Not everyone’s blessed with hair that’s worthy of a shampoo commercial. Some of us have to battle thin and often limp locks that hairstylists aren’t too pleased to work with. Good hair days are few and far between (and if today’s one of them, you’ve probably been taking selfies all morning). Well, not anymore. Take a look at how you can cheat your way to bouncy hair with a few genius hacks.
Shampoo More Often
The natural oils produced by your scalp tend to travel down thin, straight hair much faster than thicker locks. That’s why your hair tends to get flat, limp and greasy faster. Don’t be afraid to wash your hair every alternate day if you have to. It’s a myth that this might increase hair fall. Hair that falls today actually stopped growing 12 weeks ago!
Think Waves
It’s a fact: Wavy hair always looks way thicker than a poker straight mane. Give your hair more texture by using a curling rod or simply scrunch your damp hair with a curl-enhancing mousse, if you want to avoid the heat. Again, do not apply hair product to the crown.
Swap the Paddle Brush or Comb for a Round Brush
Remember this, a comb is your worst enemy, and the round brush is your best friend. A round brush directs the hair away from the scalp, instantly adding more volume to it. It also gives you a better blow-dry. Depending on the length of your hair you can choose a brush ranging from 1 inch to 3 inches in diameter.
Switch Your Parting
This works like magic. If your hair is used to being parted one way, try flipping it over to the other side. It will force the roots to stand up rather than lie flat, pulling your tresses down.
Spray on Dry Shampoo the Night Before
Dry shampoo simply soaks up the sweat and oil that your scalp secretes, and helps you get rid of that ‘dirty’ look. Use it the night before, and voila! You’ll find that your thin hair has more body and can be styled better.
Get Your Hair Cut in Layers
Just because your hair is thin, doesn’t mean you need to cut it all off. Layers work best for fine hair, whether straight or wavy. So the next time you go for a haircut, consider asking your stylist to keep the length but give you shorter layers for that added texture, bounce and movement.
Try Velcro Rollers
This one might remind you of your grandma, but it actually works! Spray only your crown area with water, section it into three parts, and then put each part into a roller. Blow dry on low heat for 30 seconds and leave the rest to dry naturally. Remove the rollers after about 10 minutes and we bet you won’t need us to point out the difference.
Backcomb Your Hair
Hold your hair up and tease your hair downward with a fine-toothed comb. Use gentle but firm strokes to form a cushion of hair at the base. Now pull your hair into a ponytail or bun that looks naturally thicker!
(Lisabelle Gonsalves has recently turned freelance writer, after a 10-year career in lifestyle journalism. A travel blogger with a borderline unhealthy love for shoes, when she isn’t writing for her favourite beats – fashion, food and travel – she’s daydreaming about boogying with Meghan Trainor. Don’t judge.)
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)