Tips to Increase Hair Volume for Fine Thin Hair
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Get expert tips to increase hair volume for fine, thin hair! Discover favorite products and styling techniques that make fine hair look fuller, thicker, and more voluminous. See all of my thin hair posts on my Fine Thin Hair page.
UPDATED May 2025
Welcome back! In this post, I’m diving into the best products and tricks to increase hair volume when working with fine thin hair—plus sharing more tips and tricks to help you manage and style it with ease.
If this is your first time here, you’ll get to know me and my story better by starting at the beginning. Head over to the Fine Thin Hair Journey page to read more!
This is not a sponsored post, but my true feelings on my own personal hair dilemma and product use. Join me for my story. My fine thin hair dilemma.
Tips to Increase Hair Volume for Fine, Thin Hair
Best Hair Color for Thin Hair
The best and least damaging hair color you should use on thin hair is semi-permanent (now called Demi-permanent), or temporary coloring like sprays, powders, or creams.
Using permanent hair color on fine, thin hair can cause damage and actually reduce the diameter of the hair shaft over time. To protect your hair, it’s best to stick with low-peroxide formulas or skip the peroxide altogether.
Now, I know some of you may disagree, especially if you’re dealing with a lot of gray and rely on permanent color for full coverage. I totally understand!
Some types of hair actually get more volume and control from hair color. Maybe it’s from the coatings they add to the hair color formulas these days to keep the hair color from washing out. They work by adding volume to hair by coating the shaft.
But if minimizing damage is your goal, Demi-permanent color is a gentler alternative worth trying.
Demi color means semi-permanent hair color. You use lower levels of peroxide, like 5-10% peroxide versus 20% peroxide with this type of color, so they do the least amount of damage to your hair shafts.
If you have a lot of grey, over 20%, this color will not cover them all completely. It is not a full-coverage permanent color.
Demi colors work best on hair that is 10%-20% gray. With some demi-color brands, you can sit under a dryer and get color coverage, so do your homework to find the right one for you.
The Wella Color Charm Demi-Permanent color brand is my all-time favorite go-to.
Using Biotin Supplements:
I took 10,000 mcg of Biotin daily for a few years, and my go-to brand was Natrol Biotin. Once I started taking it, I noticed a good amount of regrowth, especially along my part, hairline, and even in my lashes and brows.
Of course, these results also came alongside a new, gentler routine with less processing and highlighting, which helped reduce stress on my hair overall.
I’d describe my results as mild—nothing dramatic, just okay. However, I’ve definitely noticed that when I skip the biotin for a while, my eyebrows would thin out. I’ve had friends see amazing, noticeable results from biotin… I just wasn’t that lucky!
It may be worth a try. Please consult your doctor before using any supplement.
DISCLAIMER: Always consult your doctor before starting any new supplement, including Biotin. I am not a medical professional, and this content is for informational purposes only. Kim Purvis, Made in a Day Blog, and The Purvis Group LLC do not endorse or take responsibility for any outcomes related to the use of this product. Please speak with a healthcare provider to determine if it’s right for you.
Hair Products for Thin Hair
My #1 fav product! Root Spray!
This is likely a product you already have in your hair styling kit! I use it to make my hairline appear fuller when wearing a topper, to cover roots in my bio hair, or even to add dark roots to a wig.
I love both brands mentioned above, but personally, I think the TRESemmé version works a bit better than L’Oréal, though it can be trickier to find in stores.
My go-to hair and scalp concealer is Boldify—it’s a powder formula that comes with a sponge applicator, but I prefer using a foundation brush for more precise hairline coverage when wearing my topper.
It’s available in a wide range of shades, including auburn, light blonde, and even white, so there’s a great match for just about everyone.
If you’re experiencing advanced thinning or have sparse areas on the crown, part line, or just need a quick root touch-up, hair fiber products are a great solution.
One of the most popular options—especially among the women in my hair group—is Toppik Hair Building Fibers. You simply sprinkle or spray the fibers onto thinning spots using an applicator, and they instantly create the appearance of fuller hair.
They’re designed to resist wind, rain, and sweat, yet wash out easily with shampoo. It’s not something I use, but I thought I would pass it on in case you needed more coverage.
When I really need a style to stay put, I use mousse! The L’Oréal Boost is more of a traditional mousse and one of the better ones I have found for making fine thin hair hold while styling. The L’Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle BOOST IT Air Whipped Densifying Foam is a densifier and light mousse with little ot no crunch. Just squirt some into your hands and run it through before using a blow dryer or air drying.
Styling Tricks to Make Fine Hair Look Thicker
If you have fine hair, the right styling techniques can make a huge difference in adding volume and fullness.
- One of the best tricks is to use a volumizing mousse or root lift spray before blow-drying. Apply it to damp hair, then blow-dry using a round brush or a blowout brush while lifting the roots—this helps create long-lasting body.
