The ultimate guide to fixing flat hair & boosting volume instantly

If your hair tends to stick close to the scalp, lacks natural movement, or loses shape shortly after styling, chances are you're dealing with flat hair that may be affecting the overall balance of your appearance.

Fortunately, this condition is both common and completely manageable. In the following sections, we’ll explore some of the best, easy-to-follow ways to treat flat hair and bring life back to your style, along with a few recommended products and tools that work especially well for restoring shape, texture, and lift.

1. Blow-dry with precision

Tool: Laifen SE Hair Dryer with nozzle attachments

When: After every wash (2–3 times/week)

Time needed: 5–8 minutes

Using a standard dryer without thinking about airflow direction is one of the most common reasons hair stays flat. The Laifen SE Hair Dryer is designed with focused nozzles that allow you to control where the heat and airflow go, meaning you can lift at the roots without drying out the ends.

• For a quick boost, flip your head upside down while drying and aim the airflow at the roots.

• For long-lasting lift, section your hair and use your fingers or a round brush to lift small sections while drying from underneath.

Example: If your crown always flattens by midday, focus the Laifen SE on this area for 30 seconds, lifting from the roots and locking in with the cool shot setting.

2. Clarify weekly

Product type: Clarifying shampoo

When: Once per week (Sunday reset works well)

Time needed: 5 minutes in the shower

Even if you’re not using heavy gels or pomades, oil, pollution, and hard water minerals build up over time. A clarifying shampoo helps clear out this residue, which can suffocate your roots and weigh hair down. But don’t overdo it, once a week is enough.

Pro tip: Follow with a lightweight conditioner only on your ends to keep the volume while protecting your strands.

3. Choose lightweight products

Product types: Mousse, root-lifting spray, volume foam

When: Apply to damp hair before styling

Time needed: Under 2 minutes

Heavy serums or creamy conditioners can make your hair feel smooth, but they often collapse volume right at the roots. Instead, use lightweight volumizing mousses that lift and expand the hair shaft without making it greasy or stiff. For men and women with fine or straight hair, a dime-sized amount of product spread through the crown area before blow-drying is often enough.

Example: If you normally skip products to “keep hair light,” try one pump of volumizing mousse just at the roots and finish with Laifen SE for extra body.

4. Get the right cut

Technique: Layering, texturizing, removing weight from the crown

When: Every 5–6 weeks

Stylist tip: Ask for movement, not length 

A flat haircut will always lead to flat results. If your hair is all one length or too thick on top, it tends to collapse under its own weight. Adding soft layers or removing bulk through thinning techniques helps create natural lift. Don’t just tell your stylist you want “volume”, be specific. Say: “I’d like more texture and root lift at the crown without losing length.”

Example: A textured French crop or layered bob adds shape without extra styling effort.

5. Don’t skip the scalp

Tools: Scalp brush, exfoliating scrub, fingertips

When: 2–3 times per week while shampooing

Time needed: 2 minutes during your wash routine

Your scalp is the foundation of your hair’s health, and if it’s clogged, dry, or oily, volume becomes a challenge. Massaging the scalp while shampooing increases blood flow and helps lift the roots naturally. Once or twice a week, try using a scalp brush or a scrub designed to remove dead skin cells and buildup.

6. Switch to a side part

What to do: Change your part from the middle to a side

When: Whenever styling your hair

Time needed: Instant

If your hair always falls in the same direction, it naturally lies flatter over time. Flipping your part to the opposite side can instantly create lift at the roots, since that hair hasn’t been trained to fall flat yet. Even shifting your part slightly from its usual place can help reintroduce volume.

7. Add velcro rollers or root clips post-drying

What to use: Large velcro rollers or metal root clips

When: Right after blow-drying

Time needed: 10–15 minutes while cooling 

Hair is most moldable while it's cooling, not when it's hot. After blow-drying, wrapping sections of your hair in velcro rollers or lifting them with root clips can help “set” volume in place. Leave them in while you get ready or do your skincare routine.

8. Try overnight styling for natural lift

What to use: Loose topknot or satin scrunchie

When: Before bed

Time needed: Sleep-friendly, zero extra effort

For those with medium or long hair, try twisting your hair into a loose topknot or soft braid before bed. Sleeping with hair lifted off the scalp can help it dry or settle with more shape by morning without the need for heat.

Example: Wake up, shake it out, and use dry shampoo at the roots for texture and hold.

9. Go dry shampoo first — Not last

What to use: A volumizing dry shampoo

When: Before styling, not just for touch-ups

Time needed: 30 seconds to 1 minute

Most people reach for dry shampoo only when their hair is already greasy. But using it before styling (on clean or second-day hair) can add texture and prevent oil from taking over. Spray it at the roots, let it sit for 30 seconds, then massage in for lift and a clean scalp feel.

Pro tip: Use a brush or your fingers to “tease” the area after applying for added bounce.

10. Use a silk or satin pillowcase

What to switch: Your regular pillowcase

When: Every night

Time needed: Zero, it works while you sleep

Cotton pillowcases can flatten your hair overnight by absorbing natural oils and creating friction. A silk or satin pillowcase allows your hair to glide smoothly, preserving volume and texture while reducing morning frizz.

Bonus: Also great for reducing breakage and helping styled hair last longer between washes.