How can I add volume to my hair naturally (men)? What you don't know

Do you want to give your hair additional volume and body? Having fine-grade hair can come with many problems for men: loss of density, and predisposition to baldness. Fine hair is 2 mm thinner than normal hair, and thus more sensitive. If you have a small amount of hair left, it can look even more delicate.

After researching and testing many strategies, here’s what I’ve  learned:

To give your hair more volume, you must use products specific to fine hair, without applying too much; because then the opposite effect is achieved. Also, avoid stress, and eat a diet high in vitamins, proteins, carbohydrates, healthy fats, and iron.

In this article, you will find several ways to increase volume and magnitude in your hair. I’ll also explain why you have fine hair. Finally, I’ll explain how to care for your hair, increase its thickness, and choose ideal hairstyles. 

Why does men’s hair get thinner?

It is usual for an average of 20 to 100 hairs to fall out each day, and they are naturally replaced. That is part of the body’s tissue regeneration process. 

Hair loss in men is often caused by alopecia, a genetic condition inherited from parents. Other causes of hair loss are side effects from certain medications, lack of protein, and an excess of Vitamin A. Stress and certain diseases can cause sudden hair loss, known as telogen effluvium.

Hair loss or thinning can happen suddenly or slowly. If this loss occurs drastically, consult a specialist.

How do you know if you’re losing hair? Signs of hair loss

Some of the most common signs of thinning hair are:

• Increasing amounts of hair that falls out daily
• The hair is thinner than before
• You can see your scalp in some areas
• Loss of volume
• Loss of near in the temples, showing a more prominent forehead

Several factors cause the loss or thinning of hair:

• Genetics — Baldness in men can be hereditary.
• Aging — With age, hair becomes thinner due to deficient diet, use of medication.
• Stress
• Fungal or bacterial infections — These infections cause dry skin on the scalp, flaking and hair loss/thinning.
• Poor nutrition — Especially a deficit of nutrients such as iron, protein, or some vitamins. 

How can I naturally add volume to my hair?

The first thing to do is to maintain of your hair follicles and scalp with proper care. If both are in good condition, you’ll notice hair with much more volume and vitality. 

Additional tips to increase volume are:

1) Choose specific products designed for fine hair

Care for your hair using products geared toward fine hair to give your hair more flexibility and lightness. Combine shampoo and conditioner to provide more volume to your fine hair. 

If your hair gets greasier than normal, use purifying ingredients that remove excess sebum from the roots. Greasiness is one of the reasons why the hair doesn’t achieve any volume.

2) Highlight your hair:

Avoid extreme haircut styles, because hair that is too short will obviously reduce the amount of visible hair you have. To get the volume you want, opt for unstructured cuts with a lot of hair on the sides, and a bit of length on top of your head. Ask your hairdresser to give you a lightweight, degraded cut to provide you with more volume without needing to thin the hair out.

3) Give texture to your hair

If you want to give volume to your hair in a natural way and hide thinness, give it movement by applying products that produce texture and thickness in the hair fiber. Take care to apply the products generally to each strand.

To gain volume before combing, massage your scalp to stimulate the roots.

4) Eat a balanced diet

It is essential to consume a balanced diet, because it keeps the body (and thus the hair) healthy. This balanced diet should contain carbohydrates, proteins, minerals, iron, essential fatty acids like Omega 3 and 6, antioxidants and amino acids. 

All these nutrients are obtained through a holistic daily diet, with a priority on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes.

5) Dry your hair on the opposite side

Although this drying technique is not recommended for frequent use—because it damages the hair strand—it can sometimes help to increase volume. An important tip is to use cold air from the hair dryer, which reduces potential damage to the hair.

To do this, after washing your hair, bring your head down so that the hair falls out, and then dry on that side. Comb the hair on the side of your head opposite the side you usually wear a part, then lift your head and comb it through on the other side.

6) Rest

The healthy appearance of your hair and your skin depend on rest. Alopecia has been connected to high, prolonged stress levels.

To counteract stress and rest better, do relaxing activities like yoga or meditation.

7) Choose suitable products

There is an excellent variety of hair care products designed for fine hair, including shampoos, conditioners, and treatment masks. Once a week, I recommend that you take a cream or essential oil bath. Coconut oil is the most effective sealer to enliven your hair.

Combine these products with a clarifying shampoo that eliminates accumulated residues.

Some of the volume-boosting ingredients I prefer are: ginseng, rosemary, collagen, proteins, antioxidants, and chamomile.

8) Drink water

You always need to hydrate, no matter the weather or situation. Water is the best hydrater. It is vital to essential to drink enough water; not necessarily 2 liters of water per day, but you should drink enough water according to your thirst. By doing so, you ensure that you provide your body with a key part of what it needs to function correctly. You can also consume cold green tea, natural fruit juice, and herbal teas.

9) Massage the scalp

Even if your hair is dry, dull and damaged, you can still save the hair follicles by massaging the scalp at night. 

• Apply a drop of almond or olive oil to your fingertips.
• Distribute it with circular movements on the scalp without rubbing too hard.
• Start at the forehead, then move back to the head’s crown all the way to the back of the neck. With this, you will also be reducing stress.

