Hair grows from the follicles on the dermis of every mammal and is most concentrated on the scalp in humans (1). It is a prominent feature and contributes greatly to the overall physical appearance and beauty standard. Big, voluminous hair is desired by many and will never be out of style. A dense and healthy hair enhances the beauty, confidence, and general personality of a woman. While some women were born with voluminous and shiny hair, a greater percentage have to work to achieve similar results.
Unfortunately, with a lifestyle characterized by poor diet, hygiene, genetic factors, and adverse weather conditions, shabby-looking hair and bad hair days are rapidly becoming common among women.
In a bid to help, hair care products are developed by beauty experts to enhance hair volume and overall hair appearance. However, these routines and hair care processes are primarily dependent on hair type. And for hair volume improvement, most attention is given to the texture with fine hair.
Read – 8 Tricks to Add Volume to Your Fine Flat Hair
The Fine Hair Texture
Fine hair is typically used to describe hair strands that are relatively smaller in width, circumference, and diameter than the coarse ones, which are thicker. It consists of Type 2 wavy and Type 3 curly hair, characterized by a delicate, soft, thin, oily, shiny, and fragile texture.
Women with fine hair are lucky because of the ease of straightening, drying, and styling. In addition, the fine hair texture is naturally lustrous and smooth. However, it is also vulnerable to easy breakage, hair thinning, and struggles with attaining hair volume (2).
Several products have been developed by beauty experts to improve hair volume, strength, and enhance overall hair appearance. These products are referred to as hair volumizers.
What is Hair Volumizer?
The primary function of the hair volumizer is to increase hair volume and mass density. They are generally made of organic ingredients and humectants – which function by attracting and retaining moisture for a longer time. This humectant activity swells the hair and gives a thicker appearance. Some powerful humectants used in volumizers include propylene glycol, sodium PCA, Sodium lactate, and glycerin.
Volumizers are produced in different forms, including supplements, shampoos, conditioners, lotions, and sprays.
They are recommended for extensive use on fine hairs to enhance their thickness, curls, and density and reduce the chances of brittleness and hair thinning (3).
Read – Egg Hair Treatment to fix all your hair problems
Factors that Contribute to the Thinning of Fine Hair
Hair thinning and loss can be caused by a wide range of factors, and because fine hair strands are very slender, they are very susceptible to the effects of these factors. Some of these factors that contribute to hair thinning include:
1. Heredity and Genes:
This is a major contributing cause of hair thinning. It is also the primary cause of hair loss, medically referred to as androgenic alopecia. Hereditary-induced hair loss occurs when hair follicles shrink and stop growing because of the carrier’s genes. Hereditary hair thinning processes would rapidly affect a fine hair texture. However, the hair type responds quickly to treatment, especially if the process is started early. Otherwise, it may lead to permanent baldness (4).
2. Childbirth:
Childbirth has been largely associated with hair thinning, even in women with non-fine hair types. In some women, the hair becomes lustrous and thick during pregnancy, while many experience the direct opposite. Also, there is hair loss a few months after childbirth, and the condition is referred to as postpartum hair loss. Postpartum hair loss may be caused by a drop in estrogen hormone, iron deficiency (common among women whose pregnancies are poorly spaced), hormonal shift, etc. (5).
3. Severe Hair Condition:
Hair thinning may be the early stage symptom of a future intensive hair loss usually caused by an underlying health condition. For this reason, it is advised that a patient seek the advice of a health expert before commencing treatment. A common severe hair health condition of concern is alopecia, which may leave fine hair damaged if not diagnosed and treated early.
4. Menopause:
Hormonal imbalance is a major contributing factor to hair loss. During menopause, there is a reduction in the production of hormones such as estrogen, which are needed by the body for stimulating hair growth.
5. Telogen effluvium:
This is the second most common cause of hair loss in fine-haired women. It is a temporary and reversible hair loss process that results from the natural resting of hair follicles. This natural resting of hair follicles could last for 2-4 months and is usually caused by infection, lack of essential vitamins & minerals, stress, surgery, and sickness (6).
