How to Turn Greasy, Flat and Fine Hair into a Voluminous Fab Hairdo? (by Davina Shah)

In this blog post Davina is sharing her experience in how to turn greasy, flat and fine hair into a fab voluminous hairdo.

6 month trial of Babyliss Root Boost 2123U. Say goodbye to flat hair and hello to volume and oomph!

Do you have fine, flat or limp hair? Is your hair greasy and do you have to wash your hair daily? Does your scalp show around the crown or partings?

I have found a solution, and with perseverance and dedication, you too can break the cycle of constantly washing your hair and avoiding spot lights in restaurants! I know people with thin hair will relate to that last comment.

Over the years I have suffered from dandruff, itchy scalp and greasy hair…all at the same time believe it or not.  I was advised by my GP to wash my hair daily, as this would be good for the greasy hair and I tried every lotion and potion available.

Eventually, the itchy scalp and and dandruff ceased but I have been left with thin and greasy hair.

This year I made it a point to break the vicious cycle of washing my hair daily, or sometimes twice if I had a rough day at work and had to go out in the evening (I work outdoors).

I am pleased to say I have beaten the grease and reduced the appearance of thin hair.  Sadly, my hair is still thin, but I enjoy that my hair looks considerably thick-ish using some simple tricks, products and techniques.

Things you will need

You will need:

• Babyliss Root Booster 2123U
• Dry Shampoo
• Volumising mousse
• Volumising hairspray
• Round hairbrush
• Comb or special back combing brush
• A clip to hold up sections of hair for crimping

What is the Babyliss Root Boost 2123U?

It is a small device with a long lead that is plugged into the mains.  It is smaller than a hair straightener and the plates are thin and jagged. Anyone that crimped their hair in the 1980s or 1990s will recognise the plates are similar, just on a much smaller scale. There are three heat settings and an on and off function. It does not come on automatically like some straighteners.

How did I add volume to my hair?

I made my 2014 resolution...to stop my hair from getting greasy and to add volume.  Its all thanks to wonderful mother who bought me the Babyliss Root Boost 2123U for Christmas last year.  She constantly buys thickening tonics and products for me, but I have to say that this thing actually works!

Step 1

Wash your hair with shampoo and use conditioner on ends (only if you suffer with dry looking hair) don't add anything that may flatten your hair unless it is absolutely necessary!  Rinse with luke warm water.
Try varying your shampoos, I find cheap ones make hair appear thicker, but also try to use nourishing ones about once a week as cheap shampoos can take their toll.
*I only use conditioner about once a week when ends start to look dry*

Step 2

Add a light volumising mousse to the roots of the hair, preferably one with heat protecting qualities.

Step 3

Blow dry your hair upside down once it has been towelled dried and had a little time to dry naturally.
*I find drying completely wet hair makes it more limp and flat*

Blow dry upside down

Step 4

Use a round brush, turning the brush along the crown and sides of the head to add volume.

Use a round brush

Step 5

Style as usual - this may include curling or straightening the hair.

Straightening the hair

Step 6

Grab a clip, a comb for back combing and the Babyliss Root Boost 2123U. I use setting 170, but thicker hair may require a higher setting.

Start with the sides and part a strip of hair away from your usual parting and clip up.  Keeping the device as close to your scalp as you can stand, crimp all the way along the roots of the first parting.
*You MUST leave enough hair on top to cover the crimped hair, otherwise it will show through your style.

Part a strip of your hair away

Step 7

Clip up the crimped section of hair and crimp the next layer below all the way along. Keep repeating until you reach the bottom layer.

Crimp your hair by layers

Step 8

Repeat on the other side and then on the back of the head.
*I can now crimp my hair in less than 10 minutes with no mirror or help. I have much thinner hair than the average person but practice makes perfect*

Step 9

Roughly lift the hair revealing crimped sections and back comb those sections to add volume.

Step 10

Lift hair again and spray a volumising hairspray to the crimped sections.

Spray hair with a volumising hairspray

Step 11

Pat down any unruly sections of hair and use volumising hairspray to finish and set the style.  Keep some distance from your hair to create a fine spray, so as not to weigh the hair down.

How to prevent hair from getting too greasy during the night?

At first it was horrible, my hair was doing it's usual 'greasy by evening' routine. This is when dry shampoo became my best friend.

Step 1

Before going to bed, brush your hair upside down to remove knots from the day and to add volume.

Step 2

You do not need to clip the hair up as when crimping, but roughly lift the hair from the roots and use your comb to back comb the roots again.

Backcomb your hair

Step 3

Use dry shampoo on the roots before bed.

How to avoid washing hair on the second day?

On the second day use a hand held mirror to check how greasy the back of your hair looks.  You may find gaps where you would have been lying on your pillow. Do not be tempted to wash your hair, otherwise you will never break the cycle!

Step 1

Brush your hair upside down.

Step 2

To start with you may need to reboost using the Babyliss Root Boost.  If so, spray roots with dry shampoo before using the Babyliss Root Boost.

Step 3

Back comb and finish with volumising hairspray under roots and over whole style to set.
Six months into this routine and I no longer need to reboost roots using the Babyliss device on day two.  I simply spray with dry shampoo, back comb roots and spray with volumising hairspray.
I am hoping by the end of the year, I can leave my hair two days before washing.  My hair quality has improved tremendously and I am confident that using the Root Boost must be better than washing, drying and styling everyday.

I also add coconut oil to the hair and scalp every few weeks to keep it nourished.  Some people do this more regularly.

Before and after pictures

Before the volumising hair routine

After the volumising hair routine

IT REALLY WORKS!!

If you don't have greasy, flat or fine hair, imagine what the Babyliss Root Boost 212U could do for you! Great for special nights out or a 1980's up-do!

I am also practicing oil pulling to see if it can help with quality, thickness and texture of my hair.  Click here to read that post.

I would love to know if this blog has helped anyone with similar hair complaints.  Keep me posted!
Wishing you all a big hair day x


ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Davina Shah is a massage therapist, charity worker and writer. Her autobiographical short story 'The truth is out there' for anthology Rites of Passage; Rights of Womanhood is due for publication in July 2014.

Proceeds from the anthology will be donated to Hope for Justice charity.

You can also find Davina on Twitter @MorisyenRose.