How to Make Hair Thicker, According to Experts

The latest TikTok hair hacks, styling products on the market, and hairstyle trends all point to one thing: everyone is searching for how to get thicker hair. People are changing the way they wear their ponytails; brands are launching new volume-boosting formulas; and sleek, straight hairstyles have made way for the return of the iconic ’90s supermodel blowout.

Unless you were born with naturally thick hair, chances are you, too, have researched ways to add fullness, be it with a new haircut, a hairstyle change, or a post-shower styling hack executed with products to thicken hair. Some people are opting for layered cuts to add movement, while others are bookmarking countless tips to ensure their styles don’t fall flat — especially if their hair is naturally thin.

As for how to get thick hair, we’ve tapped an expert. Here, celebrity hairstylist and ColorWow brand ambassador Chris Appleton — the man responsible for Jennifer Lopez’s volume-packed styles — is sharing his tips for how to make hair thicker.

How to Get Thicker Hair

Tip #1: Use a Round Brush at the Roots
Sometimes, getting thicker hair is as simple as changing the way you style your hair post-shower. Appleton recommends using this hack to give lift to the roots of your hair: start by applying a thickening spray to your hair. “Spray the dry roots and take a large round brush, wrapping the pieces around it and lifting upwards while applying heat for just a few seconds,” Appleton tells PS. The result? “Instant volume.”

Tip #2: Switch Your Part
We know how hard it is to change something as ingrained in you as your hair part, but switching things up every now and again can help make your hair look thicker: positioning them in a new direction gives the roots of your hair a natural lift.

Tip #3: Try the TikTok Ponytail Hack
This viral TikTok is praised for its ability to give your ponytail a bouncy makeover. Split your hair into two sections, and secure the top section with an elastic tie. “Then divide the bottom part into two more sections and tie them on top of the first ponytail,” Appleton says.

Tip #4: Consider Extensions
The easiest way to add thickness to your hair is extensions, Appleton says. Nearly all of your favorite celebrities’ voluminous hairstyles utilize extensions for added fullness. You can go the salon route and get professionally installed extensions or get clip-ins that you can take in and out at home.

Tip #5: Sleep in Braids
“Sleeping in braids can give fine hair some extra fullness without using heat,” Appleton says. Before bed, apply some hairspray to the ends of your hair before creating loose braids — either one big braid or two on either side of your head, depending on how long your hair is. “You’ll wake up in the morning with voluminous waves with no heat,” he says.

Tip #6: Change Your Messy Bun
If you have naturally thin hair, it can be hard to get fullness in a messy bun — but Appleton has a trick for that. Start by putting your hair up into a ponytail at the crown of your hair with a scrunchie, then spread the hair around the base of the ponytail and put an elastic on top. Separate the loose hair into two pieces and crisscross them around the base of the bun, securing the ends in place with two hair pins.

Hairstyles For Thicker Hair

We know what hairstyles aren’t good for making your hair look thicker (sleek, one-length cuts, among others), but what about hairstyles that are? Bobs, for starters, are great for making hair look thicker than it is because there’s no extra length weighing your ends down. “The popular ’90s textured half-up half-down always helps create volume and fullness,” Appleton says. “[And] long layers can help achieve the illusion of fullness.”

Products to Thicken Hair

Product is often the secret to every great hairstyle — after all, your curls won’t hold without a little hairspray, and frizz can’t be tamed without a good hair oil. Appleton has a handful of favorite products in his kit for making hair thicker. On wet hair, apply a volumizing spray or mousse, like the ColorWow XL Bombshell Volumizer ($26) or the IGK Big Time Volume and Thickening Mousse ($32).

Appleton also swears by root cover-up, even if you don’t color your hair or have grays, to “fake a fuller hairline.” We like the Madison Reed The Great Cover Up Root Touch Up + Brow Filler ($32) for filling in any sparse areas where your scalp shows. And for adding instant fullness to any hairstyle, look for a texturizing spray, like the Living Proof Full Dry Volume + Texturizing Spray ($36). Appleton’s favorite is the ColorWow Style on Steroids ($28). “It’s a great color-safe texturizing spray that doubles as a heat protectant,” he says. “This product is especially amazing for anyone with fine, flat hair.”

Additionally, if you’re looking for a shampoo for thicker hair, there are a few options on the market that help to add fullness. Our current favorite pick is the Bondi Boost Thickening Therapy Volumizing Shampoo & Conditioner Duo ($50).

Still, as great as some styling products can be for making your hair look thicker, there are products you should avoid if your hair is thin. “Don’t use heavy conditioners or products with lots of oils — any heavy emulsifiers that sit on hair’s surface and don’t absorb will make the hair greasy and weighed down,” Appleton says.

Jessica Harrington is the senior editor at POPSUGAR Beauty, where she writes about hair, makeup, skin care, piercings, tattoos, and more. As a New York City-based writer and editor with a degree in journalism and over eight years of industry experience, she loves to interview industry experts, keep up with the latest trends, and test new products. You can occasionally find Jessica in front of the camera in beauty videos across Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Prior to POPSUGAR, Jessica worked for publications such as Makeup.com, Skincare.com, SheFinds, The Zoe Report, AHAlife, and more.

Renee Rodriguez is a staff writer and social producer for POPSUGAR. She writes across all verticals, but her main areas of expertise focus on fashion and beauty content with an emphasis on reviews and editor experiments. She also produces social content for POPSUGAR’s TikTok and Instagram accounts.