{"id":454,"date":"2012-11-12T13:12:34","date_gmt":"2012-11-12T13:12:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.richardfrancissalon.com\/salon\/?p=454"},"modified":"2020-02-18T16:12:38","modified_gmt":"2020-02-18T21:12:38","slug":"how-to-fix-flat-hair","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.richardfrancissalon.com\/salon\/2012\/11\/how-to-fix-flat-hair\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Fix Flat Hair"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1436538815021{border-top-width: 25px !important;padding-top: 20px !important;border-top-color: #dd9933 !important;border-top-style: solid !important;}”][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_custom_heading source=”post_title” font_container=”tag:h1|font_size:40px|text_align:left|color:%23ce6c13|line_height:50px” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]\"howDo you constantly struggle to add volume to your flat hair?<\/strong>\u00a0Flat hair is a common problem among those with a finer hair texture. Certain factors, such as hair products or hairstyle, can contribute to the epidemic of flat hair.<\/p>\n

Thankfully, a variety of tricks exist to help fix your flat hair. If you struggle to add volume to your flat hair, then this article is for you. You will learn what products actually revive flat hair and which hair styling habits that you have may be promoting flat hair.<\/p>\n

Learn more about handy flat hair fixes from the following article quoted from About.com<\/a>. With the right types of products and hair styling, soon your flat hair will be no more.<\/p>\n

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Flat Hair\u00a0Fixes<\/h2>\n

How to Give Your Fine Hair More\u00a0Body<\/h3>\n

I have a head full of fine hair. This means the diameter of my hair strands is smaller than average. This also means that my hair, though thick with body, can fall flat and lifeless with the wrong haircut or product (hello, conditioner on the roots!).<\/p>\n

In honor of my hair and yours \u2014 assuming you are here because you also have fine, flat and perhaps lifeless hair \u2014 I\u2019ve written up every single flat hair fix I know about. From the right haircuts to the best products, to styling tips (oh, how I love ye, oh rounded brush) and much more, you\u2019ll never be more informed about flat hair. Trust me.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s to bouncier days ahead.<\/p>\n

Why Layers Aren\u2019t Always Better<\/h3>\n

I\u2019ve had my share of bad haircuts. My biggest pet peeve is when a stylist thins out my thick, fine hair with overzealous razoring, leaving me with loads of layers and wispy, anemic hair. I believe they believe they are giving my hair \u201cmovement\u201d and \u201cbody,\u201d but what happens is my hair falls limp and lifeless and I leave the salon looking like someone placed a helmet of hair upon my head.<\/p>\n

Now when I get a haircut, I ask my stylist to keep as much of the thickness as possible. I explain that people pay money to have a thick head of hair like mine, so please do not thin mine out. Turns out my instincts were right.<\/p>\n

\u201cA one-length cut makes hair look its thickest,\u201d says NYC hairstylist\u00a0Garren<\/a>\u00a0in InStyle magazine. \u201cToo many layers can look stringy.\u201d<\/p>\n

And then there\u2019s this from celebrity stylist Ted Gibson. \u201cKeep your hair at a one-length shape. It will add strength and volume to your hair,\u201d says Gibson on the\u00a0Stylelist Website<\/a>. \u201cIf you put in a lot of layers, what ends up happening is that it has no shape.\u201d<\/p>\n

Oh, the Benefits of a Good Haircut<\/h3>\n

The longer thin, fine hair gets, the flatter it lays. It\u2019s just a sad fact of physics. Want the most body for your fine hair? Keep your hair\u2019s length above the collarbone. The shorter the hair, the more body it will have.<\/p>\n

Personally, I love a swingy,\u00a0shoulder-length cut<\/a>\u00a0with the back just a bit shorter than the front, (think \u201clong bob<\/a>\u201c), but\u00a0bobs<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0pixies<\/a>\u00a0also work well with fine hair.<\/p>\n

