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Aug 06, 2023

Your Hair Will <3 These Cult

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If you're anything like me and your dreams of full, thicker-looking hair are constantly thwarted by oily hair, fine hair, and product build-up, here's your sign to try some new hair volume products. Yup, I’m talking about the strong-hold hairsprays, oil-absorbing dry shampoos, curly hair mousses, and thickening sprays that give your fine hair the assistance it needs to be ~voluminous~ instead of flat and limp. Because while you can't change your hair's true nature (and shouldn't have to!), there are ways to make it a little easier to style those IG-worthy blow-outs and defined curls.

To find the best volumizing hair products, I spoke to experts—hairstylist Whitney Eaddy and trichologist (a hair and scalp specialist) Kari Williams—tried and tested products on my limp hair, checked in with my fellow Cosmopolitan editors, and combed through reviews to determine what works best.

✔️ FYI: We updated this article in May of 2023 to give you the most up-to-date info on volumizing hair products, check in with experts, and add some personal faves, just for you.

But if you’re ready to deep-dive into each and every product and how to use them, stick with me, and keep scrolling for the best hair volume products around, tried and tested by our very own beauty editors—aka the O.G. hair experts.

I mean, this volumizing powder has 9,000 glowing reviews on Amazon, and has also been a beauty editor and hairstylist favorite for years. Why? Because all it takes is a tiny sprinkle of powder throughout your roots, a quick massage with your fingers, and you’re left with almost infomercial-worthy grit, texture, and volume. I was running late to a wedding event and had to throw my hair up in a ponytail. Added this to give my hair a little added va va voom, and it worked like a charm.

Key ingredient: Silica Silylate

Use on: dry hair

THE REVIEW: "I got this for myself to add texture to my hair, but my girlfriend ended up using as well to create more volume for her long hair," writes one reviewer. "Overall, we were both satisfied with the product because of the difference it made. It creates volume and thus makes your hair appeal fuller."

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Big Powder Play Volumizing & Texturizing Powder

$18.99

amazon.com

You’d think hairspray would automatically hold the volume in your hair (isn't that kinda the main reason most people use it?), but a too-strong formula will actually weigh your hair down instead of lifting it up. Enter: this dry-mist formula that has a super-fine spray (so no heavy, sticky droplets) to help freeze the volume in your hair without feeling like a helmet.

Key ingredient: Panthenol, glycerin

Use on: dry hair

THE REVIEW: "I like how the product holds and gives your hair volume," one tester writes.

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Volumizing Hairspray

$22.00

hairrules.com

Mmmkay, so don't expect this biotin-spiked shampoo to magically grow your hair (only prescription topicals can help with that, sorry), but do expect it to give you ridiculously good-looking volume. The sulfate-free shampoo is filled with hydrolyzed wheat protein and biotin that bind to your hair strand to help temporarily pump up the thickness even after you rinse it out.

Key ingredients: Biotin, Hydrolyzed Collagen

Use on: wet hair

THE REVIEW: "I can go to bed with my hair wet and just brush it in the morning and it looks like I just had a blow out," writes one reviewer.

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Thick & Full Biotin & Collagen Shampoo

$7.99

ulta.com

The thing I hate the most: Tons of hair product that makes my hair feel dirty. The answer? This volumizing foam. "My fine, flat hair looks 1000 times fuller when I use this volumizing foam," says deputy beauty director Lauren Balsamo. "It's great for creating thickness and fullness without feeling overly product-y."

Key ingredients: Proprietary polymer complex, bamboo extract

Use on: Damp hair

THE REVIEW: "Wow, it almost gives me too much volume," one tester writes. "I styled my hair like normal and needed to push my hair down so it doesn't look so big. What a great problem to have!"

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Xtra Large Bombshell Volumizer

$26.00

sephora.com

The combination of peptides to strengthen your hair, exfoliating acids to dissolve dandruff and build-up on your scalp, and castor oil for added thickness and shine is a cocktail that will make your roots appear fuller and denser. "If I want a little more volume, I add this serum to my clean, dry hair before I go to bed," says beauty writer Valeriya Chupinina. "When I style the next day, my roots have an additional boost of volume and density for me to work with."

Key ingredients: caffeine, oleanolic acid, lactic acid

Use on: wet or dry scalp

THE REVIEW: "Love this hair treatment," writes one tester. "Someone that has very fine hair I have definitely noticed a difference in thickness and strength."

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Multi-Peptide Serum for Hair Density

$21.70

sephora.com

No joke: Just a few puffs of this volumizing powder will give your hair wild-level texture and volume. The key ingredient? Silica, which sticks to your strands to create a "bulking" effect that makes even the finest hair look five times bigger. Just lift sections of your hair and puff the powder directly onto your roots, then flip your head over, massage it in, and flip back. Lion's mane. You'll see.

Key ingredients: Pro-Vitamin B5

Use on: dry hair

THE REVIEW: "This texture powder is a game changer for my hair!" writes one tester. "I have fine, thinner hair that always falls flat. The powder gives nice volume at the roots of my hair making it look fuller."

