While it may sound counterintuitive, to keep the lift you need a body-building product that has some hydration in it, like mousse, which will seal the cuticle and prevent it from opening. “Put a dollop in your palm and rub your hands together,” says Townsend. “If it instantly disappears into your skin, it’s got too much drying alcohol. If it has moisturizing properties, it should feel thick and creamy.” Try Orlando Pita Play The Great Inflate Air Whipped Styling Foam ($28, qvc.com).
Photograph courtesy of Orlando Pita
RELATED: 11 Tips for Voluminous, Healthy Hair
2. You spend so much time upside down with your blow-dryer, you might as well have vertigo.
Ditch that classic fine-haired trick, says hairstylist Orlando Pita. “That just blasts the cuticle wide open, which leads to frizz.” Instead, blow-dry standing up straight like a normal person: “Use a paddle brush to smooth and flip your hair to one side, then the other, then back to front, focusing the dryer nozzle at the roots,” says Pita.
Watch this video for tips on blow-drying fine hair:
3. Between a sweaty-AF neck or a ponytail, you’ll take the sweaty-AF neck.
Soupy weather makes your pony look thinner than a rice noodle. To fatten it up, spray dry shampoo all over your hair, not just at your roots; it’ll create great body, says Townsend. Formulas infused with starch (check the label) make the best thickeners. Try Dove Volume Fullness Dry Shampoo ($9, amazon.com).
Photograph courtesy of Dove
4. Your baby hairs won’t take a damn seat.
Fine hair is naturally fragile and prone to breakage, says Pita—and those super-short crown pieces stand straight up in humidity. To tamp them down, mist hair spray onto your fingertips and dab it onto the hairs for a precise application. Try Nexxus New York Salon Care Maxximum Finishing Mist ($19, amazon.com).
Photograph courtesy of Nexxus
5. Air-drying is but a dream.
The reality for skinny tresses? As if you glued ’em to your scalp. But there is a wash-and-go way! After you’ve applied mousse, leave the back to dry naturally and blow-dry the front section. That’s the spot where most issues—from limpness to frizz—crop up.
RELATED: How to Air Dry Your Hair So It Looks Amazing
6. Braids are cute—if you’re into looking bald.
Ah yes, ye olde milkmaid reveal. To avoid exposing scalp, reach into your makeup bag. “I use a brow powder palette for filling in sparse scalp spots,” says hairstylist Lona Vigi. Dip a brow brush into a powder that matches your hair, dust it over the thin patch, and voila—volume! Try Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Duo ($23, anastasiabeverlyhills.com).
Photograph courtesy of Anastasia Beverly Hills
7. You either got ombre or covered your scalp in canola oil. The effect is identical.
These graduated highlights scream beach babe, but the dark roots make droopy hair look flatter (and greasier) than it already is. Instead, ask for sun-kissed streaks that start at the top of your head and frame your face, says colorist Sharon Dorram of Sharon Dorram Color at Sally Hershberger salon in New York City. They’ll add dimension—and the illusion of fullness.
This article was originally published in the July/August issue of Women’s Health, on newsstands now.