How to Add Volume to Men's Hair: Tips, Products & Styling Techniques
A lightweight wash routine, root-focused blow-drying, and a haircut that doesn’t carry excess weight at the crown. These three things are best for adding volume to men’s hair.
In this blog, we’ll cover everything from washing and pre-styling to blow-drying techniques, volume-friendly haircuts and the best products for men’s hair volume.
By the end, you’ll know what works for your hair type and how to build lasting volume.
How to Wash and Prep Men’s Hair for More Volume
Volume starts in the shower, not at the styling bench. Hair that’s clean and free of product buildup lifts far more easily than hair still carrying yesterday’s residue.
Start With the Right Shampoo for Hair Volume
Use a volumising shampoo. These formulas rely on lightweight surfactants that clean thoroughly without coating the strand, which is exactly what flattens hair at the root.
A few things worth knowing:
- Thinning hair responds well to thickening shampoos, since many deposit hydrolysed proteins that temporarily plump the diameter of each strand.
- Hard water weakens hair strength over time, leaving brittle strands that won’t hold a style no matter what you put on them.
Use Conditioner Without Weighing Down Your Hair
Skip the roots, not the conditioner. Plenty of guys avoid it altogether thinking it kills volume, but the real issue is where and how much you apply. Keep it to the mid-lengths and ends, rinse thoroughly, and it’ll protect the hair without collapsing the root zone.
Dry Your Hair the Right Way Before Styling
Towel-drying is fine for low-maintenance cuts like a European crop. It won’t cut it for a quiff, pompadour or anything with real height. Those styles need an active blow-dry, because that’s the step that trains the roots to stand up instead of falling back into their natural, flatter pattern.
Use a Pre-Styling Product for Extra Lift
A pre-styler gives your hair something to grip before the main product goes in. A sea salt spray, volume mousse or styling tonic on damp hair adds texture and plumps the strands, so the round brush (or your fingers) actually has something to work with.
Men’s Hair Styling Techniques to Add Volume and Lift
Products only do half the job. How you dry and shape your hair is what builds and holds the lift.
Blow-Dry Your Hair for Maximum Root Volume
Direction is everything here. Flip your head upside down first and dry the roots away from the scalp. Once hair is roughly 80% dry, switch to sectioned styling. This trains hair to sit up rather than settle flat.
Use a Round Brush to Create Body
Fingers can only do so much. A round brush lets you wrap small sections around the barrel while applying heat, lifting and curving the hair right at the root for a shape that outlasts a rough dry by hours.
Style Your Hair Against Its Natural Growth Direction
Dry against the grain, always. Blow-drying opposite to how your hair naturally falls forces the roots upright, giving them the support to carry the rest of the hair’s weight without caving in.
Add Texture Instead of Simply Adding More Product
More product isn’t more volume; it’s just more weight. Irregular layering and movement through the ends does far more for density than a heavier hand with the wax tin, because texture distracts the eye and breaks up the visual line of the scalp.
Choose Haircuts That Make Men’s Hair Look More Voluminous
No product fixes a bad cut. Leave too much bulk at the crown, and that hair will collapse under its own weight no matter what you style it with.
This is where haircuts for volume in men’s hair matter most. Buzz cuts, crew cuts and textured crops tend to hold volume best, since they cut the contrast between hair and scalp and make thinning patches far less noticeable.
Our guide to understanding men’s hair grades breaks down which lengths give you the most lift without losing structure.
Best Products for Men’s Hair Volume
To be fairly honest, the best products depend on your density, hair type, and how much hold you need to get through the day. Here’s a quick breakdown before we get into how to combine them.
Product | What It Does | Best Used On |
Volumising shampoo & conditioner | Residue-free base, adds friction so strands don’t clump and lie flat | Wet hair, every wash |
Hair mousse / volumising foam | Pre-styler, needs heat to activate and “wake up” the foam | Damp hair, before blow-drying |
Sea salt/texturising spray | Raw grip and texture for a matte, undone finish | Damp hair, before styling |
Bonds to the hair for weightless, instant root lift | Dry hair, at the roots | |
Absorbs light instead of reflecting it, so hair reads thicker | Dry hair, mid-lengths | |
Locks the style in and protects against humidity | Last step, dry hair |
How to Add Volume to Men’s Hair Based on Hair Type
Not every head of hair responds the same way, so match the technique to what you’re actually working with rather than copying a routine that suits someone else’s density.
Hair Type | What It Needs | Best Tool | Product to Reach For |
Fine hair | Lightweight, easily overworked | Vent brush for airy lift, round brush for structure | Matte mousse or powder |
Thick/resistant hair | Strong tension to shape dense strands | Round brush | Matte clay or paste |
Straight hair | Movement to avoid a flat, limp finish | Comb + blow-dryer | Texturising spray |
Wavy/curly hair | Lift without frizz | Diffuser | Light mousse or gel |
If you’re not sure which category your hair falls into, ask your barber at your next visit. Density, texture and growth pattern all play a part, and a quick look under the right lighting tells you more than guessing at home ever will.
Common Mistakes That Make Men’s Hair Look Flat
Even with the right products in the cupboard, a few habits can undo all that effort. Here’s what to watch for:
- Using too much styling product: Overloading hair weighs it down fast. A small, salon-quality amount goes further than a big scoop.
- Applying heavy products directly to the roots: The quickest way to collapse volume. Save the richer products for mid-lengths and ends.
- Skipping the blow-drying stage: Air-drying almost always lets hair settle flat before you get a chance to shape it.
- Choosing the wrong haircut: Growing hair out to hide thinning usually backfires. Long, flat hair separates and shows more scalp, not less.
- Using too much heat: Heat activates products like mousse, but always finish with a cool shot of air. It closes the cuticle and locks the volume in place.
Find Your Best Hair Volume Style at Barber Nation
Getting more volume starts with a haircut and styling routine that suits your hair.
At Barber Nation, our barbers consider your hair type, growth pattern and personal style to create a look that works for you.
You can also explore our range of professional hair care and styling products to maintain your look at home.
FAQs
Does longer hair make men’s hair look flatter?
Longer hair can lose root lift because extra weight pulls it downward. Short-to-medium cuts with texture often make creating volume easier.
How can men add volume to thick hair that falls flat?
Thick hair often needs controlled weight and strong root lift. A suitable haircut, blow-drying and a lightweight matte product can create more height without adding heaviness.
How can I add volume to men’s hair without heat?
Let damp hair air-dry while lifting the roots with your fingers and using a lightweight texturising product. Changing your parting can also encourage natural lift.
Does volumising shampoo make men’s hair look thicker?
Volumising shampoo can help hair look fuller by removing oil and buildup without adding weight. Thickening formulas can also make individual strands feel and appear more substantial.
Why does my hair still look thin after adding volume?
Volume lifts existing hair but doesn’t increase hair density. If your scalp remains visible, the issue may be low density or fine strands rather than insufficient styling volume.