Graciano

Graciano is a seasoned product development professional with over a decade of dedicated experience specializing in the dynamic realm of hair care. Throughout her career, she has been instrumental in collaborating with a diverse range of entities—CPG giants, pioneering startups, and established brands—to sculpt and refine hair care products that transcend industry standards.

Sophia Vilensky
Sophia Vilensky
Freelance Writer

Sophia Vilensky is a Freelance Beauty Writer at Marie Claire with a beauty, wellness, and entertainment journalism portfolio that includes contributions to Byrdie, Bravo, Teen Vogue, and Us Weekly. Growing up in a family of beauticians—and through her own personal studies—she developed an in-depth understanding of aesthetics, cosmetic product formulation, and beauty treatment development and has also held roles as a senior copywriter, content strategist, and proofreader for top beauty and wellness brands. Even so, you'd be hard pressed to find her with her hair and makeup actually done. Sophia is based in Minneapolis and is a 2019 graduate of the University of Minnesota, where she majored in English and minored in cinema studies. During her time at the university, she was the Arts & Entertainment Editor for the Minnesota Daily, earning the 2019 Editor of the Year award for her work. She connected deeply with the Twin Cities arts scene, collaborating with leading beauty professionals, designers, and artists. Graduating Summa Cum Laude, her thesis—a close-reading of Vanderpump Rules—was featured on NPR. When not immersed in writing or testing new products, Sophia enjoys watching reality TV, reading, and exploring the newest woo-woo wellness trends. Keep up with her on Instagram @sophiavilensky.

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