How do I add volume to thin hair?

Many women are confronted with the problem of thin hair. The lack of volume makes the problem even worse. We all dream of beautiful, thick hair like we see on the cover of a fashion magazine. See how these simple tricks can give your hair volume and thicken it permanently

Keratin and Plant Proteins

Plant proteins are a popular ingredient in volumising hair cosmetics. Wheat and pea proteins in particular work wonders even for thin hair. Regular use of a protein hair conditioner not only adds shine and health to your hair but also lifts it up at the roots and increases its volume

To further nourish and bounce your hair at the roots you can do a laminating treatment. For this, you’ll need gelatin jelly, which contains keratin, or vegan agar jelly. Dissolve the powder in hot water and add hair conditioner to the liquid in a 1:1:1 ratio. Apply the mixture to your washed, wet hair and put a plastic cap on your head for about 40 minutes. After this time, rinse the laminate with cold water. After this treatment your hair will be smooth, shiny and lifted. Do not do it more often than once every two to three weeks to avoid overprotecting your hair.

Colouring with Special Effects

A new technique for coloring hair is imprinting. This method of colouring through a patterned template gives your hair an amazing effect. The hair colour takes on a whole new texture, which makes it appear as if there is more hair. This is a great way to visually thicken your hair and at the same time create a wow effect

Herbal Colouring for Lasting Thickening Hair

A proven way to really and permanently thicken hair is to color it with herbs. “Dyes” of herbs, actually powdered leaves of various coloring herbs allow to completely change the structure of the hair

Hair coloring herbs

The downside of herbal coloring is the limited range of colors. The colors, which can be obtained on hair with the help of herbs are black, red, red and golden or red reflections

• Henna (Lawsonia Inermis) – an herb that colors only red. Any product called “henna brown”, “henna black”, “henna colorless” is another herb or a mixture of herbs under the wrong name. Henna leaves have the most pigment in them, so they thicken the hair the most. The herbal dyes penetrate the hair structure and permanently bond with the naturally contained keratin in the hair, making the hair thicker. Herbal coloring is permanent, but most herbs can be chemically lightened
• Cassia (Cassia Obovata) – often referred to as “colorless henna,” but it is neither henna nor colorless. Cassia actually dyes hair very lightly, leaving only golden highlights. It warms up the natural color, which is not so visible on dark hair, but on very light colors it will leave a golden glow. It thickens slightly less than henna because it contains less pigment.
• Senna (Senna Obovata) – dyes yellow, which on darker hair will leave just a hint, but on very light hair will dye it a warm shade of yellow. It thickens hair similarly to cassia, but it is much more easily available – you can buy it at any drugstore.
• Rubia (Rubia Cordifolia) – dyes hair a reddish shade, but leaves only reddish reflections. Red hair can only be achieved by building up multiple layers of henna. Thickens quite poorly, but can be added to other herbs to modify the color
• Indigo (Indigofera tinctoria) – dyes a cool shade of black. The only herb that cannot be lightened chemically, because it will then give a green color through the dark blue tones in the color. For the same reason, coloring red hair with indigo can be risky. Chemically bleached hair will also catch green. Added to herbal mixtures with “cool brown”, “cool blonde” colors. If there is any amount of indigo in the mixture, the color cannot be chemically lightened or applied to bleached hair

Methods for preparing and applying the herbal coloring mixture

All herbs except indigo are prepared in a similar manner. The finely ground herb or mixture of herbs should be poured over boiled water at about 60 degrees Celsius until it becomes a paste with the consistency of pudding. Then it should be soured with a few tablespoons of strong rosehip infusion or ¼ teaspoon of citric acid and set aside under a cover in a warm place for 18 to 24 hours. During this time, the dye should be released from the herbs. Then you can apply the prepared paste on wet hair washed with a strong shampoo and keep it on your head under a foil cap and towel for 2 to 4 hours, depending on how strong the effect you want to achieve. After this time, rinse the mixture with cool water without any detergent or conditioner. Do not use any cosmetics on your hair for at least three days after colouring it with herbs

Indigo, on the other hand, unlike other herbs, releases the dye in a cool and alkaline environment. Add slightly warm distilled water to ground indigo and add a little baking soda to the paste. This mixture should be applied to your hair right away! Indigo loses its coloring properties over time. The mixture can remain on your head under a foil cap and towel for up to two hours, after which time you get the strongest possible effect. After the time is up, wash the herbs with cool water and do not use cosmetics.