Are You Buying Too Many Hair Products?

Skip the unnecessary: Here are the must-haves tools for your hair.

For Fine, Straight Hair

Counterclockwise from top left: 

Round Boar-Bristle Brush

Boar bristles are gentle on delicate hair, and a round shape helps you attain maximum volume. Use the brush to pull sections of hair upward as you blow-dry.
RS pick: Goody So Natural round brush, $9 at drugstores.

Hot Rollers

Hot rollers (not the Velcro kind, which pull and tear fine hair) are the secret to volume and bounce for fine hair. Velvet-covered rollers are best. Use on dry hair, and remove after eight minutes.
RS pick: Conair Instant Heat Ion Shine Rollers, $30 at drugstores.

Fine-Tooth Comb

When hair is dry, use a fine-tooth comb to tease sections at the crown to get lift. Start two inches from the scalp, and comb hair toward the roots.
RS pick: Speert comb, $7 at drugstores.

Volumizing Spray

"It's the antidote to drooping hair," says stylist Kevin Mancuso of the Rita Hazan Salon in New York City. Spritz at the roots, then blow-dry.
RS pick: Ojon Volume Advance Volumizing Styling Spray, $23.50, ulta.com.

Thickener

Use one containing body-building wheat protein before applying other styling products.
RS pick: Rene Furterer Tonucia No Rinse Fortifying and Densifying Treatment, $20.50, amazon.com.


Fine hair doesn’t have to fall flat. Read on for even more ways to add body and volume to your hair.