When your hair hits you somewhere around your waist line, it isn’t always easy to maintain constant volume. I should know – I have pretty thick hair that’s cut in layers, but thanks to the length, volume is always my top concern when seeking out shampoo.
I’ve been using volumizing formulas for a while now and I’m a fan of changing up my shampoo often, so I’d like to think I have some sort of expertise in this area. So you want big hair? You got to work, bitch. Also you should follow my tips and try some of the shampoos I use. I can’t promise they’ll work for you, but I do get told that I have “dense hair” pretty often, so there’s that.
Some tips…
Use conditioner on the ends only: Just rub a bit on your palms, then massage into the last inch or so of your hair. That way it won’t weight your hand down – and it’ll last longer. Win/win, am I right?
Muss it up after washing: Take your towel, wrap it around your wet hair and rub your hands over it vigorously. This creates roughness and texture for instant volume.
Switch up your part: Any time your hair starts flattening out all you have to do is flip your side part over to the other side. Instant movement.
Lay off the product: To each his own, but I feel like even products that claim to give you volume often just weight your strands down. Skip ’em.
And now for the shampoos. I’ve ranked the five I sampled in the past few months, ranked from least effective to most effective.
5. Big Sexy Hair: For the most part, this shampoo delivers what it promises, which is BIG SEXY HAIR. Unfortunately, for me at least, this volume was temporary. My hair was greasy and flatter than usual like 12 hours after washing and I usually can go 3 days without a shampoo.
4. Herbal Essences ‘Body Envy’: I grabbed this shampoo because I was in a pinch and it was the only thing available at a convenience store. I didn’t expect a whole lot from it…but honestly, it worked pretty well. The smell is nice and my hair was sufficiently plumped after using it. I also love using the conditioner (which is super thick and creamy) as a replacement for shaving cream. It leaves my skin super smooth.
3. Bumble & Bumble Thickening: Love. This shampoo does a really great job of plumping my strands. It also gets my hair super clean, which is a great added bonus. This is a pricey shampoo, but it’s worth it.
2. John Frieda Luxurious Volume: For a drugstore find, this is one seriously excellent shampoo. I have no complaints and the fact that it’s easy to find at a grocery or drugstore is a definite plus.
1. THE. BEST. Everything about this shampoo from Aquage – from the volumizing properties to the subtle, clean smell – is just so good. It’s the one thing I buy over and over again.
