About one-third of all women have thin hair due to either genetics or hair loss. That's a lot of ladies who will never make it big, starring in shampoo commercials!
If you have flat hair, it's too soon to give up your dream of a shiny, stunning mane. There are many reasons why your tresses may be falling flat. Sometimes the difference between big, shampoo-commercial hair and an underwhelming, flat style is as simple as finding the right styling product.
We've created this guide to explain the causes of flat hair so you can understand why your lovely locks have fallen flat. We'll offer you a few tips to help you add volume to your hair so you won't need to settle for a life of thin, sad styles.
Read on to learn how to transform your hairstyle so you can feel more confident about your everyday look.
What Is Flat Hair?
Some people are born with a head of thin hair. It's genetic, and there isn't much you can do to change it. Thin hair can hold voluminous styles, but ladies with slender tresses start with a disadvantage.
Think of a strand of thin hair like a tree branch. A thin, slender branch will bend or even break if it snows, but a thicker, more robust strand might not move at all.
However, a strand of hair is a lot flimsier than a branch, and nearly anything can weigh it down. Hair texture plays a role, too, and thin, straight hair is most likely to buckle under the weight of dirt, oils, or product.
All hair types can suffer from this problem. Curly and thick hair tends to flatten near the top instead of the bottom, creating an uneven look. Weight can hide your natural volume, obscuring your hair's potential.
Below, we'll discuss five factors that might be flattening your hair.
So Much Sebum
There are glands all over your body, including your scalp, and they kick into action when you hit puberty, producing oils called sebum. The sebaceous glands are most active in women under forty and relax as they approach menopause.
Some women are overachievers, however, and their sebaceous glands are overactive. They produce more sebum oils than needed, which can cause a "greasy" look as oils collect near the scalp, weighing down their hair.
Excessive scalp oil is one of the leading causes of flat hair.
Sebaceous glands also tend to go into overdrive as women approach their time of the month. Your hair might seem flatter or greasier before and during your menstrual period.
Athletes or other physically active women often produce more sebum than average. Women with animal-based diets featuring a lot of meat and dairy may also notice higher production than usual. Alcohol use can also sometimes trigger an excess.
A Product Pileup
Are you obsessed with dry shampoo? That's only one of the products that tend to build up and flatten your hair. Everything from hair spray to mousse has the potential to overburden your locks, causing a flat, damp look.
Many products contain polymers, which cling to your hair and make it difficult to wash them out. Over time, this product builds up, even after repeated washings. Please pay attention to the ingredients in your favorite products and consider whether they're improving your style or harming it.
Dietary Deficits
Your diet has a significant impact on the look of your hair. A healthy, balanced diet full of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients can transform the look of your locks without any other intervention. Rather than cutting out any particular food, try incorporating more healthy fats, leafy greens, and unprocessed foods.
Speak to your doctor about taking a daily multivitamin to address nutritional deficits. As a bonus, your overall physical health and energy level may improve. That's more stamina you can use to craft incredible hairstyles!
The Wrong 'Do
Sometimes, after a lifetime of dealing with flat hair, women overcompensate. They begin using a flat iron daily, which only makes their flat hair look flatter (and fries it over time). You might even have grown your hair long to try and add some drama, only to find that your long hair was just as flat—there was just more of it.
You can compensate for flat hair with a style that brings out movement and removes some of the bulk. Ask your hairstylist about trying layers or playing with length.
The wrong daily style can also cause your good intentions to fall flat. Consider swapping the flat iron for the VOLOOM volumizing iron. It's a specific, five-minute daily routine that can revitalize dull hair without causing damage.
Products That Don't Work
We've already discussed the danger of using too much product in your hair care routine, but using the wrong ones is just as lethal. We can't overemphasize how important it is to pay attention to the ingredients in your hair products.
Avoid products that promise hydration without added volume-boosting properties. If your shampoo is volumizing, make sure the label justifies why.
Banish Flat Hair for Good With VOLOOM
Sometimes banishing flat hair is as simple as finding the right product. Even women with a genetic predisposition for thin hair can benefit from a change in routine. Once you understand why your tresses are falling flat, you can take matters into your own hands and achieve the big and bouncy look you deserve.
Why not start with what The Huffington Post calls "The greatest hair volumizing tool of all time?" VOLOOMmakes heavy, expensive products obsolete and costly blowouts a thing of the past. Take our product quiz to find out if VOLOOM can help transform your hair for good.