6 Secrets to Make Your Hair Look Thicker

We hit up the experts to learn how to make your fullness fantasies a reality, regardless of how many follicles you were born with.

1. START IN THE SHOWER

For the thick, healthy look you crave, it's not about piling on styler on top of styler. Cleanse and condition with body-boosting formulas like Nexxus Diametress Volumizing Shampooand Conditioner, made with elastin protein and green tea extract. The powerful system actually increases the thickness of each strand by 17 percent. "When you start with a good base, you'll get lift and body," says Kevin Mancuso, Global Creative Director at Nexxus New York Salon Care.

2. APPLY DRY SHAMPOO (THE RIGHT WAY) 

You know how you mist hairspray randomly all over your hair? Do the exact opposite with dry shampoo—thorough coverage is key. "Tip your head over, hold the bottle a few inches away from your hair, and spray every piece, from roots to ends," says Lona Vigi, a Nexxus New York Salon Care Celebrity Stylist. Her product pick: Nexxus Dry Shampoo Refreshing Mist. After you spritz it on, brush or finger comb it through. The lightweight powder will absorb oil and brushes out easily, so it doesn't leave a gray cast, but leaves the illusion of just-washed fullness and bounce.

3. EMBRACE MOUSSE

"Mousse makes people think of the 1980s, but it's such a misunderstood product. If you apply it before a blowout, it helps the hair retain volume and you'll have more control than you would with a serum," says Mancuso. He likes Nexxus Mousse Plus for it's airy texture, lasting hold and shine. Bonus: You can use it on wet or dry hair.

ADD A FEW ROLLERS

They're an easy way to give hair more body. "Just put three rollers across the top section of your hair, going back, and add one or two on each side, going up," says Polko, who swears by T3 Voluminous Hot Rollers. She suggests leaving them in for five minutes to give a little lift. For longer-lasting fullness and shape, 15 to 20 minutes is ideal. "Let them sit until you're done with your makeup or until you're about to head out the door, then take them out and gently finger comb the hair," she says. 

4. BE HANDS-ON WITH YOUR ROOTS

"To keep as much lift at the base as possible, start with a brushless blowout and use your fingers to hold the roots up while you're working," says Mancuso. When it's time to grab your round brush, be sure to blow-dry above the roots to avoid flattening them out. "Save the smoothing and polishing for your ends and edges," says Mancuso.

5.FILL IN THE GAPS

If thin patches around your hairline are an issue, try Vigi's sneaky trick: "I like to use a matte shadow palette like Anastasia Brow Kit to color in sections where you can see the scalp. It really makes the hair look thicker," she explains. Just lightly dust on the powder with a brush, and voilà!