A Lesson in Creating Volume – My Flat Hair Care Routine

My name is Jen and I’m addicted to volumising products.

It’s true – I’ve tried every ‘innovation’, from ‘shaft-expanding mousse’ (seriously) to pouring beer over my head (again, seriously). My quest for big hair has spanned decades and probably cost thousands in products that are used once and quickly resigned to the this-doesn’t-work pile.

But after much trial, plenty of error and a very close call in a wig shop, I’ve finally stumbled upon a routine that kinda sorta works. I haven’t achieved the big hair Holy Grail as seen on every female celebrity ever, and I’m still a sucker for new ‘miracle’ products, but generally, my tried and tested method achieves a moderately lifted ‘do for those with fine hair, or as lovely Olivia put it – ‘ghost hair’.

It all starts in the shower (or bath, if that’s your preference). I wash my hair with Big shampoo by Lush. This has been the biggest revelation in my haircare routine – it contains grains of sea salt that give my hair texture, which is something I could never get with synthetic volumisers. It’s not cheap at £10.95 a pot, but a small amount goes a long way… although the stack of empty pots in my bathroom doesn’t really support that theory!

Fine hair doesn’t need a lot of conditioning, but skipping this step leaves me with flyaway, static hair. Veganese is another Lush product that works like a charm – it’s really light so doesn’t weigh my hair down and contains lemon to give it great shine. I apply to the ends only, so my 250g bottle lasts months.

Fine hair is a fickle mistress – every few months, it gets bored of my miracle products and decides it needs something new. To keep it happy, I have a break from my usual routine and use whatever’s on offer in Boots. At the moment it’s Umberto Giannini – I’m a bit of a beauty snob so always go for mid- or high-end products.

Once washed, I have an arsenal of products to battle deflation. Moroccan Oil doesn’t really do anything for volume, but it keeps my hair smooth and supple. John Frieda’s Brilliant Brunette volumising mousse, on the other hand, volumises like a BAWS. If this product is ever discontinued, I will weep. Backcomb in a Bottle is a great thickening product – I spray this after styling to create a mussed-up effect. And Osis Dust It can be used to add texture, again after styling – I bought mine from eBay as it’s much cheaper.

When it comes to styling my hair, I’m lazy. I blowdry it upside down and use my trusty, 10-year-old ghds to straighten the kinks. The Babyliss Big Hair styler is a new addition – after reading countless reviews and not finding a single negative one, I bought it hoping I’d finally found the answer to my big hair prayers. But unfortunately, it can’t change genetic makeup (I know, such a bummer). My hair is baby fine, so although the hot rotating brush does add volume, it doesn’t give me the dramatic umph I was looking for.

So there you have it – a lesson in creating volume from someone whose hair very often resembles a pancake. YOU’RE WELCOME.

What are your must-have haircare products? Any fellow flatties got a tip, trick or cheat to share?