Despite the delicate composition of fine hair, celebrity stylist Ted Gibson notes that, "Fine hair is actually easy to manage. You can create interesting shapes as well as lots of volume." So how do we do that?
Hair Basics: How to style fine hair
Is your fine hair always falling flat? Blame it on its makeup (the diameter of fine hair is actually smaller and more delicate than other hair types), but also hold your styling habits accountable (volumiser should be applied to the roots not the ends). To keep you from further flatlining, we enlisted the help of celebrity stylist and TLC's What Not To Wear's Ted Gibson. Here, he offers tips on how make fine hair less floppy and more fabulous in five simple steps.
Hair Basics: How to style fine hair
The first and most important step to increase volume so hair looks and feels more full is to apply a volumiser. One of the biggest mistakes women make is applying it all over the hair. "You want to spray it directly at the scalp and massage it in," says Gibson. Make sure to work in sections and apply the product to the entire head (scalp area only).
Hair Basics: How to style fine hair
To create even more volume, apply a quarter-size amount of hair gel. "It will penetrate the cuticle and give the hair a lot of body and fullness," says Gibson. Start one inch away from the scalp and apply it all the way through to the ends, completely saturating the hair.
Hair Basics: How to style fine hair
"The blow dry is the ultimate experience in creating volume," says Gibson. But before you start to fully style, rough dry the hair so it's 80-percent dry. Secure the nozzle attachment to the blow dryer to help concentrate the heat and rough dry the hair from the scalp to the ends.
Pro Tip: Look for a blow dryer that's a combination of tourmaline and ceramic. They provide constant heat, which helps with straightening, and cuts down on both frizz and drying time.
Hair Basics: How to style fine hair
Working with one and half to two inch sections (depending on the density of your hair), rotate a round brush in a circular motion to create volume. When you reach the ends, wrap the hair around the brush (almost like it's a hot roller) and add more heat to create curl and wave at the ends.
Pro Tip: Use a mixed boar and nylon bristle round brush. Boar helps to smooth the hair while nylon helps detangle. Together the combination adds fullness and body.
Hair Basics: How to style fine hair
Finish your blow dry with a shot of cool air. This helps to seal and close the cuticle, and lock in your voluminous style.
Then, flip your hair upside down, run your fingers through it to ruffle up the roots, spritz in a small amount of hair spray, flip hair over your head, and viola, gorgeously "fat" hair!