What Should I Buy: More Volume

What Should I Buy: More Volume

I think everyone has a big hard-on for having volume.

I can’t blame you, I do too. I like making it seem like every hair on my head is standing up (probably because my head is actually slightly too small for my body and I’m compensating, but whatever).

And usually the action taken for GETTING the volume is to bust out the teasing brush/curling irons/etc.

And you guys play and tease, and crunch and break your hair away- usually all in vain.

You know how many times I get the phrase, “I style my hair and it won’t stay. I have to tease and hairspray it to death to make the volume stay”.

My reaction is usually this:

I do my best to hide my judgemental looks behind coffee sips.

Because here’s the deal, you’re doing it all wrong. Really.

You go for these crazy hydrating products- usually anything with keratin for some reason, and wonder why nothing holds.

Keratin and hydration means soft, supple, and most important- slippery.

Like, hellooooo, McFly!

So, now you’re probably asking- what do I do?

Here’s what we do. We first start with a shampoo and conditioner MEANT for volume. Think anything on the clarifying side and conditioners that are lightweight.

My favorite right now is the Alterna Bamboo Volume line.

First of all, the scent smells like a sexy man’s cologne. It’s so nice. I can’t even. Nomnomnomnom.

Secondly, the shampoo feels like it really lifts out dirt and oils that normally would weigh down my volume and the conditioner is hydrating but not heavy. It’s kind of the best of both worlds.

Now, if you’re like my mother and you feel like you have all of 3 hairs on your head- you might want to go for something like a strand plumper.

Again, Alterna makes a great one that falls under their bamboo volume line:

And if you want a little extra lift at the root, you could go for the Paul Mitchell Daily Boost root lifter spray or the Big Sexy Hair Root Pump Plus (which is more like a mousse)

And, try to skip things like oils, creams, etc- and try something more along a mousse formula like Paul Mitchell’s Sculpting Foam, or Extra Body Sculpting Foam (extra body has more hold- think of it like a hairspray vs a strong hold hairspray)

Now in terms of the blow dry- try blow drying your hair upside down, or away from where your hair would naturally lay to help give it that extra boost. Example: blow dry your bangs back and forth and then back away from your forehead for a second before laying them where they are supposed to be. There will be more volume, they’ll be springier, bouncier, etc.

Now when the style is set, you’ve added curls- etc, THEN is the time to add a little oil to the ends of your hair, or waxes or creams to seal in the ends. You don’t need all that oil at the top of your hair where you want the volume.

THEN, when you’re all finished and you feel like you need a little push, go for the teasing- but I have a feeling you won’t need much.

I hope you enjoy all that volume. Try not to let all that power go to your head,

-SamanthaK