How to Go Long Without Your Hair Going Flat<\/h3>\n

If you absolutely, definitely want to keep your hair longer than your collarbone, then consider these tips:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Layers. If you have fine hair, but loads of it, a few layers will add body and movement. But if you have fine hair and not so much of it, the fewer layers the better (see the above section). Ask your stylist to angle a few pieces around your face.<\/li>\n
  2. Bangs. Bangs give the allusion of fullness and can add body to your hair. Consider cutting in\u00a0sideswept bangs<\/a>,\u00a0fringe<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0blunt bangs<\/a>.<\/li>\n
  3. Consider extensions. Extensions aren\u2019t just for celebrities anymore. More and more women are opting for permanent extensions and clip-ons to add fullness and body to otherwise limp hair. Just make sure to find a reputable stylist who\u2019s experienced with extensions. Do keep in mind that extensions can damage your own hair, but women who try them say it\u2019s worth it.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    The Importance of a Good Shampoo<\/h3>\n

    Fine hair can get weighed down by creamy shampoos. Gentle shampoos marked for volume and daily or frequent washing are your best bets. The product should be clear, not thick and creamy. To combat build-up, wash once a week with a clarifying shampoo or rinse hair with a mixture of 1\/3 apple cider vinegar and 2\/3 water.<\/p>\n

    See a list of the\u00a0Best Shampoos, Conditioners for Fine Hair<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    Yes, You Can Use Conditioner. Just Do It Correctly<\/h3>\n

    Since fine hair can be susceptible to knots and tangles, you should use a light (emphasis on \u201clight\u201d) conditioner in the shower. I recommend you condition\u00a0before<\/em>\u00a0you shampoo, however, because sometimes conditioners can leave a residue on hair and the shampoo will take care of that.<\/p>\n

    Apply conditioner only on the bottom 3\/4ths of hair. If you condition the scalp, you will weigh down flat hair even more. Been there, done that.<\/p>\n

    I include conditioners in this list of the\u00a0Best Shampoos, Conditioners for Fine Hair<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    Make Sure Your Cabinet is Stocked With the Right Products<\/h3>\n

    The right volumizing products can add body to flat hair. Look for products labeled \u201cvolumizing\u201d or \u201cadds body.\u201d For best results, New York hairstylist Garren recommends massaging volumizing spray or lotion into the roots of partially dry hair. You can also spray your crown and then comb the product through with a wide-tooth comb. Just be careful not to overuse product, because too much can actually weigh hair down, rather than lift it.<\/p>\n

    Use creamy pomades and shine serums sparingly and never near the scalp or roots. If you need to use a pomade or serum to tame frizz, use the \u201cpalm method\u201d: put a pea- or dime-sized amount in the palm of your hand, rub palms together and then \u201cpalm\u201d the product only on the areas that need it most.<\/p>\n

    See my list of the\u00a0Top Volumizing Products for Fine Hair<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    Why Baby Powder \u2014 or Dry Shampoo \u2014 Can Change Your Life<\/h3>\n

    Baby powder has been a staple in my beauty closet for years. Whenever I have oily hair days I sprinkle a bit of baby powder on my brush and brush it into my roots and along the crown. Just make sure to brush the powder in so there\u2019s no white residue.<\/p>\n

    If you have darker hair or hate the smell of baby powder, there are a million great dry shampoos on the market.<\/p>\n

    Hair Color Actually Boosts Volume<\/h3>\n

    I find my hair is at it\u2019s thickest in the couple weeks after I get it colored. My colorist at\u00a0Eva Scrivo Salon<\/a>\u00a0says it\u2019s because the dyes mess with the cuticle, plumping it up. (Or something like that). Anyway, it works, trust me.<\/p>\n

    A Good Blow-dry Can Last a Long Time<\/h3>\n

    If you\u2019ve ever had a great blow-dry at the salon you know a good one can last a 2-3 days, even on oily hair. You can actually give yourself a salon-quality blow-dry as long as you have the right products and tools.<\/p>\n

