The 14 Best Volumizing Hair Products of 2024

Flat hair is about to get a serious lift.

best volumizing hair products including OUAI, Oribe, and Moroccanoil hair products
(Image credit: Future)

I’m the self-appointed president of the Fine, Flat Hair Club. Having density, grit, or a body-filled blowout has long remained a mystery to my natural texture; and when left to its own devices, my strands resemble Flat Stanley (read: limp and lifeless). That in mind, I’ve spent the greater part of my life searching for the best volumizing hair products in existence. I’ve created concoctions and brainstormed combinations of styling products to give me a lift at the root. I’ve used mousses pre-blowout, dry texturizers post-blowout, and carried pocket-size dry shampoos with me in case of emergency. 

It’s been a journey (to say the least), but in the end I’ve been able to find the best volumizing hair products that actually deliver on their promises—and leave hair in a healthy state. I’m a believer that sharing is caring, so I’m rounding up my all-time favorites for your shopping pleasure. From Bumble & Bumble’s hair thickening line that creates a denser texture in a wash to ColorWow’s surprisingly lightweight and wildly volumizing mousse, keep scrolling for the best of the best. 

The Best Deals on Hair Volumizers

Maria Nila Volume Spray, $17 $15

Maria Nila Volume Spray, $17 $15

This Swedish hair care brand produces top-notch products—and this volume spray is no exception. I recommend spraying the product directly into your hands and then working it through your hair, from root to tip.  

What to Look For

  • Product Type

Plug “volumizing hair product” into Google, and you’ll be met with dozens of search results spanning hair thickening shampoos, conditioners, and styling products. Here’s the thing: One particular type of product isn’t going to unanimously deliver better results. “They work as a team. Like most things that work in tandem, you want to use them together in their respective orders,” explains Blake Novick, Bumble and Bumble NYC Flagship Stylist. “The shampoos and conditioner pave the road for styling products to drive on.”

  • Ingredients 

When it comes to ingredients, you’re going to want to pay attention to two things: What’s going to volumize your hair and what’s going to dry out your hair. “Volumizing products work in a number of ways. Some will use ingredients like hydrolyzed wheat protein or emblica, which have been known to swell hair strands to create an appearance of volume and density,” explains Novick. On the other end of the spectrum, you’ll find alcohols or texturizing fibers. They’re not inherently bad per se, but they might not be ideal for your specific hair type. “These create resistance between the strands, which can ultimately be drying or damaging over time. Those who have chemically processed hair, or curls that easily tangle might want to bear that in mind and make sure to use moisture on their ends when possible.” 

  • 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?” says Novick. 

The Best Volumizing Hair Products

Meet the Expert

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Blake Novick

Blake Novick is a stylist at the Bumble and Bumble flagship specializing in cuts and styling. 

Samantha Holender
Senior Beauty Editor

Samantha Holender is the Senior Beauty Editor at Marie Claire, where she reports on the best new launches, dives into the science behind skincare, and shares the breakdown on the latest and greatest trends in the beauty space. She's studied up on every ingredient you'll find on INCI list and is constantly in search of the world's glowiest makeup products. She's constantly tracking the biggest nail and hair trends to pop up in the beauty space, going backstage during fashion weeks, tracking celebrity looks, and constantly talking to celebrity hair stylists, nail artists, and makeup artists. Prior to joining the team, she worked as Us Weekly’s Beauty and Style Editor, where she stayed on the pulse of pop culture and broke down celebrity beauty routines, hair transformations, and red carpet looks. Her words have also appeared on Popsugar, Makeup.com, Skincare.com, Delish.com, and Philadelphia Wedding. Samantha also serves as a board member for the American Society of Magazine Editors (ASME). She first joined the organization in 2018, when she worked as an editorial intern at Food Network Magazine and Pioneer Woman Magazine. Samantha has a degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from The George Washington University’s School of Media and Public Affairs. While at GWU, she was a founding member of the school’s HerCampus chapter and served as its President for four years. When she’s not deep in the beauty closet or swatching eyeshadows, you can find her obsessing over Real Housewives and all things Bravo. Keep up with her on Instagram @samholender.