Say 'aye' if your Google searches are all about 'how to increase the volume of your hair.' If you are one of the unlucky ones who was born with thin hair, or if you've noticed your hair's volume fade over time, you're not alone. Having a head full of healthy, voluminous hair is an enviable trait to possess, but not everyone is genetically blessed — which is why learning how to increase the volume of your hair is super important. But before we get into the how, let's understand the factors that affect the volume of our mane.
- Factors Affecting The Volume Of your Hair
- How To Increase The Volume Of your Hair
- Home Remedies To Increase The Volume Of Hair
- Products To Increase Hair Volume
- 01. TRESemmé Thick And Full Shampoo
- 02. Love Beauty & Planet Natural Coconut Water & Mimosa Volume Shampoo
- 03. Sunsilk Coconut Water & Aloe Vera Volume Hair Shampoo
- 04. Dove Volume and Fullness Dry Shampoo
Factors Affecting The Volume Of your Hair
We wanted an expert to decode the factors affecting the volume of our hair, which is why we reached out to renowned dermatologist and hair expert, Dr. Divya Sharma, to lend her inputs. She explained, "Volume of the hair can be impacted by many different things. The first one is nutritional; iron deficiency, protein deficiency, or specific vitamin deficiencies can lead to excessive shedding of the hair which can lead to a decrease in volume."
"There can be other causes as well; for instance, hormonal imbalances like PCOD, dysthymia, thyroid issues, and many more. This causes a decrease in the growth phase of the hair cycle, so some patients may see that even without hair fall, there is a gradual loss of volume of hair on the scalp. This is called female pattern hair loss. There are a few cases where there is no known cause, but there is a thinning of hair — called cutaneous hyperandrogenism," she concluded.
How To Increase The Volume Of your Hair
We're going to be real with you — learning how to increase the volume of your hair is no easy task! "First, one should do a thorough, comprehensive blood work check, to rule out hormonal imbalance," advises Dr. Sharma. Once you've ruled out any hormonal imbalances, you can look at different ways to increase the volume of your hair. "Hair is impacted more by the inner workings of the body than the external factors," explains Dr. Sharma.
01. Eat A Nutritious Diet
A nutritious diet can cause a world of difference when it comes to healthy hair; while we'll be listing what kinds of foods to eat ahead, a general rule to keep in mind, according to Dr. Divya Sharma is, "improve the diet, especially your iron and protein intake, which are the two pillars of hair health."
02. Go For Regular Trims
While regularly trimming your hair won't make it grow faster, as the myth might dictate, regular trims can make your hair healthier by removing the split ends and any signs of damage. What does that leave you with? A head full of thicker, more voluminous and shiny hair that looks healthy! Get your tresses trimmed every couple of months to ensure they stay in good shape.
03. De-Stress
Stress-induced hair fall can cause the volume of hair to deplete like no other. Indulge in stress management self-care exercises to prevent hair thinning and loss, and hopefully, your mane will regain some of its magnificence.
04. Make Some Lifestyle Changes
Alcohol consumption, smoking, and poor sleeping habits, along with an unhealthy lifestyle can contribute to the loss of volume in hair. Making certain lifestyle changes can help turn this around, to avoid hair weakening and damage which could contribute to the loss of volume.
05. Turn To Medication
Drugs like minoxidil and nanoxidil can help boost hair growth, thus managing to improve the volume of the hair. Apart from that, Dr. Sharma says, "You may have to use certain peptides, and in certain cases, you may have to consult your dermatologist to start on topical minoxidil, especially if there's female pattern hair loss, along with appropriate androgen therapy if there is evidence of hormonal imbalance."
06. Indulge In Therapies And Treatments
And no, we're not talking about dye-jobs and chemical treatments! While those may hamper the quality of your hair and cause long-term hair damage that causes hair loss, turn to treatments like mesotherapy and lasers to stimulate the hair follicles, thus leading to healthier hair growth.
Home Remedies To Increase The Volume Of Hair
Apart from the above-mentioned ways, there are a few natural, home remedies you can turn to, to increase the volume of your hair. Ahead, we're listing 'em down... so bookmark these for later!
01. Improve Your Diet
As mentioned, eating a healthy diet can help increase the volume of your hair. Dr. Sharma recommends, "Taking a protein rich diet is very important — not only is your hair made up of protein, but you also need a good amount of protein to absorb iron and vitamins. Take a diet rich in Omega 3 fatty acids — especially walnuts, flax seeds, and chia seeds. Vitamin C in natural form also helps improve iron absorption, hence improving the bonds in your hair."
02. Opt For Essential Oils
Essential oils such as peppermint, geranium, lavender, and rosemary have been shown to promote hair growth. However, don't use them directly, since they could be drying; instead, mix them with carrier oils, such as almond oil and argan oil to promote healthy hair growth. Alternatively, you could also mix a couple of drops of your chosen essential oil with your conditioner and massage it onto your scalp too. Use these as hair masks, or as conditioners, and you're good to go.
