The best volumising products for fine, flat hair that really do work (2024)

Fine hair can be a mixed blessing. On the upside, it tends to be naturally smooth and shiny, responds well to heat styling tools and takes a mere five-minutes to blow-dry. On the downside, it’s prone to oiliness and can fall flat, lacking the natural bounce and body found in our coarse-haired friends. The good news? There are plenty of volume-boosting products available that promise many a big hair day ahead.

“Fine hair refers to the actual diameter of the hair strands,” says Michelle Sultan, Imbue creative director and ambassador. Not to be confused with thin hair – fine hair is small in diameter while thin hair is lacking in density. “Those with naturally fine hair have more hairs on their scalp than any other hair texture,” adds Annabel Kingsley, trichologist at Philip Kingsley. “And as each hair follicle has an oil gland attached, fine haired individuals have more oil glands on the scalp – meaning it becomes greasy and limp fast.”

Oil aside, this hair texture can also fall flat. “Due to the small diameter of individual strands, fine hair lacks body and movement and often doesn’t hold styles for long periods of time,” explains Kingsley. While frustrating, it’s not all bad news. As Adam Reed, legendary London hairstylist and founder or Arkive Headcare, points out: “it’s often referred to as the best hair type by hairdressers because it’s easy to style and easy to cheat volume.”

To give fine hair a bit of oomph, turn your head to the latest volume-boosting products making waves in the industry. “Look for lightweight formulas that won’t weigh hair down,” says Sultan. Staring with shampoo, Kingsley recommends gentle-lathering formulas that contain natural cellulose and keratin proteins to thicken and strengthen strands. “For styling, priming products and root texturisers are incredible for adding volume,” says Reed.

For the best way to guarantee long-lasting bounce – look to our round-up of the best volumising shampoos and styling products for fine hair below:

Thank you, Jen Atkin, for bringing this brilliant shampoo to our beauty shelves. Lightweight and volumising, Ouai’s fine hair shampoo boasts keratin and biotin to strengthen strands alongside hemp seed extract and chia seed oil to deliver hydration. Hair is left lifted, bouncy and full of oomph – it seriously is a mane-changer (and one of the best we’ve tried).

Limp, lacklustre locks? Turn your head to this body-building shampoo from Philip Kingsley that’s laced with natural cellulose and keratin proteins to plump up each and every strand for fuller-looking results. It can be used daily, too – which is ideal for fine hair that’s prone to oily roots.

This luxury shampoo is a real treat for the tresses. Loaded with nourishing oils and extracts (including plant collagen and caffeine), the hard-working formula strengthens and softens strands to deliver fuller-looking, healthier hair. Our top tip? Save this one for special occasions.

Redken has answered fine hair prayers with this Volume Injection duo. As the name suggests, the shampoo and conditioner formulas bolster volume thanks to a secret ingredient called Filloxane that works by swelling the hair’s cuticle. The results? Bounce and body that will rival that of coarse-haired friends.

Not only does French beauty brand Typology stock some of the best skincare serums, but it’s also home to one of the best volumising shampoos around. With 95 per cent naturally derived ingredients, the no-nonsense formula combines strengthening almond protein with hydrating aloe vera to gently cleanse hair without weighing it down. Hair feels silky soft with added movement.

A quick fix for when needs must, this brand-new styling spray from Living Proof is a godsend for fine, flat hair. Not only does it absorb oil and protect hair from heat (up to 410°), but it also transforms lacklustre locks, adding volume and texture in seconds. Simply shake the bottle, lift sections of the hair and spray this onto roots before tousling to style.

Arkive by Adam Reed is the new haircare brand on the block that’s here to transform our tresses. Ideal for fine hair, The Prologue Hair Primer is activated by heat to allow hair to take on any shape and style while also boosting staying power. How does it work? Spritz it onto damp hair, from root to tip, before using a hairdryer to activate and style.

Fine curly hair? Turn your head to this lightweight serum from Imbue. Designed for curl types 3A-4C, the conditioning blend of coconut, cupuaçu and cacao can be worked into damp hair to help boost and plump strands from the inside out. For second, third- and fourth-day hair, founder Michelle Sultan recommends massaging it into lengths to re-energise curls.

Add all-over oomph using L’Oréal Professionnel’s lightweight mousse. A far cry from those heavy mousses of the past, this new-gen formula adds next-level volume and hold without any stiffness or stickiness. Just shake up the bottle and work a mandarin-sized amount through damp strands before heat styling.

This luxurious lightweight mist is perfect for those days when hair needs a little pick-me-up. It can be spritzed onto roots to give good lift or misted through ends to help separate and add swish. Oh, and the best part? It leaves behind a delicious lasting scent of lavender, jasmine and violet.