How to Get Your Thickest, Most Voluminous Hair EVER – in 6 Easy Steps!

Sometimes, hair can be like throwing a lame party:  despite your hopeful expectations and best preparations, it still falls a little flat.  Thankfully, there’s no reason to have hair remorse anymore, certainly not with the products, tools, tricks, and nutritional supplements available on the market today.  Now, the party, well, that may be another story…

1.  MIT researchers discovered the secret ingredient:  poly beta amino ester-1.

According to the February 2010 issue of Elle magazine, the Langer lab (at MIT) has discovered poly beta amino ester-1, an ingredient that coats each hair shaft with “thickening points” that work like Post-It notes: grabbing at one another, leaving pockets of space between hairs, but also separating and re-grabbing easily.  In essence, this means you get all of the punch (volume) with none of the crunch (stickiness) – pretty amazing stuff!  The ingredient is available in Living Proof Full Thickening Cream ($24.00, Amazon.com) – just apply a small amount to your hair, and style as usual, but with lasting volume.  Done!  

2.  Take a supplement with biotin.

If your physician OK’s it, taking a supplement of biotin can help strengthen your hair and nails, as biotin deficiencies have been demonstrated in clinical research studies to exacerbate brittle nails and fragile hair.  My personal favorite is GNC Hair, Skin, and Nails Formula ($16.25, Amazon.com), which is replete with 1000 mcg of biotin.  However, keep in mind that hair thickness is somewhat subject to genetic limitations; that is, if your mother, father, and siblings have thin hair, even ensuring against biotin deficiency with a supplement cannot make your hair thicker than its genetic-based limit.  That said, some of the styling products listed here can make your hair appear thicker, despite genetic limitations.

3.  Use these styling tricks from Oribe!

Oribe, hairstylist and perhaps the father of the Holy Grail of Voluminous Hair, shares the following tips for voluminous hair in this month’s Elle:

• Dry hair with a round brush (I like the Conair Tourmaline Boar Bristle, $7.59, Amazon.com), taking care to pull upward at the root.
• [One additional step:  I would put on the aforementioned Living Proof Full Thickening Cream on here, with poly beta amino ester-1).
• Wrap each section around a Velcro roller while it’s still hot from the dryer.  (Try Velcro Starter Curler Set, $19.99 for 35 curlers, Amazon.com).
• After strands cool and set, brush them out with your head upside down.
• Backcomb a little bit at the root.
• Run your fingers through it to make it more modern.
• Optional:  hair spray.  I swear by L’Oreal Elnett Satin Hairspray ($14.99, Amazon.com) for most days, and then Victoria’s Secret Love Spell Hair Spray for date nights with the boyfriend (it isn’t the best hold, but it makes my hair smell AMAZING)!

4.  Fake it till you make it:  Jessica Simpson’s clip-in extensions.

When all else fails, or if you’re just looking for a quick fix, try Jessica Simpson hairdo Hair Extensions ($50.56 – $250.00, Amazon.com).  When I went through some personal trauma a few years ago (bad break-up, death in the family, starting med school – all at once!), I immediately started losing clumps of hair.  It completely freaked me out – and lemme tell ya, it wasn’t pretty for anyone else, either!  Thankfully, these hair extensions came to the rescue.  I just separated my hair in the back, secured the top portion with a butterfly clip, clipped in the extensions, and then released the top portion of my hair from the clip.  In the beginning, it took about 10 minutes to perfect, but by the end of the first month, I could literally get this within 2 minutes.  Six months later, my hair had stopped falling out, and I no longer needed the extensions, but I still hold a soft spot in my heart for them. One caveat:  even with diligent daily care (spray-cleaning and regular brushing), the clips started to fall out and the hair started to look ratty after about 5 months, so don’t look into this as a lifetime investment.  It is better used for special occasions only, or expect to buy another after 4-5 months.

5.  Consider a cellophane-based shine treatment at the salon.

I have been getting a shine treatment every 2 months for the past 4 months now, and I looooove it.   The cellophane treatment actually works by depositing glossing agents into the hair shaft, making hair appear shinier and thicker, and feel smoother and silkier.  I pay $30.00 for mine at the local MasterCuts, and I can’t stop raving about it!  

6.  Try Pantene Full and Thick Shampoo and Conditioner.

If you have naturally straight, fine, or slightly wavy hair, you may be interested in Pantene Full & Thick Shampoo and Conditioner ($15.48 for 2 25.8-ounce shampoos, $17.99 for 2 25.4-ounce conditioners, Amazon.com).  Although it may sound hokey, established research has determined that different shampoos and conditioners can affect hair’s cosmetic appearance in numerous parameters, including apparent hair diameter/thickness.  Research studies have further shown that the panthenol in Pantene Full & Thick is in fact capable of thickening and strengthening hair, as well as moisturizing skin and hair, stimulating the growth of epithelium, and regenerating damaged hair.  Furthermore, user reviews online are superb for this product; my mother, a former hairdresser, will not use anything else; and I have been using it for 6 months and will never use anything else!

In summary, the steps are:

• Take a biotin supplement.  
• Get a cellophane shine treatment at the salon.
• Wash with Pantene Full & Thick Shampoo and Conditioner.
• Use Living Proof Full Thickening Cream, or another product with the new thickening ingredient poly beta ester-1.  
• Style like a pro:  dry hair pulling upward from the root a round brush; use a thickening cream; apply Velcro rollers while your hair is still hot; take rollers out while your head is upside down; backcomb a little at the root; take down with fingers; spray (optional).
• Add in hair extensions for extra oomph or special occasions.

Have a secret for thicker, more voluminous hair you’re dying to share?  Share in comments below!  Or let me know what you think about this post!  🙂