- A simple flip of your part to the opposite side can instantly add lift and make your hair look fuller.
- If you love ponytails or updos, try teasing the crown slightly before securing your style to create a fuller look.
- For an everyday boost, try using a textured dry shampoo like Batiste Texture Dry Shampoo, it will add volume and grip, making hair appear thicker and more textured.
With the right products and techniques, even the finest hair can have serious volume!
How to Increase Hair Volume with a Fun Trick!
I’m going to show you how to do a faux salon blow-out with a twist! I have been doing this for years to my fine thin hair to volumptious hair!
It looks rather silly but it totally works to get a fuller style. It is also one of the best ways to curl fine hair without so much damage.
You will need small Goody Ouchless Ponytail Holders. They are tiny terry cloth bands, you will find in the children’s hair section of most stores. You will also need Velcro Rollers to hold the curls while they are cooling.
NOTE: Do not use regular pony bands they will leave depression marks on your hair when you are finished styling. You need soft terry cloth bands for fine hair that will not show a crease.
Fun Tricks to Add Volume to Fine or Thin Hair:
Volume METHOD #1
- Wash and dry your hair with a blow dryer.
- Section off the crown of your head like you would curl it with a curling iron or rollers in 1-2 inch sections.
- Put a terry band on each small section, making small ponytails. Tighten the band close to your scalp. Do this all over the crown on the top and sides of your hair. Leave the rest of your hair down.
- After you separate the hair into small ponytails, take your curling iron and curl each pony section in the direction you would normally style your hair.
- Add a velcro roller to each one to hold the shape of the curl while it cools off.
- Curl the rest of your hair as usual.
- Spray the rollers with a strong hairspray and let them cool down.
I usually apply my makeup and finish getting ready, and get dressed while they are cooling off.
When you remove the hair velcro rollers and terry bands, your hair will be lifted off your scalp like a professional blowout, but without the stress or pulling on your already fragile hair with a brush.
I then rub my hands through my hair and scalp to remove any separations from the bands and fingerstyle my hair.
No brushing! I get big hair every time! Try it, you will be amazed at the amount of lift you will get with this simple trick.
VOLUME METHOD #2:
Another way to do this technique for the lazy hair girls out there:
- Blow-dry your hair.
- Gather up all of the hair on the top and the crown of your head and put it in a ponytail straight up on your head with a large terry band or silk/soft scrunchie.
- Spray with hairspray, let it dry, then take it down when you are finished getting ready.
This adds fullness, just like a blowout. I prefer the first method for my hair, the styles stay longer for me when my hair is rolled in smaller sections.
Both methods get great results!
Where I Am Now
As of today, May 2025, I am on a new journey, I am wearing WIGS!!
I still have my hair toppers that I adore, but I am loving the wigs, you guys! It’s so fun to have a different style or color every day! With expensive hair toppers, that was something I could not do!
Be sure to check out the Fine Thin Hair Dilemma: Halos, Toppers & Wigs post first if you are considering the next step into Helper Hair! I’ll show you all the different types of hair toppers there are to choose from.
Let me know if you have tried anything new or have your own techniques for fuller hair! I’d love to hear them!
Do you have a wig you didn’t wear or just didn’t like the color? Join my FB group and buy, sell or trade wigs with a wig sister! See ya there!
Love it! Pin it!
I have been wanting big hair since the 80s! Thanks for all these tips! I will definitely have to give them a try!
I love the styling tips. I am 65 years old, and recently noticed my hair thinning. My endocrinologist said my thyroid level was low, and contributed to my hair thinning. He increased my thyroid level. I can see some hair thickening. But my hair seems rather limp. I don’t use many special products. My hair has always been thick and full.
this is actually the best post i’ve read on ‘fine/thin hair’…you offer up some great tips and products that i can’t wait to try. kudos!
So sweet to say Margaret! Glad you liked the post I will be doing another one in a few months to update. Thanks for reading!
Kim
Just found this info. There are products out there that help with those of us who are aging and experiencing hair loss/thinning – I use Infinity Keratin fibers (on Amazon) and they work pretty good for thickness and volume but don’t shake in too much of it or it will clump. A really good product is Signature Club A Thinning Hair Fill which you brush on/in with the supplied brush. These two things have helped me keep from having to wear a wig. I also use Fructis Sky-High Volume and their Full and Plus Shampoo. These have helped tremendously, but I am going to try some of the products you use to see if they do a better job! I’m 73 and have had to keep my hair short to have any lift at all, natural color with little gray, but WAY thin all over the crown.
Did Thyroid testing, showed nothing, but I brought a five-page thing of symptoms to dr. re thyroid deficiency (the tests don’t always show that you are lacking!) and finally got put on some thyroid despite the (normal range) tests and this has helped a lot. Have regrown some hair around the front and sides, but not the crown.
