How to Style Curly Hair for Volume

Co-authored by Arthur Sebastian

Last Updated: November 21, 2024 References

If you have fine, curly hair or you just like to rock big curls, you might be wondering how to pump up the volume. It can be challenging to add volume to curly hair without creating frizz, but luckily it’s entirely possible. In order to style your curly hair for volume, wash your hair, dry your hair, and style your hair using the right products and methods.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Washing Your Hair

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If you shampoo your curly hair frequently, it may dry out. To keep your hair from looking and feeling dry, wait a few days between washes.^{[1]
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Shampoos that contain sulfates may also contribute to dryness and frizziness, so it’s best to wash with a sulfate-free shampoo each time. Check the ingredient list on the product before buying to confirm it doesn't include sulfates.^{[2]
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3
Use a moisturizing conditioner. Your curly hair benefits from hydration. Invest in a moisturizing conditioner to greatly diminish and prevent frizziness. Condition your hair right after you rinse out your shampoo.^{[3]
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- Look for a conditioner that contains a type of oil, such as coconut, grape seed, or argan. These ingredients all help moisturize and prevent dryness.^{[4]
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4
Leave some of your conditioner in. Even though it’s meant to be rinsed out, leaving some of your conditioner in can give your curly locks a moisture boost. Just after you apply the conditioner, give your hair a very brief rinse. Then, leave the rest in to get smoother, shinier hair.^{[5]
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- Don’t skip the quick rinse, or else the conditioner may weigh down your curls too much.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Drying Your Hair

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Using a brush to detangle your curls will only create unsightly frizz. Instead, use a wide-toothed comb after washing and conditioning your hair. Start combing your ends and slowly work your way up to the root area instead of combing root to tip.^{[6]
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If your hair is thick and coarse, it’ll take longer to air-dry. If your hair is fine and thin, it’ll dry quickly. Let your hair dry naturally for however long you need to in order to get your hair about 40% of the way dry.^{[7]
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3
Scrunch your hair with a small towel or microfiber cloth. Hold your towel or cloth flat in your palm just below the ends of a small section of your hair. Bring the towel or cloth upward while simultaneously squeezing your hair. Once your hand is close to your head, hold the squeezed position for a couple of seconds. Then move onto a new section of hair. Repeat this process for your entire head.
- This will remove the excess water from your hair and also give you natural, bouncy curls.
4
Plop your hair with a cotton t-shirt. Lay out a cotton t-shirt with the bottom of the shirt facing you. Flip your hair over onto the center of the towel and then place the shirt’s bottom on the nape of your neck. Use the shirt sleeves to tie a knot towards the back of your head in order to secure the shirt to your head. Untie the knot and remove the shirt after about 10-20 minutes.^{[8]
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- Plopping works well for hair that is medium to long in length. It adds volume and curl because the hair is squished against the head; It also removes moisture from the hair.
5
Blow dry your hair with a diffuser. A diffuser is an attachment that can be put on the end of a hair dryer. This attachment is made specifically to maximize volume and even out your curl pattern while also minimizing frizz.^{[9]
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- Make sure to put a moisturizing and/or curl-enhancing product in your hair before blowing it dry in order to minimize frizziness and dryness.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Styling Your Hair

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1
Volumize your curls with a sea salt spray. In general, you want to keep your hair products lighter, to avoid weighing down your hair and decreasing volume. Hold a sea salt spray bottle about 6 inches (15 cm) away from your hair and give your locks a quick spritz. Move the bottle around your head as your spray about 5-8 times so that all of your hair gets an even application.
- Salt sprays create a very dry, natural finish on your roots (almost as if they've been teased). You can still tease your hair a little bit with a comb if you want, but you don't have to do it so vigorously because of the salt spray.
- Sea salt spray will hold the strands of your hair together well without giving your hair the “crunchy” texture that other products often do.^{[11]
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- You can also get some extra volume by applying a volumizing foam to your hair.^{[12]
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2
Moisturize and/or de-frizz with leave-in conditioners. Apply a leave-in conditioner to your wet hair in order to give your hair the moisture it needs, and also lessen frizz. When hair frizzes, it is moving outwards in search of moisture, but it will lie flat when well moisturized.
- You can also apply an oil serum to your hair to help de-frizz it.^{[13]
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- It’s also beneficial to apply some leave-in conditioner to your hair 1-2 days after you’ve washed it to help revitalize your curls.
Jen Atkin, Celebrity Hairstylist

Proper hair maintenance takes effort. "The mistake people make is not taking care of their hair the way they do their skin or their body. It’s so important to hold on to the health of your hair, because unlike our skin, once you lose that health and your hair’s damaged, it’s damaged until you cut it off."
3
Curl a few pieces of hair with a curling wand. Plug in and turn on a curling wand. Take a flatter/straighter strand of hair that’s about the same size as one of your curls and wrap it around the wand. Hold this position for a couple of seconds. Let go of the strand and slowly pull the wand away from your hair.
- Using a curling wand on some strands in your top layer will add definition and shape to your curls.
- Repeat this process for about 10-12 strands evenly spaced around your head.^{[14]
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Using dry shampoo on a regular basis can help you get away with washing your hair less, which means avoiding dryness and frizziness. You can also use it to add some volume to the root area. Apply the dry shampoo to your roots to give them a nice lift.^{[15]
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5
Clip your hair at the root. Get 6-12 small jaws hair clips. Lift up a chunk of your hair near the root area where it’s flat and secure a clip to the roots of the hair underneath. Repeat this process with the rest of the clips on various points of your head. This will create the illusion of volume at the root area.^{[16]
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- Wear the clips in your hair all day and then take them out before going to bed.

How Can You Get More Volume In Your Curly Hair?

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Question

How can I give my hair more volume?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

You can increase volume by using products like mousse that are designed to enhance root lift. You can also use a diffuser to enhance volume while you are drying your curls.

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Question

What does a diffuser do for curly hair?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

A diffuser lifts and holds curls gently while drying them with a diffused air flow. This adds volume and reduces frizz.

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Question

What does it mean to pineapple your hair?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

A pineapple is a style where the hair is twisted up tightly and the ends are left free at the top of the head. The result resembles the fruit the style takes its name from.

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Tips

Apply a gel or mousse to your hair if you want your curls to be more defined.

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A haircut with long layers will also add more volume to your hair. If you already have long layers, and they are not giving you enough volume, ask for shorter layers.

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With short hair, be light with products.

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Although it's a little harder to pull off, skipping the hair dryer or diffuser and using fanless heat (e.g. from a lit fireplace or bar heater) instead will be a lot better for your hair. It will also set your curls a lot more evenly and cleanly without disturbing their natural shape.

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Warnings

Use blow dryers and other heat appliances sparingly. Make sure to apply a heat protectant before using one, and use it on the lowest heat setting. If you use too much heat on your hair, it can lose its elasticity from the damage and it won't be able to curl as well as a result.

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Avoid teasing your roots with a comb. Although it adds volume, it will also damage your hair and add frizz.

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If you use a hairspray to set your hair, make sure it is free of drying alcohols, as these may dry your hair out.

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