How to get volume at the roots: pro tips for fuller-looking hair

Flat roots can feel like a styling mystery, one that keeps reappearing in your mirror no matter how many times you try to fix it. But when it comes to learning how to create volume at your roots, there’s more to the story than just teasing and texturizing. From the science behind limp strands to the smartest ways to add lift, this guide will give you the tools [and products] to bring your hair back to life.

The science behind why hair falls flat.

Your hair can fall flat due to a combination of biological and physical factors that affect how it behaves, especially at the roots.

First, the structure of the hair follicle plays a major role. Hair grows from the follicle, which is anchored in the scalp and surrounded by a network of cells and proteins that help the hair shaft grow straight, strong, and upright. However, when these proteins lose their structural integrity, hair lacks the necessary stiffness to stand tall from the root. This leaves it more susceptible to gravity’s pull and causes it to flatten at the scalp.

Another contributing factor to flat hair is the accumulation of natural oils on the scalp. While these oils are essential for moisturizing hair, they can also weigh it down, especially if they build up. Over time, sebum and residue from styling products can travel down the hair shaft — particularly for those with fine or straight hair — reducing volume at the roots.¹

The hair growth cycle also plays a role in how much lift your roots get. Hair grows in cycles: growth (anagen), rest (telogen), and shedding (catogen).² If the growth phase shortens, as it can with age or hormonal changes, hair won’t grow as long or thick, contributing to a flatter appearance. Certain factors such as increased sebum or thinning hair can cause the follicles themselves to shrink, further reducing hair volume and root lift.

Understanding these factors highlights that flat roots aren’t just a styling issue; they’re also influenced by biology. While you can’t change the basic structure of your hair overnight, there’s still plenty you can do to add lift to your roots, enhance hair density, and achieve the appearance of more voluminous hair.

How to create volume at the roots: 8 tips for all hair types.

No matter your hair type, creating volume at the roots can elevate your entire look, giving it fullness and lift that lasts. These tips are easy to follow and effective for every hair type and texture:

1. Remove buildup with a clarifying shampoo. The first step to achieving voluminous hair is to remove buildup and residue. Over time, styling products, hard water, and your hair’s natural oils can accumulate on and weigh down your scalp and strands. Clarifying shampoo uses a combination of chelating agents and surfactants to strip away this residue. This deep cleanse leaves your hair feeling light and refreshed and provides a clean canvas for styling. For best results, follow your clarifying shampoo with a moisturizing mask to keep your hair looking and feeling soft and healthy.
2. Towel-dry your hair after you get out of the shower. After showering, gently towel-dry your hair using a microfiber towel or an old t-shirt. This creates friction along the hair shaft, which can make hair look more voluminous by adding texture. Microfiber towels and cotton t-shirts are ideal for this because they’re less abrasive than regular towels, which means they’ll prevent frizz while still adding the lift you're looking for. Also, by absorbing excess moisture, you can get to styling that much faster.
3. Apply a volumizing mousse or powder to your roots. When it comes to getting volume at the roots, a purpose-made mousse or powder is your best bet. These products typically contain thickening or stiffening agents that form a lightweight layer around the roots. This helps them stand up more easily and makes your hair look fuller from root to tip. To use, apply mousse or powder to damp hair, focusing on the roots. Comb through to evenly distribute the product, then style as usual.
4. Blow-dry your hair upside down. If you’re looking for instant volume, blow-drying your hair upside down can work wonders. Start by flipping your hair, then use a blow-dryer and round brush to dry, focusing on the roots. This technique creates lift at the scalp and uses heat to set it in place, which promotes volume without the need for additional styling products. For extra fullness, finish with a cool shot of air to lock in the shape and prevent your roots from falling flat.
5. Tease your hair. Teasing is a quick and effective way to add volume. By gently backcombing small sections of hair, you create tangles at the roots and along each strand, which can make your hair appear fuller. Emphasis on ‘gently’: Teasing too aggressively can cause damage. To add even more texture and volume, apply a texturizing or root-lifting spray to your hair prior to teasing. This adds grip, so you can achieve a more voluminous, lasting lift without the need for excessive backcombing.
6. Change your part. Who knew something as simple as changing your part could immediately add volume? When you part your hair in the same spot every day, it can train your roots to lie flat in that direction. By switching things up and parting your hair on the opposite side, you’re essentially going against the grain, forcing it to ‘relearn’ where it falls. This adds instant lift to your roots and can give your hair a refreshed look with minimal effort.
7. Set your style with hairspray. No matter which volumizing technique you choose to use, you can finish it off by setting your style with a light mist of hairspray. This will lock in the volume and prevent your roots from flat as the day goes on. Just hold the spray can about 6–8 inches from your face and mist lightly to avoid adding extra weight to your hair. A flexible hold hairspray is ideal for this because it keeps hair in place while maintaining a more natural look.
8. Revitalize your hair with dry shampoo. Dry shampoo isn’t only for extending time between washes — it can also be a great way to boost volume. By absorbing excess oil and adding texture to hair, dry shampoo gives your roots a fuller, more lifted appearance. Apply it directly to your roots and crown — or anywhere you see oil you want to absorb — then massage it in with your fingertips or a brush. For extra lift, flip your hair upside down while working it in.

