Flat hair: how to add volume

Lacking volume, density and hold: is your hair looking a bit down? 

Having flat hair depends on a number of factors, both structural, i.e. intangible, and cyclical, i.e. reversible, at least to some extent.  

Let's take a look at what we're talking about. Here, the Clauderer Specialists share their hair expertise to tell you how to help flat, limp hair regain its volume and bounce. Thanks to our advice on the right care and the right gestures, find here the effective hair routine that will restore vitality to your flat, limp hair.

Flat hair: what is it?

Whether you have normal, fine or thick hair, it's possible to end up at some point with hair that lacks volume and vitality. However, certain characteristics increase the likelihood of having flat, limp hair.

• Having flat hair is often associated with having fine hair and a small amount of it. It looks as if it's flattened against your skull and has no appearance of density or strength. If it's long, it's limp and weak and hangs pitifully around your face. Unfortunately, you can't choose your hair type and you can inherit hair that is naturally fine and not very dense. It's a question of genetics!
• Flattening of the hair can also be due to gradual thinning of the hair over time (in women, this is due to hormonal changes linked to the onset of the menopause, when female hormones gradually lose their protective power), hair renewal is less effective and hair grows back thinner and thinner. If nothing is done to combat the ravages of time, thinning is inexorable and hair density suffers.

• Greasy hair tends to cause a flat hair effect very quickly. In addition to the discomfort caused by a rapidly re-greasing scalp, the aesthetic aspect is not the least of the inconveniences linked to excess sebum, not to mention possible dandruff, itching and other unsightly flakes.
• Flat hair can also be the result of hairstyles that are too tight and unsuitable for your hair type. 
• Limp, lifeless hair can also be the result of an unsuitable hair routine. Overdosing (too much, too often) or applying too rich a care product can permanently weigh down the hair fibre.

Flat hair: choosing the right care products to restore tone and volume 

How do you give a boost to hair that's in bad shape, flat and lacking in strength? Whether it's a temporary or permanent phenomenon, flat hair is not a hair type but a condition that lasts for varying lengths of time. 

Knowing how to choose the hair ritual that suits them is essential if you want this "dry spell" to be as short as possible!

• Choose the right shampoo. Avoid chemical cleansers and opt for simple formulas with a gentle cleansing base that you can use every day without damaging oily hair. Clauderer's Emulsion N°18 is specially targeted to bring volume and tone to fine, limp hair thanks to its ginseng and brewer's yeast extracts. This Emulsion or gentle shampoo leaves hair shiny, light and easy to style, while instantly adding volume to even the most stubborn strands. 
• Keep a light hand on pre- or post-shampoo treatments to avoid saturating the hair fibre. Remember to rinse thoroughly. Too much residue that is not rinsed off weighs down the fibre, accumulates on the scalp and can create a breeding ground for excessive seborrhoea. All of these factors combine to make hair look flat and stuck to the scalp.

• Beware of false friends like volumising hair care products and other silicone-based styling products that weigh hair down and end up drying it out: breakage and thinning guaranteed.
• Densifying powder: why not, as long as you don't use it systematically, and the same goes for dry shampoo, an ally for oily scalps in particular.
• Think "detox" with purifying lotions to gently cleanse the scalp. Clauderer lotions (Laits) are specially formulated to meet the needs of the most sensitive scalps. Rich in beneficial plant oils (castor, sesame, wheat germ) and natural plant extracts (sage, camphor verbena), they provide a fast, effective response to the most fragile scalp. A healthy, clean, pH-balanced scalp is the basis for toned hair full of vitality. Once again, it's important to take a measured approach: there's no need to attack the epidermis with overly abrasive lotions or powerful scrubs. The scalp's response would be to over-activate the sebaceous glands to regain its lost protective film. Purifying doesn't mean stripping!

9 tips and tricks to put an end to flat, limp hair

• Extensions: to be used with discretion, extensions fitted by a hair professional immediately add volume and density to thinning, fine hair. Obviously, there's no point in weighing hair down with excessive additions, as this can lead to traction alopecia that will be difficult to repair.
• Change your styling habits and adopt good habits: blow-dry your hair upside down to "loosen" the roots, avoid daily use of the straightener.
• Apply a few soft rollers or heated foam rollers to add volume and redefine your curls, and dry with a diffuser.
• Spacing out straightening, straightening and chemical colouring destroys the cuticle, thins the hair fibre and drastically reduces hair density - not to mention the breakage caused by these aggressive cosmetic manipulations, which contribute to loss of volume.
• Avoid wearing your hair too long. Apart from the weight - which is relative - which quickly gives the hair an unattractive "sticks" look, hair that is too long is not the most attractive if the whole look lacks volume and movement.

• How about a new look? Start by eliminating split ends and lengths that are too damaged to be repaired. Opt for a short, layered cut, an asymmetrical fringe, or even a few judiciously-placed locks to add contrast and light: volume guaranteed!

• Nourish your hair from the inside out: the change of season can temporarily weaken your hair, as a result of heavier-than-usual hair loss. To counter this, a course of food supplements can help meet the increased needs of the hair, particularly in autumn and spring. To strengthen fragile hair, opt for supplements rich in vitamins (those in the B group), minerals (iron, zinc) and sulphur-containing amino acids (cysteine, methionine).
• To add a little support to your style, opt for natural 100% lightweight hairsprays (e.g. with silk protein) instead of alcohol-based hairsprays. Alcohol-based hairsprays gradually strip your hair of moisture, leaving it dry, brittle and dull.
• Use the "reverse shampoo" method, which involves applying conditioner before shampooing, a method that is particularly suitable for fine or heavy hair. This technique nourishes without greasing, and adds volume.

Flat hair is not inevitable. Taking care of flat, limp hair involves :

• Identify bad habits, such as an inappropriate hair routine and styling products that are potentially harmful to the hair's beauty. 
• Identify aggravating factors such as an unbalanced diet lacking in essential nutrients, periods of stress, seasonal changes, hormonal imbalances, etc., which can weaken hair.
• Know your hair type so that you can provide your hair with perfectly adapted cosmetic treatments
• Knowing how to dose the frequency of treatments and the number of cosmetic products 
• Caring for your scalp and protecting it from external aggression

To say goodbye to flat, lifeless hair, take a look at our tips for getting healthy, strong, radiant hair fast!