6. Diet:
A healthy diet is an important contributor to overall health, which includes hair health. Eating foods that are dense in protein will help in enhancing hair volume. Also, zinc and omega deficiency has been directly linked to brittleness and general hair loss. Therefore, the intentional integration of such foods into daily meal plans is recommended. Foods rich in zinc include vegetables, leafy greens, salads, dairy, seeds, legumes, fruits, meat, and shellfish. And foods rich in omega 3 include salmon, mackerel, cod liver oil, yogurt, oysters, cereal, flax seeds, and walnuts. The right diet will contribute to an increase in hair volume and save fine hair from brittleness.
Best Hair Volumizers for Fine Hair
These products have been reviewed and confirmed as the most effective hair volumizers for fine hair. They are divided into two forms – ingestible and topical hair volumizers.
Ingestible Hair Volumizers
These are edible supplements and can be swallowed to enhance fine hair volume. The best ingestible hair volumizers include:
1. Viviscal Advanced Hair Growth Supplement:
Viviscal hair growth supplement nourishes thin hair and promotes existing hair growth. It is available in tablet form, and recommended usage is “take 1 tablet, twice daily.” It is effective in thickening and strengthening fine hair within 3 -6 months. Viviscal is made of essential nutrients such as
- Biotin
- Vitamin C
- Horsetail extract
- Iron, and the exclusive
- Marine complex AminoMar C
- It is also 100% drug-free
Price – USD 49.99 / 60 tablets
2. Movita Organic Beauty Bottle:
Movita organics is an essential supplement that supports fine hair growth and maintains healthy skin and nails. It contains active ingredients such as Biotin, Q10, the antioxidant -Turmeric, and natural ingredients like vegetables, herbs, shellfish, and nuts. Movita organics is available in tablet form.
- It can be taken with or without food but is most effective when taken on an empty stomach.
- It is gluten-free
- It is ICS certified organic
- It is allergen-free for shellfish and nuts
Price – USD 26.50 / 30 tablets
3. Berry Extraordinary Vegan Hair and Nail Dietary Supplements:
This gummy vitamin, a favorite product by Love beauty and planet, is specially designed for fine hair to promote healthy hair growth. It is made of vital micronutrients like vitamin D, vitamin B12, iodine, folic acid, and biotin, all of which enhances hair volume.
- The gummy vitamin supplement is gluten-free.
- It is vegan
- It is made with natural flavors
- Contains zero artificial sweeteners.
Price – USD 25.99 / 60 tablets
4. Vital Proteins Hair Boost:
This essential hair volumizer is a blend of vitamins – A, B6, B12, C, E and minerals – zinc, biotin, selenium, amino acids, organic ashwagandha (Indian ginseng), etc. The hair volumizer functions specifically to support stronger and healthier hair growth.
- It is plant-based
- It is gluten-free
- It is vegan friendly
- The organic ashwagandha content supports mental clarity, concentration, and alertness.
Price USD 30 / 60 capsules
Topical Hair Volumizers
Topical hair volumizer comes in different forms that include shampoo, spray, and conditioner, etc. Some of them include:
5. Oribe Maximista Thickening Spray:
The thickening spray by Oribe gets fine hair to its absolute fullest volume. It serves as a thermal protective bodybuilder with lasting lift and medium hold. It also nourishes and conditions while providing thermal protection. Oribe Maximista thickening spray contains ingredients such as
- Watermelon
- Lychee
- Edelweiss flower extracts
- Copolymers
- Keratin amino acids
- Cetrimonium chloride
These ingredients function uniformly and effectively to exaggerate hair volume and thickness.
Price – USD 39. / 6.8 Oz
6. Sexy Hair Big Blow-Dry Volumizing Gel:
This volumizing gel offers humidity resistance for up to 72 hours for your blowout. It also works great, maximizing volume on all hair textures and lengths.
- It improves hair manageability and smoothness.
- It offers thermal protection.