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Volume Texture Powder

$18.00

sephora.com

As someone who basically goes through a can of dry shampoo a month (my scalp is, like, um, super into oils?), I basically only use drugstore dry shampoos. So trust me when I say this $5 formula is truly one of the best for volume—it soaks up grease without leaving behind a heavy white or sticky residue. Just spray, wait five minutes (or, ideally, do it before bed), then massage your roots upside down to distribute.

Key ingredients: Tapioca starch

Use on: Dry hair

THE REVIEW: "It doesn't leave any white residue and makes my hair feel super full," one tester writes.

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Beauty Refresh + Care Volume & Fullness Dry Shampoo

$6.99

target.com

If you don't like spraying your freshly-styled hair with hairspray, opt for a volumizing product that you put on while it's still damp. "I spray this on my damp roots before blowing out my hair, and I swear it makes my super-fine, thin hair look a zillion times thicker and more volumized," says deputy beauty director Chloe Metzger.

Key ingredient: Biotin, Hydrolyzed Pea Protein

Use on: damp hair, pre-blow dry

THE REVIEW: "Love this product for a cushioned blowout with support," one reviewer writes. "I have fine hair texture, but thick density —this product gave me just enough support for my blowout to stay bouncy much longer."

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Southern Belle Volume-Boosting Root Lifter

$29.00

sephora.com

So there's no real thing as a ~universal~ conditioner—fine, straight hair has different needs than poofy, curly hair—but this formula comes pretty close, as it won't weigh down thin hair or strip curly hair. The conditioner is also formulated with sugar-derived maltodextrin, which helps beef up fine hair strands even after you rinse. Just make sure to pair it with a leave-in conditioner if you have type 3-4 curly hair.

Ingredient callout: Biotin, panthenol, hydrolyzed wheat protein

Use on: wet hair

THE REVIEWS: "I’ve been using this about two months and my hair has been shiny and has a lot more volume than before, even on day two hair!" writes one reviewer.

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Blossom & Bloom Ginseng + Biotin Volumizing Conditioner

$24.00

sephora.com

Curly hair is already a volume machine (lucky you), but if your roots are on the flatter side, try massaging a dab of this volumizing curly hair mousse into your roots before scrunching it through the rest of your hair to add lightweight definition, moisture, and strength (shout out to the hydrolyzed hemp and rice proteins).

Key ingredient: Hydrolyzed rice protein

Use on: wet hair

THE REVIEW: "After shampoo and conditioning I rub volume foam in my hands and rake though my hair, comb, scrunch and go," writes one reviewer. "My hair is shiny, not frizzy, and if sleeping makes a mess, I can wet comb and scrunch again. I love this and my curls look great!"

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Bouncy Strength Volume Foam

$26.00

ulta.com

Not a fan of the matte finish you get from most root-boosting dry shampoos and hairsprays? This volumizing spray is filled with panthenol (aka vitamin B5) that makes your hair softer, smoother, and shinier after you mist it on. Basically, everything you need for IG-worthy hair. Start with towel-dried hair and spritz throughout the lengths and roots of your hair before blow-drying.

Key ingredient: Panthenol

Use on: damp hair, pre-blow dry

THE REVIEWS: "I love this spray, my hair is very flat and this helps to give it volume," one tester writes. "It also smells wonderful!"

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Volume Spray

$26.00

sephora.com

Sometimes the best kind of volume is the grit between your strands that give it texture and body. This texturizing mist is formulated with sea salt (hi, beach waves) and aloe vera (for moisture) plus a very ~luxe~ combo of lavender, rose, and citrus scents.

Key ingredients: Aloe vera, Pacific sea salt

Use on: wet or slightly damp hair

MY REVIEW: When I need to give my hair a boost of texture and body quickly, this mist gets the job done.

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Texture Mist

$8.00

momibeauty.com

When you spritz on this thickening spray, the formula's polymers will bond to your hair strands to help "thicken" them up, keeping your hair from falling flat against your scalp. For a subtle lift, flip your head over and lightly mist your roots, or blast it throughout your hair for majorly dramatic volume.

Key ingredients: Plant protein complex

Use on: dry hair

THE REVIEW: "This product adds noticeable volume to my hair without making my hair feel crunchy," one tester writes. "And it is dry and light so it doesn't make my hair look dirty!"

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No Limit Dry Volume and Thickening Spray

$31.00

ulta.com

"My curls are fine, thin, and easily weighed down, but this mousse helps them spring up and stay volumized after diffusing," says Cosmopolitan deputy beauty director Chloe Metzger. That's because this formula is made up of lightweight moisturizers (hi, aloe vera) and polymers so your hair gets the right amount of volume without the heavy ingredients.

Key ingredients: Hydrolyzed wheat protein, hydrolyzed sweet almond protein, aloe vera

Use on: Damp hair before heat styling

THE REVIEW: "I LOVE this mousse!" writes one reviewer. "I have fine, wavy hair, so something with too much hold usually clumps all my hair together or weighs it down. This give me a definition with any worry."