I don’t recommend any hair fibers but Infinity, and the Signature Club A stuff is great too – I use both to thicken my hair.
Hope this helps others.
Thanks for the recommendations linda! I tried a fiber product and for my medium length hair they do not work very well. I do have a friend that loves it for short hair. I’ll check your products out! Thanks for commenting!
Kim
Several years ago my hairdresser noticed patches of hair lost. Went to get blood test to check thyroid, iron. All ok so I went to a dermatologist. Still was losing hair so I asked her to do a biopsy to see if it showed anything. Yep, it came back with possibly of having lupus. Was sent off to a rheumatologist who ran a huge panel of autoimmune conditions. It showed my ANA was elevated but didn’t scream lupus. Doctor said I had something percolating. Now isn’t that comforting? He put me on hydroxychloroquin hoping to prevent it from going into full fledge lupus or any other autoimmune.
Been taking the hydroxychloroquin. Might have slowed it slightly but my hair will never grow back because the follicles are dead.
Suggest getting a blood test to see if you have an elevated ANA indicating an autoimmune condition.
These two posts on hair loss are great, Kim – love your personal tips and recommendations!
I, too, have had a minor (major?) nightmare of late. To my horror, my thick hair has been falling out in handfuls for the past 4 – 5 years. Four years later, I’m in my mid-50’s and can see bald patches! My ponytail is half what it was – even less. I, too, am not willing to take HRT due to the risks of estrogen.
Last week, I recalled my mom telling me years ago that, as a teenager, the same thing happened to my sister. Stress was apparently the cause in that instance. Here’s the thing: my Mom started giving my sister a protein shake in the morning and at night … and her previously fine hair grew back, thick! It has remained thick to this day. However, she has never dyed or permed her hair.
I decided to begin the same routine – and have started reading Dr Sears’ book, The Zone , wherein he explains how most North Americans are protein malnourished and shows how to calculate your protein requirements for each day, unique to each person.
I’ll see if it makes any difference ….
Thanks so much Deb,
In the last few years, I find the only diet that will work for me to lose belly fat is the Atkins diet. High protein! When I eat more protein my hair looks so much better. So I agree with the protein theory, most definitely. Have you tried the biotin for the patches? One of my close friends is a nurse and had the very same thing. Her hair was coming out in quarter size patches. Her Dr. told her it was stress and put her on the biotin and they are now filled in and haven’t come back. I do think some people respond to biotin better than others. Thanks so much for reading and reaching out! Please let me know your results with the smoothies! I’d love to try it if it works.
Best,
Kim
Finally, Someone, I can relate to. My hair is fine and thin thanks to genetics. I love your tips and ideas. I’ve been trying to add Biotin to my diet as well as increasing my protein.
Thank you for the tips, you are a doll. I hate having hypothyroidism. No more eye brows, eye lashes and my beautiful hair gone by 39%.
Thanks again.
I agree with you! Losing my thyroid has been an uphill battle with weight and my hair has truly suffered. Going to get a topper.
Losing my thyroid ruined my hair. I just recently cut it off short because I was losing handfuls at a time. I’m going to try these products and suggestions. Hopefully things will get better.
Great post! I have always had fine, thin hair, but after taking antibiotics for an upper respiratory infection, I really noticed hair loss. Whether the meds or just being sick caused the hair fall, I don’t know. However, I have found Nioxin Recharging Complex tablets which are loaded with Biotin, Zinc, vitamins & minerals. I, too quit coloring. I’m also using JustNutritive’s hair fall line of products which includes a vinegar rinse to periodically clean all the goop buildup. I’ve loved Velcro rollers for years! They really do add volume. Lastly, I just splurged for the Hairmax Laserband. I don’t know which, if any, will work. I’ll be trying some of your suggested products to see if I can add even more volume.
Kim, I really appreciate your candid info. Just started noticing my hair loss and breakage, was using a hot curling round brush quite often and I’m it sure had a lot to do with the breakage and loss. So happy since I switched to velcro curlers and happy to hear they were the best for thinning hair. Will try the Terry hair held ponytails for bigger hair. Thank you for h the help. Pat
Love your post and sharing of your journey and product testing! Can’t wait to try the goody bands and rollers! Thank you again and you look great!
Thank you, Katharine! glad you like my site!
Kim
Thank you for sharing your journey. My hair is only thinning in the front so most of the products out there don’t really help. Any suggestions?
Hi Dee,
You could use a small clip in topper. I know Jon Renau has some small toppers that are narrow and sit right in the front, on the part line or the top of the head. There is a Jon Renau EasiFringe which sits like bangs in the front. Then the EasiPart which is narrow and sites on the part line and then EasiCrown which sits on the top of the head. These are all small starter pieces. You can find them here at my favorite online shop Wigstudio1.