How to get volume at the roots for every hair type.

Looking for tips tailored to your specific hair type and texture? Whether your hair is fine or thick, straight, wavy, curly, or coily, there’s a solution for you:

Fine hair

• Avoid applying conditioner to your roots. While they can add much-needed hydration to your strands, conditioners are often thick and can weigh down fine hair, especially at the roots. To keep your hair light and voluminous, focus on applying conditions from the mid-lengths to the ends of your hair.
• Give yourself regular scalp massages. Stimulating the scalp with a gentle massage can increase blood flow to the hair follicles, encouraging growth and giving your roots a fuller appearance.
• Sleep with your hair in braids or velcro rollers. Heatless styling is an easy and effective way to wake up with extra volume while still being gentle on fine hair. Braids or velcro rollers can create a natural-looking texture and lift at the roots — simply apply the night before, take them out in the morning, and enjoy your added volume.
• Use lightweight volumizing products. Fine hair can be easily weighed down, so opt for lightweight mousses or texturizing sprays that won’t add excess weight. Concentrate on applying at the roots so that they stand up without affecting your hair’s natural movement.
• Try a thickening spray. Thickening sprays apply microscopic particles to the strands of your hair, making them appear more dense and, as a result, more full. Simply apply to damp hair and blow-dry for a fuller look at the roots.

Thick hair

• Schedule routine hair trims to reduce weight. Thick hair can often feel heavy, which makes it harder for the roots to lift. Regular trims remove split ends and reduce bulk, making it easier to achieve the volume you’re after.
• Add layers to add dimension. By cutting your hair in layers, you add texture and movement, which can help your roots appear fuller and reduce the heavy, flat look thick hair can sometimes have.

Straight hair

• Clip your roots together and apply a light mist of hair spray. For added volume, place a series of small claw clips at the roots along your crown while your hair is still damp and allow it to dry. Once dried, take out the clips and apply a fine mist of flexible hair spray to hold the light in place without weighing it down.
• Sleep with your hair in braids or velcro rollers. Just like with fine hair, straight hair can benefit from heatless styling techniques that add lift and texture at the same time.

Wavy hair

• Use a diffuser when drying your hair. A diffuser attachment for your blow-dryer helps distribute heat evenly, reducing frizz while enhancing your natural hair pattern. This enables your waves to keep their shape while maintaining volume at the roots.
• Get a curly cut. Even if you don’t have curly hair, you can still benefit from this technique, where a stylist trims your hair while it’s still dry and makes selective cuts that help enhance your natural pattern. A curly cut can add shape and dimension to your waves, while eliminating extra weight so that they naturally bounce at the roots.

Curly or coily hair

• Clip your roots up while drying. Clipping your roots together — again, placing small claw clips along your crown — while your hair is still drying holds them in an elevated position and creates natural lift.
• Use a diffuser when drying your hair. To maintain definition while lifting your roots, dry your hair with a diffuser and flip your head upside-down or side-to-side. Gravity will do its part, while the diffuser adds volume without disrupting your curl pattern.
• Sleep with your hair in a ‘pineapple.’ Gathering your curls into a loose, high ponytail — the ‘pineapple’ shape this styling trick gets its name from — keeps your roots lifted overnight for extra volume. Just be sure to use a silk or satin scrunchy to avoid any unnecessary friction on your curls that could create frizz rather than volume.
• Thin your hair. It might sound counterintuitive, but strategically thinning heavy curls can remove bulk at the ends, creating more lift at your roots. Work with a stylist who specializes in curly to find a shape that supports volume without sacrificing fullness.

