7 Volume-Boosting Hairstyles That Instantly Make Thin Hair Look Fuller

Classic ‘90s Blowout

The whole idea behind the classic ‘90s blowout is that it’s pumped full of volume, bounce, and shine. This is done through styling, and works best on those with layers, says Gregory Russell, hairstylist and ambassador for L'Oreal Professionnel AirLight Pro. He says to prep damp hair with a volumizing mousse through the lengths and roots, along with a drop or two of shine-boosting oil. 

Then he says he likes to rough dry until the hair is 90% dry, “lifting the hair at the roots to make sure [you’re] setting the foundation for volume. Next, I blow dry with a large boar’s hair round brush, setting each section with a Velcro roller and let it cool completely.” Remove the rollers, flip hair upside down, and apply soft-finish hairspray for light hold.  

Side Part with Root Lift

Here’s a fun little trick that can boost volume in literal seconds: Switching your part to the opposite side. “You can also style and blow out everything to the opposite side—away from your normal part—and this will give you an instant root lift once you move it back to your normal part,” says Nicole Rojas, a New York City-based hairstylist at Pearlita Salon. To lock it in, he says to spray a little texture spray at the root and massage it in with your fingers. 

Double Volume Pony

If you’ve got a claw clip on hand and medium to long hair, you can pull off this volume-boosting hairstyle. After blow drying hair, divide it into two vertical sections and twist them together, using a claw clip to secure. This quick and easy trick creates the look of both more length and more volume. 

The Wolf Cut

If you like a lot of texture and want to boost volume, then consider asking for the wolf cut at your next appointment. “A wolf cut has tons of layers that are perfect for defining wavy hair,” says Justine Marjan, celebrity hairstylist for TRESemmé. If hair is naturally wavy, she says to apply an all-in-one style primer to damp hair. A texturizing spray can also help define layers. 

Bardot Blowout

This voluminous style hearkens back to the 1960s and taps icon Brigitte Bardot, who was known for her full-bodied hairstyle with notable boost at the crown. Russell says to start with a volumizing mousse on damp hair, rough drying to 90% dry.

“Keep the front hairline and part pretty flat and concentrate the volume at the crown of the head,” he says. “Start with the crown section first and blow dry with a large round brush and secure the section with a Velcro roller and then begin working from the front of your hair to the back section by section.” Blow dry and set the remaining sections, then remove the rollers and apply light-hold hairspray. 

Tousled Beach Waves

Loose waves are another way to instantly add body and dimension to your hair. “Use a curling iron or braid damp-dry hair overnight for natural waves,” Rojas advises. To ensure it sticks, he says to add in a serum before braiding and then hit your braids with a blow dryer. You can also use a volumizing mousse at the roots for more lift, and a texturizing spray through the lengths. 

Blunt Bob

Bobs and lobs are trending in a big way right now, and they just so happen to lend themselves to volume-happy finishes. “For finer hair types, a blunt bob helps maximize the volume at the ends and helps hair appear fuller,” Marjan explains. The lightness also prevents hair from being weighed down.

To style, Marjan says to “use a round brush to blow-dry and really work the brush through the ends for a beautiful bouncy bend.” Finish with a texturizing spray to support lift.