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Achieving that ideal fluffy look can be tricky, especially when trying to strike a balance between adding volume and avoiding unwanted frizz. The good news is it isn't about your hair type but rather the hair care products and styling techniques you use to achieve the desired look. If you, like many others, struggle to add volume to your hair without ending up with a frizzy or puffy mess, these solutions are tailored just for you. Within this comprehensive guide, we have broken down the 12 easy tips to get your hair looking fluffy and fabulous without the frizz.
What Does Fluffy Hair Look Like?
Fluffy hair is characterised by its soft, airy and voluminous appearance. It appears full-bodied and hydrated without looking untamed or unkempt. It differs from poofy or frizzy hair in that it appears thick, voluminous and well-hydrated without flyaways or puffiness.
The Differences Between Fluffy Hair, Poofy Hair and Frizzy Hair
Although fluffy, poofy and frizzy hair often gets grouped as one hair type, they have distinct differences and characteristics. Here is how to determine the differences between the three hair types:
Fluffy Hair
Fluffy hair is the ultimate goal to achieving voluminous hair as it is full and has a soft, airy texture, yet is still well defined. Your hair looks well moisturised without being weighed down and has a lightness about it that gives your look bounce and dimension.
Poofy Hair
Poofy or puffy hair has similar characteristics to frizzy hair in that it is puffed out without definition. It is often hard to control and is caused by external environmental factors such as high humidity, dryness or damage from heat styling tools.
Frizzy Hair
A key marker of frizzy hair is your hair follicles lack smoothness and often look unruly as the raised cuticle causes your hair to frizz. Similar to poofy hair, it is due to environmental stressors such as high humidity or dryness. To combat frizzy hair, you want to ensure your hair follicles are well moisturised and use products that help to seal and smooth the hair cuticle to retain moisture throughout the day.
12 Ways to Make Your Hair Fluffy
1. Hydration is Key
For your hair to be fluffy and not frizzy, hydration is the determining factor. You want to ensure your hair is receiving ample hydration from your choice of hair care products and hair care routine. Depending on your hair type, your hair care routine and the products you use will differ. For example, if you have coiled to wavy hair, you may need thicker creams and hair masks compared to if you have thin or fine hair, you will need lightweight products that support volume without weighing your hair down. Check out our blog for more tips on how to volumise and style fine hair.
2. Use Lightweight Products
To achieve the best fluffy results, you should always opt for lightweight products that support your hair’s hydration without weighing it down. Using a hair-thickening spray can do just that as it contains rice proteins which form a protective barrier around the hair shaft and support your hair’s structure without weighing it down.
3. Blow-Dry Your Hair
How you blow dry your hair can also make a massive difference in your fluffy hair results. We recommend drying your hair upside down, focusing on the roots as it helps to lift from the scalp and create volume from the base. You can also blow your hair in an outward direction to achieve a fluffy, more voluminous look. However, be sure to use it on medium to low heat and work through each section of your scalp evenly to not overheat one section. You can also incorporate a volumising foam for additional lift from the roots.
4. Proper Brushing
Use a wide-toothed comb or brush with soft bristles to detangle your hair without causing breakage or damage which leads to frizz.
5. Tease Your Hair
Teasing your hair upwards is another great way to achieve a fluffy hair look, however, we don't recommend doing this technique frequently as it can cause damage over time. If you are going to tease your hair, make sure it is well hydrated and you do so gently.
6. Towel Drying Method
Use a microfiber towel or an old cotton T-shirt to reduce friction when you remove excess water from your hair. If you have coiled to wavy hair, we recommend gently plopping your hair upwards to maintain your natural curl pattern.
7. Overnight Styling
Playing around with different overnight styling techniques can also help you achieve natural waves or volume. For example, leaving braids in overnight or dry curl techniques is a great way to achieve curls and volume overnight without heat-styling tools. To further support your hair in looking voluminous overnight, you can apply a texturising spray or mousse to damp hair before placing it into braids or a dry curl hairstyle. When undoing the style in the morning, gently brush out the curls to achieve a fluffy and voluminous appearance.
8. Protect Your Hair
As frizz and flyaways are key differentiating factors between your hair looking fluffy versus frizzy, you must protect your hair when heat styling as it can cause irreparable damage to the hair follicles. Incorporating a heat protectant into your hair-drying routine will ensure your hair follicles don’t dry out and break as easily.
9. Frequent Haircuts
Getting regular haircuts and how you style your hair will help it appear more voluminous and fluffy without looking puffy or frizzy. For example, getting a feathered haircut or 70’s styled layers will make it easier to style your hair to achieve a fluffy appearance.
10. Dry Shampoo
Using a dry shampoo is one of the easiest ways to achieve volume boosting without drying your hair or having it appear frizzy or poofy. This is because dry shampoo works to absorb excess oil and give your hair added texture and lift without weighing it down. It is also a great way to refresh your hair in between washes without having to wash and style your hair from the beginning. To use a dry shampoo, focus on your roots and the sections you want more volume in and gently massage the product into your scalp evenly. It is also best to focus on your roots for added lift.
11. Hair Mask
Although using a hair mask may not seem like the key to attaining fluffy hair, well-moisturised hair is going to be more manageable and less likely to turn frizzy and poofy when trying to achieve a voluminous and fluffy look. When choosing a hair mask, opt for one that is lighter weight and barrier-protecting to ensure your hair follicles are supported but not weighed down.
12. Diet and Lifestyle
Whilst there are many hair care routine steps you can take to achieve voluminous and fluffy hair, your hair’s health also comes down to your diet and lifestyle. Having a well-balanced diet filled with vitamins, minerals and proteins as well as staying on top of your hydration levels will make a world of difference to your hair's health.
FAQs about Fluffy Hair
Is fluffy hair healthy?
Yes it is! When you have fluffy hair it is well maintained and hydrated which is only achieved when your volumised locks are well looked after. It is not to be confused with frizzy or poofy hair which is a result of split ends, dehydration or porous hair follicles.
Can you get fluffy hair with straight hair?
Absolutely you can! You can achieve fluffy and straight hair with the right products and hair care, such as a hair volume powder that works to raise your roots and give you that extra lift. It is also great if you suffer from an oily scalp as it can help soak up unwanted oils, leaving you with luscious and lifted hair.
Why does my hair go fluffy after washing?
After exposing your hair to heat from the shower, your hair cuticles open up. This can lead to your hair looking fluffy after washing and at times, untamed. Using a hydrating conditioner or hair oils after washing your hair can help smoothen the hair cuticles. You can also finish washing your hair with a cold shot to help seal the cuticles and reduce the fluffy appearance.