03. Do A Caffeine Rinse
Caffeine extends the anagen, or the growth phase of the hair cycle, thus managing to boost hair growth easily. That's why there's so much caffeine present in hair products these days! Also, it manages to refresh the strands, making it a total win. Perform a caffeine rinse by mixing a few spoons of coffee into a cup and a half of water. Rinse it thoroughly through your hair, and wash off the remains with cold water. It's that simple!
04. Turn To Onion Juice
It may smell yucky, but trust us when we say — onion juice does the job! Since onion juice contains natural sulfur, it supports strong, thick hair, while promoting hair growth and preventing hair loss. Additionally, it could also help with collagen production on the scalp to promote hair growth. If the smell of onion juice, however, is making you want to gag, mix it with a few drops of essential oil, and rinse it off with shampoo and water after half an hour. Alternatively, you could also turn to products with onion as an ingredient.
05. Make An Egg Mask
Again, eggs may not smell the best, but as long as you don't have any apprehensions about using the ingredient, you can use it as a hair mask to increase the volume of your hair! Egg yolks contain peptides that help improve hair health and promote healthy hair growth like no other. Plus, they also contain protein! Apply an egg directly onto your scalp and massage it through your hair properly. Alternatively, you could also mix it with honey. Leave it on for 15-20 minutes, and rinse it off thoroughly.
06. Apply Aloe Vera Gel
The ayurvedic ingredient that basically does it all, aloe vera comes with the goodness of vitamins A, C, and E, all of which are great when it comes to promoting healthy hair growth. Look for aloe vera as an ingredient in your hair products, or apply fresh aloe vera gel onto your scalp as a mask. Leave it on for 15-20 minutes, and repeat weekly for shiny, healthy, voluminous hair.
Products To Increase Hair Volume
While it may be difficult to increase the volume of the hair without changing your lifestyle, there are a few products you can turn to. Using these regularly will promote healthy hair growth, and improve your hair health like no other, thus leading to an increase in the volume of your hair. Ahead, we have rounded up some of the best products you can try!
01. TRESemmé Thick And Full Shampoo
The TRESemmé Thick And Full Shampoo is all about lending you thicker, fuller, and more voluminous hair with every wash. Infused with the goodness of biotin and wheat protein, which are critical for hair health, the shampoo manages to prevent hair breakage, strengthens the hair, and is bound to give your mane that oh-so-desirable bounce with just a few washes!
02. Love Beauty & Planet Natural Coconut Water & Mimosa Volume Shampoo
If you're all about that clean beauty life, but want an instant dose of volume for your hair, turn to the Love Beauty & Planet Natural Coconut Water & Mimosa Volume Shampoo. Containing ethically sourced, natural coconut water that manages to stimulate the scalp, promote hair growth, refresh the strands, and make the hair more voluminous, this one's a total hit with us. Not to mention the gorgeous, citrusy scent of mimosa flower and the moisturising coconut oil it comes with!
03. Sunsilk Coconut Water & Aloe Vera Volume Hair Shampoo
Another coconut water-infused shampoo, the Sunsilk Coconut Water & Aloe Vera Volume Hair Shampoo is another great option if you want to add volume to your hair. With the refreshing goodness of coconut water and the moisturising, nourishing properties of aloe vera, this shampoo will ensure you boost your hair health. It will give your locks a voluminous, natural bounce while leaving them looking vibrant, shiny, and soft too.
04. Dove Volume and Fullness Dry Shampoo
On days when you're too lazy to head for another hair wash, give your mane the appearance of volume with the Dove Volume and Fullness Dry Shampoo. By instantly clarifying the scalp of oil and grime, the dry shampoo manages to give you a salon-fresh mane, while adding volume and fullness in the process. For best results, flip your hair upside down, and make sure you get to your roots — this will add a natural bounce to your tresses!
FAQs
01) How to measure hair volume?
Dr. Divya Sharma gives us clarity on measuring hair volume; "There are no specific diagnostic tests which measure hair volume. Of course, your dermatologists have trichoscopes and sophisticated instruments like fotofinder, where you can actually get a hair health report," she shares, adding that, "Apart from that, the volume of your ponytail is what guides a person to understand the amount of hair volume."
02) What actually grows hair?
If you're speaking biologically, it is the blood from the blood vessels, which feeds the roots of the hair that increases cell production and makes the hair grow faster. If you're speaking more in terms of ingredients, you can look to ingredients like minoxidil for hair growth.
03) What are the signs of healthy hair?
According to Dr. Sharma, "Hair that is lustrous, not very frizzy, strong, and with good volume — in the sense that there are no bald patches — with a shiny texture would be my definition of healthy hair."
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Written by Nishtha Bhalla on 22nd Feb 2022
Nishtha is a freelance writer who loves all things beauty, fashion, culture, and lifestyle. With content covering a variety of topics, she brings a holistic, nuanced perspective to her writing. In her free time, she can be found watching reruns of The Office, reading anything she can get her hands on, and experimenting with astrology.