Why is my hair flat? Learn how to bring volume back to limp and fine hair

A few factors can lead to limp hair, but with the right cut, styling advice, and products you can add more body to your strands

We celebrate and embrace all hair types at Davines, and fine hair is by no means a bad thing. Even so, you may want a little more volume for your day-to-day looks, or perhaps your hair isn’t feeling as healthy as it once was, leading to limp, lifeless strands. You can infuse a little more volume in several ways, including through products and styling techniques or with the help of a routine that complements your hair type.

What Causes Limp Hair?

There are a few reasons your hair may look and feel fine or limp. The wrong products and hair care routine can weigh down your strands or cause build-up, leading to flat hair. It may also come down to how you’re styling your hair—a few tricks in how you blow dry and finish your look can be the difference in hair that appears flat and strands that have a little more lift.

Some factors are out of your control, like genetics. Fine hair might run in your family, making it a little trickier to pump up the volume. However, texturisers and volumising sprays can bring a little shape to flat hair.

Signs of Limp and Fine Hair

Fine hair is a specific hair type, whereas limp and flat hair can happen to people with various hair types. That said, fine hair is often more prone to falling flat in comparison to others. Here are some of the things to look out for:

Hair that falls flat against your scalp: This means your strands sit very close to your scalp and head.
Limp hair: Hair hangs down and looks lifeless or lacks body and doesn’t have volume in its lengths or near the roots.
No movement or undefined shape: If you find your curls or coils have no definition or bounce or if straighter strands have very little movement or shape, it could point to flat hair.

How to Fix Your Flat Hair

There is nothing wrong with fine hair or hair that’s flat, but if it’s beginning to impact the health of your scalp and strands or affecting your confidence, there are some expert-backed remedies to fix it. Luckily, you have several ways to approach it. Whether you want to get a few good products in place or need a new hair-drying technique, here are our best tips for limp hair.

Detoxing Your Hair for More Volume

Don’t let build-up bring your hair down. A quick-and-easy detox routine will deeply cleanse your scalp and remove any product, oil, or grime that could cause your hair to fall flat.

Our scrubs and detoxifying shampoos are great tools to have on hand exactly for this reason. Not only this, but they’re important for combatting other hair concerns too, like dullness and excessive oiliness.

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Drying Techniques for More Volume

Wondering how to style fine hair? Thinking about how you dry it is a great place to start, especially as a long-term strategy. Try using a volumizing mousse and flipping your hair upside down for a few minutes as you dry it.

Using a blow dryer and a barrel brush is another great tactic for increasing volume. Thanks to the heat and air flow, this often works much better than leaving your hair to air dry. Be sure to focus on your roots, pushing them up and out rather than smoothing them down if it’s a voluminous look you’re after.

If you prefer air drying, it’s still possible to get more volume. Start by gently towel-drying your strands, then apply a volumizing mousse or serum and scrunch. You can also use clips to hold your hair in place whilst it dries, lifting it up. Once it’s dry, use a spray like our Dry Wax around the roots for extra body and definition.

Shampoo and Conditioning Techniques to Avoid Limp Hair

It’s no secret that a good shampoo and conditioner are important parts of any hair care routine—but when used correctly. A formula that’s not fit for your hair type or using too much conditioner can leave you with strands that are greasy and weighed down.

Fortunately, there is plenty to choose from that suits your hair type and contributes to extra volume. Our VOLU Shampoo is crafted for fine hair, gently cleansing it and giving it more body without making it feel heavy. Pair it with our DEDE Conditioner and DEDE Hair Mist for lightweight moisture that gives body to your hair rather than weigh it down.

For all hair types after more voluminous strands, Naturaltech—our sustainably-minded line of high-tech hair products—has exactly what you need. The Naturaltech Energizing Shampoo and Thickening Tonic is an ideal duo. These formulas specialize in preventing hair loss whilst visibly thickening the diameter of each strand by up to 10%.

On top of using the Energizing formulas, we recommend adding Naturaltech’s Replumping products, like the Hair Filler Superactive Leave-In, to your routine for the ultimate combination that’s made for supporting fine, limp hair.

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Volumizing Products to Boost Fine Hair

A wide range of products exist to support your hair volume, whether it’s a mousse, spray, or dry shampoo. Texturising products (like sprays and waxes) help separate hair strands, giving them a defined shape separate from the rest, leading to a more voluminous look. Mousses, milks, and serums also support volume, giving the roots more lift and amplifying body. Meet the must-have products you’ll want on hand for a quick volume boost.

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Styling Options to Maximize Hair Volume

Our stylists are often asked how to fix flat hair, and aside from the recommended products and routine tips, there are styling techniques, haircuts, and other options that can boost volume.

The right layers, fringe, or part can have a surprising impact on how much body your hair has. If your hair type errs on the side of fine or thin, hairpieces and extensions are great solutions for offering more long-term thickness and texture. This is another smart strategy that’ll help you keep your hair volumized in the long run.

To support your styling needs, the newest member of our OI family is worth having on your bathroom shelf. OI Soufflé is our reinvention of the hair mousse. Comb through the foam and dry for hair that’s shiny, light, and extra voluminous—whether your hair type is thick or ultra-fine.

The Role of Hair Serums

Serums are a great shout for giving limp hair more definition and volume. If you have curls or coils, our This is a Curl Building Serum will perfect their shape and add more bounce.

If your hair needs more hydration but you’re worried about weighing it down, our MOMO hair potion instantly adds moisture without feeling heavy. When you’re shopping around for formulas, look for options that are catered to your hair type so the serum doesn’t contribute further to flat hair.

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Get more advice from our experts

You deserve hair advice that’s fully customised to your hair type and lifestyle. Book an appointment at one of our salons for the perfect cut and receive guidance on a care routine that will help you style fine hair in a way that suits you best.

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Why is my hair flat? Learn how to bring volume back to limp and fine hair

Why is my hair flat? Learn how to bring volume back to limp and fine hair

What Causes Limp Hair?

Signs of Limp and Fine Hair

How to Fix Your Flat Hair

Detoxing Your Hair for More Volume

SOLU Sea Salt Scrub Cleanser

DETOXIFYING Scrub Shampoo

SOLU Shampoo

Drying Techniques for More Volume

Shampoo and Conditioning Techniques to Avoid Limp Hair

VOLU Shampoo

This is a Volume Boosting Mousse

This is a Texturizing Serum

VOLU Hair Mist

ENERGIZING Shampoo

REPLUMPING Hair Filler Superactive Leave-in

Volumizing Products to Boost Fine Hair

Styling Options to Maximize Hair Volume

The Role of Hair Serums

This is a Curl Building Serum

MOMO Hair Potion

MINU Hair Serum

OI SOUFFLÉ

Get more advice from our experts