6 Ways to Volumize Flat Hair and Get the Bouncy Blowout of Your Dreams (2025)

Hair trends come and go, but a big, bouncy, voluminous look never goes out of style. Though the exact shape evolves over time—from '60s beehives to the '80s tease to the bombshell blowouts of the '90s— the through line connecting these iconic styles is volume. If you came of age straightening your hair to a crisp and have spent the past few years a devotee of the slick back supremacy, you may have overlooked the power of a voluminous ‘do. But adding volume brings your hair to life, infusing it with body and movement, and helping it look fuller and thicker.

While hair type and density can sway how much volume your hair has, it can also be cultivated with technique. You don’t have to be born with Demi Moore’s luscious locks to get her bouncy blowout—take it from her hairdresser. You don't even have to shell out for hair extensions. While you're waiting for your rosemary oil and hair growth shampoo to work, you can lean on volumizing techniques to create the illusion that you have more hair. With the right blowout techniques, the help of some rollers, or a little teasing, your hair can be bigger and better than ever.

Ahead, find six ways to infuse your hair with added volume and va va-va-voom.

Blow-Dry in the Opposite Direction

“I love to overdirect the hair as I’m blow-drying in opposite directions to get added lift at the root,” hairstylist Hayley Heckmann says. Simply take a section of hair, flip it over toward your opposite ear, and blow-dry from the roots up. “Lifting at the root while directing the airflow upward makes a huge difference,” adds celebrity hairstylist Dimitris Giannetos.

Crimp or Tease the Roots

Heckmann Larson recommends lightly teasing the roots, especially if you have fine hair. Giannetos reaches for the crimper, adding texture to the roots to keep them from falling flat.

Try Rollers

Both Heckmann Larson and Giannetos use velcro rollers to give their clients hair that extra lift. Placing them all over will do the trick, but for an extra boost of volume, try positioning them like a mohawk. Section the hair to isolate the center, and then add rollers to the front, middle, and back sections.

Switch Up Your Part

“Sometimes switching up your part can give you a nice lift,” Heckmann larson says. Because your hair is used to sitting in one direction, moving the part over will force it to move in a different direction, and likely stick up, to your benefit.

Consider Your Hair Cut

For those with fine hair, a hair cut with blunt ends, like a bob, can add volume. “This will give the illusion your hair is thicker than it really is” Heckmann says. For those who want to preserve length while adding body, layers can do wonders. Heckmann recommends sticking to face framing layers, avoiding too many layers without and maintaining blunt ends. Giannetos suggests subtle internal layering to mimic the look of full, thick hair.

Add Products

A volumizing mousse or texture spray can move the needle, but it’s important to consider your hair type. You don’t want to weigh fine hair down with excess product. “For fine, flat hair I’m heavy on root lift and dry texture sprays,” Giannetos says. “On thicker hair, I focus more on layering volumizing mousse and round brushing to smooth while still adding fullness.”