    Here are my blow-dry tips:<\/p>\n

      \n
    • When it comes to fine hair, a \u201crough dry\u201d is key. Remove the nozzle attachment to your dryer (it concentrates heat and can flatten hair) and blast the air all over the hair while roughening up the roots with your fingers. Turn upside down for a few seconds to give hair extra body.<\/li>\n
    • Once hair is dry, blast your entire head with cool air. \u201cThis creates fullness and loosens up the blow-dry,\u201d according to hairstylist Nathaniel Hawkins in Allure magazine.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      For detailed instruction, see\u00a0The Perfect Blowout \u2014 How to Blow Dry Your Hair<\/a>.<\/p>\n

      Yes, Your Hairbrush Matters<\/h3>\n

      I like a metal vented round brush for my blow dries. The metal conducts heat, while the vents circulate it. Hairstylist Ted Gibson recommends round brushes with a mix of boar and nylon bristles. \u201cThe combination of the two smoothes and detangles, and creates volume,\u201d Gibson says in InStyle magazine.<\/p>\n

      When drying hair with a brush, pull hair up with the brush and blast heat underneath to add body. Finish the ends off by rounding under. You can also blow dry with a paddle brush and then end with the rounded brush.<\/p>\n

      See my list of\u00a0The Best Hairbrushes<\/a>.<\/p>\n

      Air Drying Can Add Volume<\/h3>\n

      Fine hair can be brittle hair, so the less amount of time spent with the blowdryer the better. This means letting hair air dry as much as possible. Blot hair dry with a towel after a shower and comb in a root booster or volumizing spray at the crown, then let hair air dry. You can roughen up hair at the crown or scrunch hair in the palm of your hands to give hair a natural beachy wave effect.<\/p>\n

      Once hair dries, you may find it falls flat within a few hours. Instead of applying more product, simply wet your fingers with water and massage your scalp and along the crown to reactivate the product you put in after you washed your hair.<\/p>\n

      You can also wash your hair at night and wake up with hair full of body, ala Heidi Klum: \u201cSometimes when I wake up in the morning, I don\u2019t even brush my hair,\u201d Klum says on the Website\u00a0StyleList<\/a>. \u201cMy trick is to wash my hair at night and fall asleep with my hair wet. Then I roll around in the pillow and I wake up and my hair looks perfectly messy.\u201d<\/p>\n

      How to Properly Tease Hair<\/h3>\n

      Nothing quite builds body in fine hair like a proper teasing job. When it comes to teasing, \u201cbe sure to fully remove the teeth of the rattail comb from your hair after each precise, downward stroke,\u201d says Dove hairstylist Mark Townsend in Allure magazine. \u201cThat way, you\u2019re actually building up the mass of hair, not just pushing it around.\u201d<\/p>\n

      For more details, see\u00a0How to Tease Hair<\/a>.<\/p>\n

      How to Make Curls Last<\/h3>\n

      Fine hair and curls. Oh my. While nothing gives hair body like a perfect curl it\u2019s true that curls seem to wilt like flowers on the vine if you don\u2019t prep them beforehand with a styling spray and then set them after with hairspray.<\/p>\n

      I give you all the curling tips you need for sexy curls in\u00a0How to Curl Hair: The Secret to Sexy, \u201cBeachy\u201d Waves<\/a>.<\/p>\n

      Invest in a Few Fat Rollers<\/h3>\n

      Huge, fat rollers are a stylist\u2019s best friend.<\/p>\n

      \u201cMany hairstylists set their clients\u2019 hair in curlers no matter what style they\u2019re going for, from updos to long waves,\u201d says Garren in InStyle magazine. \u201cThey give the hair a lush fullness you can\u2019t get otherwise.\u201d<\/p>\n

      To use rollers, Garren recommends first rough-drying hair, then rolling 2-inch sections of hair from the ends all the way to the roots. Hair should be fully dry before you remove the rollers. Loosen the curl with your fingers.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

      With a new combination of the right hairbrush, shampoo, volumizing products, and a style that works with your fine hair, you will no longer have to deal with flat hair. Consider experimenting with an assortment of techniques to see which best eliminates your flat hair problems.<\/p>\n

      The stylists at Richard Francis Salon are well-versed in creating unique hairstyles that match the needs of all different types and textures of hair. If you desire more advice on flat hair or are looking for a new, volumizing haircut, then please contact us<\/a>.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″]