The battle of how to make fine hair look thicker has been going on since the dawn of time, and I’m here to help you win the war. This might sound just a bit dramatic, but as most know, those with fine, seemingly lifeless hair know this is a serious struggle—and rarely do we ever come out on top. Fortunately, with a decent amount of willpower and a few key products, there are plenty of beginner-friendly ways to get the thicker, super-full, and bouncy strands of your dreams.

Whether a Victoria’s Secret blowout is your idea of serious body or you simply want to up the volume for a special occasion, here are the habits well-worth mastering so you can see (and feel) results sooner than later.

Volume Begins With Cleansing

Though root-lifting products are almost guaranteed to uplift flat strands, getting longer-lasting results requires going beyond your styling routine. And by beyond, I mean making smarter choices about the type of shampoo you use. Generally speaking, you should opt for a more invigorating shampoo that will really get the follicles on your scalp to perk up.

In the case of fine hair, anything with volumizing benefits will suit your hair best and make the job of your mousses, texturizing sprays, and curling irons a whole lot easier. To that same point, a lot of volumizing shampoos may not have ingredients whose benefits are tied directly to adding volume; some simply cleanse the hair without adding weight. So products made with heavier nutrients, like butters and oils, should be avoided.

Avoid This Conditioner

To that same point, conditioners that claim to have “hydrating” or “smoothing” benefits on the bottle most likely have oils in them that will keep your hair from gaining volume. If you must condition the hair everyday, apply to the ends so you can still detangle. However, steer clear of the roots as that will definitely weigh down the entire strand. Dry shampoo is also a great alternative that will make your hair feel more full and fluffy.

The Blow Dry

First step: Spray a heat protectant all over your hair. Be sure to flip your head over, and start blowdrying with a round brush. After the dampness is gone, flip the hair back over, and begin to blow dry the rest in sections. Make sure to have a diffuser on the end of your dryer to give hair an amped-up vibe.

Roll It Up

After blow-drying hair, set front pieces in velcro rollers and clips for about 20 minutes to maintain high volume.

Tease It

Let the rollers out, and lightly tease the parts of hair at the crown of your head.

Lift at the Root

After teasing, spritz a small amount of root lifter in your hair to make sure your roots stay up. This can be in either mousse or spray form, but just make sure not to put in too much product. Doing so will work against you—and weigh hair down in the process.

Spray It

Look for hairsprays that have thickening or volumizing agents built into them to help with your fine hair. Use them to set your overall look.

Add Layers

The next time you head to your salon to get your hair cut, give layers a try. Layering sections of hair creates a texturized look that makes your hair appear thicker.

Don’t Over-Brush

Don’t brush your hair too often; this stimulates oils from the scalp, which will make your hair flat. If you must fix your hair with some sort of tool, opt for a wide-tooth comb.

Get Dirty

You’ve probably heard this about 3,000 times, but do not wash your hair everyday. Pulling back on how often you wash your hair will allow for fuller-looking hair at the roots. In-between washes, use dry shampoo.

from StyleCaster