This massage allows more blood to the follicle, and therefore you will see more volume in the hair.

10) Brush your hair

Don’t brush your hair roughly and less so if it’s wet, as it causes the strands to fall out more quickly and reduce volume. Try not to combine heat tools and blow dryers, and avoid coloring for a while.

11) Let your hair grow

When your hair is short, it is harder to increase its volume. No matter what products you put on it, it will be challenging to lift it, give it body, and nurture it.

Let it grow at least an inch or two, and this length will make it easier to achieve volume. Remember though, just having longer hair itself won’t make it thicker. 

You may be interested in “How to grow a beard faster.”

12) Avoid gel products that harden your hair

Certain gels make your hair crunchy, which is not ideal for giving it more body. Use gels that give you a more flexible texture to achieve an appearance of increased volume.

13) Dry your hair well

Another effective way to get volume in your hair is to use a blow dryer for a few minutes, without getting it too close to the hair. At the same time, comb through the hair in a vertical direction. Shape the hair with light waxes, hairsprays or hair gels, and use them sparingly.

14) Wash your hair every two or three days

You should not wash your hair too often. Use a neutral shampoo with a pH around 5.4.

Important habits for healthier and thicker hair

Forget about hot water

When you use hot water on your hair, it removes its natural oil layer. That makes your hair thinner and more brittle. We recommend you use warm or cold water when washing. 

Use specific, high-quality products

Choose formulas designed for fine hair. They are essential to keep your hair in optimal condition. 

Alternate washings

Guys must understand that fine hair is very delicate, so it tends to break more easily. It would be best to alternate washing for a while to keep it moist and prevent breakage. If you have hair that’s oilier than usual, use dry shampoo to keep it clean.

Avoid saturating your hair when styling

It doesn’t matter too much how many products you use on your hair, but I recommend that you don’t over-apply cream and gel to your hair. 

Choose the type of haircut that works for you

You must learn your hair type and which style of cut suits you best and produces a more robust look.

Change your brush

The brush can influence the way your thinning hair looks. Ideally, it would be best to use a good comb, because combing will help your hair look fuller. Use a comb made from natural, non-plastic materials.

Natural drinks that give thick and abundant hair

Avocado and Strawberry Smoothie

Thanks to Vitamin E and B from the avocado and the folic acid from strawberries, this smoothie will help restructure and thicken your hair. 

To make this smoothie, you will need:

• 7 strawberries
• 1/2 avocado
• 1 glass of orange juice
• 1 teaspoon of flaxseed

Preparation: 

• Put strawberries in the blender with the avocado and the orange juice, and the flaxseed. 
• When this mixture is uniform, add more flaxseed on top.
• Take it every morning.

Carrot and guava shake

These fruits are rich in vitamins A, C, and E, which are in charge of producing the oils that strengthen the scalp. 

Ingredients:

• 2 carrots 
• 3 guavas
• 1/3 cup of water

 Preparation:

• Mix the carrots and guavas with the water in the blender. 
• Mash very well until the mixture is smooth.
• If you wish, you can change the water for natural yogurt to make the mixture thicker. Yogurt can also help thicken the hair.

Spinach, kiwi, and grapefruit cocktail

This cocktail is rich in antioxidants and minerals, promoting collagen production for strong, healthy, and thick hair. 

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of spinach
• 1 peeled kiwi
• 2/3 cup of grapefruit juice

 Preparation:

• Process the spinach, kiwi, and grapefruit juice in the blender for 3 minutes.
• Then, pour into a glass and add chia seeds.
• This cocktail is rich in antioxidants and minerals, promoting collagen production for strong, healthy, and thick hair.

Hair thickening treatments.

• Vitamin supplements: Take pills that provide nutrients geared toward volume and shine in the hair. Look for Vitamin E, Vitamin B7 (biotin), Vitamin D and essential oils.
• Protein treatments: Hair straightening treatments also have biomolecular proteins that strengthen and thicken the hair. These treatments return health, hydration, and vitality to the hair, which has been lost over the years to sun exposure and chemical treatments.
• Thickening shampoos: When you have fine hair, these types of shampoos are essential to achieve more voluminous hair. They contain nutrients that increase the volume of the hair, nourish it and give it a consistency making it look more robust.

Haircuts to hide thinning hair

Slightly degraded

This cut is ideal for giving the hair more volume, since it leaves more hair on the top than on the sides. It is not advisable to make the gradient too low, because it will look like you have little hair.

Pompadour

A type of cut covering the sides and forming a wig on top of the head. It must not be too close to the head. To maintain the wig throughout the day, apply lacquer to keep it intact for longer.

A little tousled

Do not wear a perfect cut if something unkempt is ideal to give the appearance of more volume. If you are going to comb it, do so with texturizing products. 

Almost shaved

If you wear your hair very short, it won’t show if it’s thin. As a complement, combine this with a neat beard.

Conclusion

Follow all these tips to increase your hair’s volume. It’s not difficult to achieve this. Take care of your diet, avoid stress, use the right products, and choose the right hair cuts.