The perfect root-lifting lineup: 8 products to try.

Want even more lift? These products do the heavy lifting at the roots, so you don’t have to. Use them solo or layer them for amplified volume that actually lasts.

• Clarifying shampoo: Clean roots are lifted roots. A weekly reset with a clarifying shampoo removes the weight of product buildup, oil, and hard water minerals that can flatten your style. Try our Clarifying Detox Shampoo, which is clinically proven to remove 97% of product buildup and 95% of sebum and pollution in a single wash, all without stripping hair.
  
• Volumizing shampoo: The foundation for full-bodied hair starts in the shower. A volumizing shampoo, such as our Full Shampoo, creates a lightweight base, adding lift at the root and helping styles hold longer.
• Volumizing conditioner: Contrary to popular belief, conditioner can boost volume, too! Choose one that moisturizes without weighing down, such as our Full Conditioner, which delivers weightless hydration and amplifies fullness.
• Texturizing spray: The right texturizing shampoo — such as the Full Dry Volume & Texture Spray — increases volume at the roots by adding grip and separation, helping styles stay full all day.
• Root-lifting spray: Specifically designed to target the roots, sprays such as the Full Volume & Root-Lifting Spray create lift exactly where you want it. Simply apply to damp, detangled hair, spraying from root to tip, then blow-dry roots first to build volume.
• Texturizing styling cream: For those who prefer cream over spray, a texturizing styling cream adds structure to hair without stiffness. The Style Lab® amp²® Texture Volumizer is great for defining layers and lifting roots, providing an instant volume boost with touchable texture and flexible hold.
• Dry shampoo: Not just for second [or third] day hair, dry shampoo can also be a strategic styling tool. A quick spritz at the roots can absorb oil, add texture, and lift hair away from the scalp. The Perfect hair Day™ Advanced Clean Dry Shampoo takes things one step further, actually cleansing hair, for lifted roots with no residue.
• Hairspray: Lock in volume without locking down your style — a flexible hold hairspray, such as the Style Lab® Flex Hairspray, holds lifted roots in place while still leaving hair touchably soft.

Get fuller-looking hair with Living Proof.

The best volume starts with the right haircare routine. At Living Proof, all of our formulations are backed by science and clinically proven to give you healthier, fuller-looking hair. Want a personalized plan for more lift, bounce, or body? Take our free Haircare Quiz to discover your perfect product lineup.

FAQs

Why is my hair not voluminous at the roots?

Flat roots can be caused by excess oil, product buildup, the texture of your hair, and even the structure of your follicles. When sebum and product residue accumulate on the scalp, they weigh hair down and reduce natural lift. Over time, this can train your roots to lie flat. Biological factors such as thinning hair, shorter growth cycles, or weakened follicles can also contribute to less volume, but the right products and techniques can make a noticeable difference.

How do you get volume in your roots overnight?

To add volume to your hair while sleeping, try styling it in a way that lifts your roots away from the scalp. For example, if you have fine or straight hair, wearing it in velcro rollers, braiding it, or using heatless curling tools can add volume and texture. If you have curly or coily hair, gather your curls in a loose ‘pineapple’ shape on top of your head to preserve your texture and create root lift overnight. For extra lift, apply dry shampoo or a light texturing spray before you go to bed to absorb oil and add texture.

How can I create volume at the crown without teasing?

If you want volume without backcombing, focus on weightless styling and strategic product use. Apply a root-lifting spray to damp hair, blow-dry with your head upside-down, and finish with a flexible hold hairspray to retain the shape. If you prefer to air-dry your hair, clip your roots up to ‘set’ them so that they stay upright; even something as simple as changing your part can create the look of more body and volume. Finally, products such as thickening mousses, texture sprays and creams, and even dry shampoo can build volume at the crown without damage or tangling.

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