Price – USD 18.95 / 8.5 Oz
7. Boldify Hair Thickening Spray:
This non-sticky lightweight formula improves hair thickness and volume in 60 seconds. It serves as a perfect hair pre-styler, offering a light hold, natural finish, and effortless definition. It is packed with essential minerals and nutrients that ensure a healthier scalp and fuller hair. Some of the active ingredients include
- Epsom salt
- Algae extract
- Giant sea kelp
Price – USD 24.95 / 4 Oz
8. Pureology Style Plus Protection Instant Levitation Mist:
This is a menthol-infused hair mist that ensures 24 hours of weightless hair volume with heat resistance. It also acts more specifically by protecting color-treated hair from environmental stressors, color fade, and heat damage. It is 100% vegan and free from sulfates and parabens. Some of its active ingredients include
- Xylose
- Tuberose
- Cedarwood
- Milk
- Sunflower seed extract
- Coumarin
- Almond
Price – USD 28 / 5.1 Oz
9. John Fredier Volume Lift Thickening Spray:
This luxurious volume root booster spray enhances and maximizes fine hair fullness in one use. It is also friendly for color-treated hair. The root-lifting complex leaves your hair soft and with great bounce. It contains the following active ingredients –
- Glycerin
- Citric acid
- Panthenol
- Disodium EDTA
- Decylene glycol
- Sea salt
- Copolymers.
Price – USD 7.07 / 6Oz
Read – Increase Hair Volume Naturally with these Easy Tips
10. Serge Normant Dream Big Instant Volumizing Conditioner:
This conditioner is reputed to be among the quickest hair volumizing products. It works by supplying the hair follicles with essential nutrients that make the strands full, voluminous, and healthy. The conditioner is paraben-free, mineral oil-free, and cruelty-free. It contains active ingredients such as
- White lupine plant peptides
- Moringa extract
- Rice bran
- Chufa milk
- Phospholipids
- Rosewood extracts.
Price – USD 26 / 8 Oz
Benefits of Using Hair Volumizers
Some of the benefits include
- Increase in Hair Volume
- Hair Detoxification
- Hair Moisturization
- Hair Growth Improvement
- Smoother, softer hair
- Improved Hair Strength
- Do not Damage Hair
- Do not weigh Hair Down
Side effects of Using Hair volumizers
- Topical hair volumizers may lead to dryness if worn for an extended time.
- When volumizing hair products contain paraffin, a build-up of such products may encourage hair breakage.
Summary
Hair is a prominent feature and contributes greatly to the overall physical appearance and beauty standard. Women with fine hair are regarded as the lucky ones, because of the ease of straightening, drying, and styling. The fine hair texture is naturally lustrous and smooth. However, it is also vulnerable to easy breakage, hair thinning, and struggles with attaining hair volume. Big, voluminous hair is a desirable beauty feature, and will never be out of style. Hence, several products have been developed by beauty experts to improve hair volume, shine, and enhance overall hair appearance. These products are referred to as hair volumizers. Hair volumizer comes in two forms ingestible – as a supplement and topical.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What can I do to improve fine hair?
To make your fine hair look great, some simple practices like adding waves (makes it look more full), up doing a part of it in a bun, and a deep fine part may help. However, these practices can only make it appear full for the shortest time. For better results, use the right hair volumizing products.
How do I thicken fine hair strands?
The use of a volumizing shampoo or conditioner may thicken hair strands. Other practices may include eating a balanced diet with hair thickening nutrients, constant hair exfoliation, and staying away from hot hair tools.
Is fine hair the same as thin hair?
No. Fine hair refers to slim, less thick hair while thinning is the poor density of strands on the head. So a hair may be fine, but not thin, also vice versa.
References –
- “Hair” – wikipedia.org
- “Here’s Exactly How to Make Thin, Fine Hair Look Thick and Voluminous” – cosmopolitan.com
- “Hair volumizer” – wikipedia.org
- “HAIR LOSS: WHO GETS AND CAUSES” – aad.org
- “Why Hair Loss Can Occur During or After Pregnancy and What You Can Do” – healthline.com
- “Telogen effluvium” – dermnetnz.org