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Favoloso Volumizing Mousse

$46.00

sephora.com

If your curly hair has been looking a little lank and blah recently, you may be in need of a good clarifying treatment. Enter: this gentle shampoo that uses coconut-based surfactants (ahem, not sulfates) and lactic acid to cut through grease and product buildup to leave your curls bouncy, shiny, and happy.

Key ingredients: Aloe Barbadensis leaf juice, hydrolyzed soy protein

Use on: wet hair

THE REVIEW: "Whenever I want to rock my curls, I use this shampoo," writes one tester. "My hair is soft and easy to detangle afterwards. I let my hair air dry and that's all it takes to get bouncy and frizz-free hair."

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Pure Curls Clarifying Shampoo

$11.98

amazon.com

This volumizing formula wraps each strand in stiff but flexible polymers to make your hair look and feel thicker until your next wash. To apply, lift up sections of damp hair and mist it throughout your roots, then style with heat or air-dry. You can also mist it through dry hair to add a bit of grip and texture for a more lived-in look.

Key ingredients: Proprietary-based polymer

Use on: towel-dried hair

MY REVIEW: This mist will inject volume directly at your roots, so if you're after a ton of oomph, this will get you there.

Shop Now

Intense Volume Mist

$47.00

azhaircare.com

The volumizing process starts in the shower with this bb. Rake a generous amount through your hair after shampooing and conditioning (or just sub this in as your conditioner), leave it on for five minutes, then rinse and style your hair afterwards to see the root-boosting effects. Also, FWIW, it smells incredible.

Key ingredients: Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, coconut oil

Use on: wet hair after shampoo

THE REVIEW: "This product successfully made my hair appear thicker after use," according to one tester. "It also made my hair feel really soft. The pleasant smell was also a bonus. If you're willing to splurge on a hair care product I would recommend it!"

Shop Now

Bumble and Bumble Thickening Plumping Mask

$43.00

ulta.com

What your fine, 3a curly hair type needs for volume is different from what your bestie with thick 2b hair and an oily scalp needs. Fine hair can benefit from texturizing sprays and volumizing mousses, while coarser, oilier hair types need dry shampoo and lots of hydrating ingredients.

Do you use a ton of hair product in your styling routine? Your scalp might have some build-up that needs a clarifying shampoo before you start with the volume hair products. "I suggest using a clarifying or detox shampoo to get rid of all of the buildup and gunk that can accumulate from products," says Eaddy. "This will give your hair some natural volume as it's no longer being weighed down."

But if you’re good on the build-up front and your fine, thin hair just needs some help, Eaddy suggests starting with a volumizing shampoo and conditioner—which will give your hair an oomph before you style.

While there is no ingredient that can magically give you thicker hair, there are some things that can give you the appearance of it. Trichologist Kari Williams suggests looking for Vitamin B5, also known as Panthenol, for moisture and shine. She also recommends Vitamin E "to protect the hair follicle from damage" and improve blood circulation in the scalp, sunflower oil, which contains Vitamin E and oleic acid and linoleic acid, fatty acids that are believed to help plump up fine strands. If all of that sounds too overwhelming, Williams says the key is to look for "products that have lighter ingredients that won't weigh the hair down."

Kari Williams, PhD, is a celebrity hairstylist and trichologist who owns Mahogany Hair Revolution, a natural hair salon based in Los Angeles, CA. Creator of the Goddess Loc technique, she also sells her own brand of hair products at BeautybyDr.Kari.com.

Whitney Eaddy is a celebrity hairstylist and natural hair expert based in Addison, TX. Eaddy is the founder and CEO of Juices and Botanics, a line of hair care and hair growth products, and the CEO of Her Growing Hands Salon and Spa.

Chloe Metzger is the deputy beauty director at Cosmopolitan.

Lauren Balsamo is the deputy beauty director at Cosmopolitan.

Valeriya Chupinina was a previous contributing beauty writer at Cosmopolitan.

Olivia Truffaut-Wong is an editor at Cosmopolitan with 10 years of experience writing about culture, entertainment, and lifestyle. She's a beauty lover who has covered everything from scalp massagers to magnetic lashes. As a straight-haired girly, she tests volumizing hair products as a regular part of her haircare routine.

Sami Roberts was the beauty assistant at Cosmopolitan with four years of experience researching, writing, and editing health, social media, and hair growth-related stories that range from the natural hair dyes to mushroom brown hair colors to the best hair volume products. She's an authority in hair product categories, but is an expert when it comes to volume products, thanks to a lifetime of dealing with flat, oily hair. She regularly tests and analyzes hair sprays, mousses, and dry shampoos, while working with the industry's top experts to assess new formulas and brands.

Chloe Metzger is the deputy beauty director at Cosmopolitan with nearly 10 years of experience researching, writing, and editing skin, makeup, hair, and nail stories across print and digital, including hair growth supplements and cleansing conditioners. Her hair volume product picks were based on product reviews, ratings, and personal testing, along with information from experts.

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