How to Fake Fuller Hair

Pick the Right Products

There's no shortage of products that claim to give you the most voluminous hair ever, but which ones work best? As a general rule, airy, lighter formulas such as aerosols, sprays, and mousses are a better bet than creams or gels. Panos likes Oribe Volumista Mist for Volume. But don't overdo it: "Using too much product can weigh down the hair," she cautions.

To buy: $44; amazon.com.

Add Extensions

Extensions aren't just for extra length. "For women who want fuller hair, extensions are a quick, easy, and beautiful fix," says Panos. If you want to take the DIY route or need temporary fullness for one style, choose clip-in options.

Keep them the same length as the rest of your hair, and add in a few pieces throughout the crown of your head. For a more long-term fix, see a pro. Panos notes that professionally-applied tape-in extensions blend in seamlessly with your natural hair and can last four to five weeks.

Grab a Curling Iron

"Using a large curling iron to create loose curls will instantly make the hair look fuller," says Panos. (We're talking one with a 1.5- to 2-inch barrel.) While heat creates the curl and body, it only sets as it cools, so resists the urge to touch or brush your hair until it's completely cooled off. You can also try leaving the last inch or two of your ends out of the curling iron—keeping the ends straight creates the perfect combination of texture and volume, Panos adds.

Try Teasing

Teasing (or back-combing, as stylists call it) is a go-to hack for faking fuller hair. Lift up a section at the top of your head. Start about an inch away from the root, on the underside of the hair, brushing down toward the root to create lift. While this is typically done using a comb, Panos suggests using a paddle brush instead: "This creates lots of volume, but is easier to blend in with the rest of the hair than using a comb." This trick works especially well for creating volume at the top of your head for ponytails and topknots.

Blow It Out

When blow-drying your hair at home, Panos recommends focusing on a horseshoe-shaped section at the top of your head. Use a round brush to blow-dry the hair in the opposite direction of where it normally falls. "This technique creates lift at the roots and the appearance of fullness," she explains. To amplify the results even more, tilt you head forward throughout the process.