STYLE

Unlike Gretchen Wieners, my hair is not full of secrets. Or body. Or volume. My super fine strands, simply put, never fail to fall very, very flat. For the longest time, I felt like the fluffy fullness of my Matilda Djerf daydreams was, well, a full-on fantasy. But after seeing the fall runways packed with sky-high styles, I decided it was time to call in the pros (and some hero products) and start living the high life.

Build in bounce

@sabrinacarpenter

Start with a shampoo and conditioner specifically designed to create volume, shares Tara Simich, founder of Mermade Hair (we like Amika Big Hit Shampoo + Conditioner, $28 each, loveamika.com).

Next, rough-dry your hair upside down (sounds crazy, but it works). "If you part to the left, flip it to the right and dry the roots while lifting your hair with your fingers," say Jerome Lordet, celebrity stylist and owner of Jerome Lordet Salon in NYC. "This helps create lift and height-you'll basically train your strands to sit the way you want them to."

@thehaileylynne

Pump it up

@mermade.hair

After rough-drying, apply some mousse (we heart IGK Big Time Volumizing Mousse, $32, sephora.com), focusing on the roots, instructs Simich. Then, using a round brush (like The Hair Edit Sleek Goddess Boar Bristle Bamboo Round Brush, $18, ulta.com), blow-dry your hair in sections no more than the width of your brush. Lift at the roots and direct the airflow down your hair, rolling the brush to create volume and curl. Finish with hairspray to help hold your style.

@thehaileylynne

Try a tease

@madelame

Teasing your tresses is a great way to get added boost (one note of caution–if your hair tangles easily, you might want to skip this). Hold a small section of hair straight up, then use a fine-tooth comb or teasing brush (our pros love the Cricket Amped Up Teasing Brush, $6, ulta.com) in the opposite direction than you would normally. To really lock in the look, hit your teasing brush with a light mist of hairspray before backcombing.

@thehaileylynne

Rock some rollers

@realbarbarapalvin

Another way to fight flat? Old-school rollers. When your hair is almost dry, grab your rollers (note: the smaller the roller, the tighter the curl) and wrap your hair away from your face. Concentrate on three-inch sections around the crown plus ypur bangs and face-framing pieces. Finish blow-drying. Then, to set the shape, let your hair sit in the rollers for about 10 to 15 minutes until it cools before carefully unwinding.

@thehaileylynne

Dress it up

@matildadjerf

Once you've built body at the roots, it's time to add some extra oomph to the rest of your 'do. Use a curling iron to create polished spirals, try an updo or add in hair accessories like baby bows. We love a trendy cloth head-band and a sort of bouffant moment with the lift at the roots that peeks over the top. Hair that falls flat? Not on this head!

@thehaileylynne

ICYMI: This story originally ran in our October/November 2024 issue.
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Looking for more beauty tips? DW, we got your back, bb:
🎀 How to nail the french girl beauty aesthetic this fall
🎀 Our fave tinted moisturizers for every budget
🎀 The beginner's guide to lipstick

Top image: @bonitravo
Slider image: @carlibel
Collages: @thehaileylynne
Formatted for digital by Hailey Lynne.

by Lisa DeSantis | 11/11/2024