3 Simple Ways to Get Healthy, Voluminous Hair

’Tis the season to gather with loved ones and rejoice — the last thing we want is to be stressing about our thinner-looking tresses. Thankfully, new, fastacting solutions abound that will help hair appear fuller and more lush in a flash. Discover the remedy that’s best for you with these three tips to achieve voluminous hair in a snap!

Thinning all over? Use Dandruff Shampoo

No matter the cause of thinning, a dandruff shampoo with ketoconazole can actually plump tresses right up. Studies show that this antifungal compound increases the diameter of the hair shaft so strands appear instantly thicker with each wash — plus, it helps shift follicles into an active growth phase so locks can grow in fuller. Even better? Ketoconazole also removes dihydrotestosterone (DHT) from the scalp, a hormone linked to shedding. A shampoo to try: Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Shampoo (Buy at CVS, $14.99)

Sparse spots? Dust on Hair ‘Makeup’

Bald patches around the hairline, temples and crown can be a confidence sapper. Celebrity hairstylist Nick Stenson’s tip? Grab a hair powder that contains tinted, microscopic fibers. When sprinkled onto thinner areas, the fibers bind to existing hairs to fill in spots so they’re no longer noticeable — plus, they add “bulk” to strands overall. Just hover the bottle six inches above styled hair and lightly shake onto problem areas; blend in with fingers. A powder to try: Thick Fiber Hair Building Fibers (Buy on ThickFiber.com, two-pack for $40)

Limp, lifeless locks? Snip in These Layers

Fall-flat hair (thanks, winter weather!) puts a spotlight on thinning. The trick stylists like Stenson use to infuse hair of any length with stay-put volume? “Shattered” layers. This technique involves using a razor to “chip” layers into hair instead of in a straight, uniform line. “It creates a soft transition in the length changes of hair so the style has lots of shape and natural volume without any visible choppy pieces,” he says. A good rule of thumb? “Layers shouldn’t be any shorter than half the length of your actual cut.”

Another way to add fast volume: Switch up your hair’s part every few days. This forces hairs to lay the opposite way than they are used to and props them up and off of the scalp so strands appear much fuller. What’s more, this can also help reduce shedding over time since it cuts down on tension along the partline from brushing, hot tools and everyday styling.

A version of this article originally appeared in our print magazine, First For Women.

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