If you have naturally straight or relaxed hair then limp hair can be a big problem. The super straight look works great if you have naturally thick hair but for those with thinner locks, the sleek look can be rather unflattering.
You may be surprised to learn that not everybody wearing extensions today is looking for added length. In fact, a lot more women have come to the conclusion that health of your hair is ultimately more important than it’s length. If you are happy with your length but not altogether thrilled with it’s thickness, there are a few things you can do to boost the volume but the downsides may not be appealing.
- Teasing/backcombing: Yes I know, very 1980’s right? But a lot of women still use this technique to make their hair appear fuller. The major downside of this method is that backcombing cases major damage to your hair’s cuticles and it may be something that your hair may never recover from. Ladies who tease their hair constantly eventually find that after a while their hair tangles easily and feels rough to the touch. If the health of your hair is one of your goals, this is probably not the best method.
- Volumizing hair products: There are volumizing shampoos and mousses available in most supermarkets today and many are also safe to use daily. These products contain an ingredient that makes the hair go stiff after it has been blow dried, very similar to hairsprays. The main downside with them is that the products can also make your hair feel dry, added to the fact that you would have to use the product daily because the effects wear out quickly.
- Curling or lifting the roots: This is a stylist technique that works as well today as 50 years ago. You can either set your hair in rollers overnight so that when you release you hair in the morning, you have plenty of volume. This method is not that popular these days because sleeping with rollers is uncomfortable. Ladies prefer to curl their hair in the morning using either heated rollers or a curling iron. While this method works well, using heat on your hair on a daily basis leads to heat damage and split ends.
The volume and thickness of your hair is genetically determined so unfortunately there isn’t a great deal you can do to increase thickness naturally. What is a girl to do then if you want to remain trendy and go straight once the warm weather has gone?
Extensions
Hair extensions provide a way to add volume without damage to your own hair. If you want to install tracks with a technique that requires adhesive like skin wefts or bonded extensions, I suggest that you get a stylist to install them for you. There is a very small margin of error when it comes to glued installs and you don’t want to find yourself with added breakage to your already thin hair.
One of the best and safest methods for those who do their own styling at home is clip in extensions. You can purchase them pre prepared or you can buy hair of your choice and sew the clips on to the tracks. All you need to do then is attach the clips near the roots of your own hair in strategic areas of your head. Your own hair then covers the clip ins and voila! A hairstyle with volume and body in less than 5 minutes!
