The saying "thin is in" may be true for laptops, cell phones, and, up to a point, models, but it's never been true for hair. Most women would happily have plump hair, but nature doesn't always work in our favor. Even those born with thick hair may be vexed by thinness at some point in their lives. Some hair thinning is temporary, such as the kind that occurs during pregnancy. When a woman reaches her 40s, hormones cause the diameter of each hair strand to shrink, while the number of active hair follicles starts to decrease. If your scalp is visible in patches or your part is noticeably wider, see a dermatologist to determine whether there's a medical cause. For less severe cases, products and styling techniques can make hair look thicker -- or fatter.
Wash
Wash hair with a volumizing shampoo that contains protein.
Follow with a lightweight conditioner labeled for fine or thin hair, and apply it just from the ears down. Once out of the shower, gently blot your hair with a towel.
Prep
Apply a volumizer that has panthenol or resins throughout damp hair.
Spritz on a heat-protecting spray, avoiding the roots, then gently untangle the hair with a wide-tooth comb, starting at the ends and working your way up.
Blow-dry
Remove your dryer's nozzle, then set the heat to medium.
Flip your head upside down and blow-dry while running a vent brush through hair. When hair is almost dry, flip your head up and finish drying with a medium-size round brush.
Add Volume
Working in small sections, lift your hair off your scalp with your fingers as you aim the dryer, set on cool, at your roots -- this roughs up the cuticle to build volume.
Do this all around your head, then lightly smooth hair with a brush.
Strengthen
Once a week, do a hot-oil treatment on damp hair -- it's lighter than a mask and won't weigh down hair.
Pick one with jojoba oil, which protects against breakage, and proteins, which fatten strands. Avoid applying to roots.
Products
Protein-containing volumizing shampoo and conditioner leave deposits to thicken each strand. We like Biolage Volumathérapie Shampoo and Conditioner and Garnier Fructis Body Boost Shampoo and Conditioner (Biolage, matrix.com; garnierusa.com).
To reduce breakage, use shampoo and conditioner with strengthening provitamin B5. Try Neutrogena Triple Renewal Volume-Boosting Shampoo and Conditioner or Pantene Pro-V Full & Thick Shampoo and Conditioner (neutrogena.com; pantene.com).
For fine hair that's color-treated, try Pureology PureVolume Shampoo and Conditioner (at left) or Nexxus Dualiste Color Protection + Anti-Breakage Shampoo and Conditioner (pureology.com; nexxus.com).
For maximum benefits, apply a hot-oil treatment before shampooing. We like Queen Helene Jojoba Hot Oil Treatment (queenhelene.com).
Cheat Sheet
Shampoo hair with a volumizing formula; apply a conditioner for fine hair from your ears to the ends. Blot hair with a towel.
Work a volumizing spray or mousse throughout damp hair, then spritz a heat-protecting spray everywhere but the roots. Gently comb hair, starting at the ends and inching up.
Flip your head over; blow-dry hair without the nozzle on medium heat with a vent brush. When it's nearly dry, stand up and finish with a medium-size boar-bristle round brush.
Switch the dryer to cool, then lift hair with your fingers. Point the air at your roots for several seconds to build volume. Repeat all around your head, then brush the hair.
Once a week, apply a hot-oil treatment containing jojoba oil and proteins from just below the roots to the ends.
Tricks of the Trade
The right haircut makes a difference. Ask your stylist for minimal layers (heavy ones can look flat), or try deep bangs.
Condition very fine or sparse hair before shampooing -- you'll get just enough moisture without weighing hair down.
To boost volume, set dry hair in Velcro -- not hot -- rollers for ten minutes
Revive limp hair with dry shampoo. then massage your scalp with your
When wearing a ponytail or the hair no more than twice to
Certain supplements help strengthen Doctors advise 500 milligrams 1,000 micrograms of biotin per hair loss, see your doctor.
Toolbox
Some volumizers bulk up hair; some weigh it down and end up being counterproductive. For lightweight lift, try Fekkai Root Lifting Spray, L'Oréal Professionnel Texture Expert Mousse, or Suave Professionals Volumizing Mousse (fekkai.com; lorealprofessionnel.com; suave.com).
Heat-protecting sprays work by coating the cuticle with a lightweight silicone. Redken Hot Sets 22 Thermal Setting Mist and Tresemmé Thermal Creations Heat Tamer Spray won't weigh down fine hair (redken.com; tresemme.com).
Dry shampoo makes hair look thicker. We like Big Sexy Hair Volumizing Dry Shampoo (sexyhair.com).
A vent brush, such as the Goody Ouchless one, helps add fluffiness while you blow-dry (goody.com).
Scunci Smooth and Shine round brush, which is made with boar bristles, is gentle on fragile hair (scunci.com).
Battalia by Spornette Velcro rollers (below) add bounce but won't flatten the cuticle, as hot rollers can (folica.com).
