As someone with thick and textured hair, I have never really worried about volume. My hair already has natural waves, body and movement through the middle and ends. Sometimes, it even has too much volume. Because of that, I usually look for hair products that smooth frizz, add shine and make my hair easier to manage instead of products that add extra volume or texture.
But recently, as my hair has grown longer, I have noticed that my roots look flatter. During the hot weather, my hair also starts to feel limp by the end of the day. So even though I do not have fine hair, I do deal with flat roots. That is why I decided to find the best products for flat hair and learn how to give the roots more lift that actually lasts.
As a beauty editor, one of the questions I hear most often is how to add long-lasting volume to the hair. Volumising sprays can help a lot, but finding the right product is not always easy. This is especially true if you do not like your hair to feel heavy, sticky or full of product.
To find the best solutions, I asked hair experts for their advice on what really works for lifting the roots and adding shape to flat hair. This is especially useful for hair like mine, which needs volume at the crown but already has plenty of thickness through the ends.
From root-lifting sprays and thickening foams to light mousses and texture sprays, here are the best expert-approved products and tips to make hair look fuller without weighing it down.
Shampoo & Conditioner
Before choosing styling products, I wanted to know if changing my shampoo and conditioner could help give my roots more lift. Hairstylist Charley McEwen says that shampoo and conditioner are important when it comes to flat hair.
According to him, volumising shampoos help remove extra oil and product build-up that can make the hair feel heavy. Lightweight conditioners give the hair moisture without making it flat. Using the right shampoo and conditioner gives the hair a better base and helps improve natural body and texture.
Living Proof makes some of the best haircare products, and I usually love the No Frizz range. But for adding more lift at the roots, the Full range is a better choice. It is made especially for flat hair and is designed to give the hair more body and volume.
This range is also a good option if you do not like the feeling of silicones in your hair. Some silicones can coat the hair and make it feel heavy. Instead, this formula uses Sili-CLONE HairTech, which helps smooth the hair, make it easier to detangle and add shine without weighing it down.
Texturisers
Once the hair is clean, the next step is choosing the right styling products. Celebrity hairstylist and BaByliss ambassador Syd Hayes says that long-lasting volume is all about preparing the hair properly and using the right products in layers.
He likes using root volumising sprays because they give lift without the heavy feeling that some mousses can have. He also recommends Velcro rollers as one of the best tricks for adding volume at the crown or fringe area.
Hayes recommends using a lightweight volume spray at the roots before blow-drying. This type of spray is ideal if you want lift but do not want your hair to feel stiff or sticky. It adds volume at the roots while keeping the hair soft and natural.
During hot weather, a good volume spray can also help protect the hair from humidity. This means it can reduce frizz, keep the style in place and stop the hair from falling flat too quickly.
I avoided mousses for years because I had bad experiences with them when I was younger. Heavy mousses made my curls feel crunchy, sticky and stiff. But McEwen says that mousse can be very helpful for volume when used correctly.
He explains that volume should start at the roots. His advice is to apply a volumising mousse to towel-dried hair, flip the head upside down and rough-dry the hair with your fingers.
The Hershesons mousse has changed my mind about mousse. It feels very light in the hair and adds lift without making the hair hard or crispy. If your hair has natural texture, it can also help bring out your waves and give them more bounce.
4. L’Oréal Professionnel Tecni.ART Flex Pli
Hayes also likes texture sprays for flat hair. One of his favourites is L’Oréal Professionnel Tecni.ART Flex Pli. He says sprays are easy to use and give more targeted volume than mousse.
This professional root spray gives real lift without making the hair crunchy or sticky. It works best when used with heat, helping to hold body and bounce while still keeping the hair soft and movable.
Some of the best products for flat hair are used on freshly washed hair before heat styling. But there are also days when your hair is on day two or day three and needs a quick boost at the roots.
For those days, McEwen recommends lightweight volumisers and texture sprays. He especially likes Amika’s texture spray because it adds grip and fullness without leaving heavy build-up.
This kind of spray is great for refreshing already-styled hair. It adds volume, revives texture and absorbs extra oil that can make the roots look flat.
Heat Styling
Hair tools can also make a big difference when it comes to flat hair. There are many hair dryers, hot brushes and styling tools that are made to add volume and lift. If you are not very confident with styling your hair, McEwen says to keep things simple. His first tip is to rough-dry the hair with your head upside down. This helps use gravity to lift the roots.
Once the hair is about 80 percent dry, focus on the crown area. Lift small sections of hair with a brush and direct the heat at the roots. You do not need to be perfect with a round brush. Just lift the root, add heat, then use the cool shot to set the shape. Hayes says the BaByliss Air Wand is one of his favourite tools. It gives the hair a soft, full finish and is great for adding root lift with natural movement.
This multi-styler can dry the roots and also smooth the hair. The brush attachments are useful for creating sleek styles, adding bounce and shaping the crown area. A hot brush is also a great tool for flat hair. McEwen likes both the BaByliss Hydro-Fusion Air Styler and the Remington Volume & Curl Air Styler because they add volume and smoothness without needing expert styling skills.
My personal favourite is the Revlon hot brush. I am not very good at blow-drying my hair, but this brush is simple to use and gives my roots a light, airy lift. It also helps reduce the flat and frizzy look I get when I let my hair air-dry. For the results it gives, it is also a very affordable option.
Shop More Products for Flat Roots
If your scalp is oily or weighed down, your hair can look flat more quickly. A lightweight scalp tonic can help refresh the scalp, reduce heaviness and add lift, especially for finer hair types.
A light volumising foam is another good option. It gives airy volume without making the hair feel heavy. Some formulas also include proteins and vitamins to help nourish the hair while adding lift.
A volumising mist can help make very fine or flat hair look thicker. Many of these sprays also protect the hair from heat styling and UV damage.
If your hair is dry, an argan oil texture spray can be useful. It adds beachy waves and volume while keeping the hair soft instead of crunchy.
Rollers are also a simple way to add lift at the crown or fringe. Clip-in rollers work well after heat styling. For the best result, let the hair cool in the roller so the volume sets properly.
How We Tested
I tried many different products for flat hair while writing this guide. I tested them to see how well they added light volume at the roots without making the hair sticky, stiff or crunchy. I also asked professional hairstylists for their favourite products and tips. Every product mentioned here helps add soft, airy lift, feels comfortable in the hair and keeps the roots from falling flat during the day.
Why Trust Us
At Who What Wear UK, we understand that beauty is not the same for everyone. Our editors have tested thousands of beauty products over the years, including skincare, makeup, haircare and nail products. We also work with trusted experts, including dermatologists, makeup artists, hairstylists and beauty industry professionals. This helps us make sure our guides are useful, well-researched and easy to understand. We choose products based on real results, good ingredients and honest recommendations. Whether something is affordable or expensive, we only include products that we would truly suggest to a friend.
