All products featured on Self are independently selected by our editors.
However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links.
Some people notice teeth, others notice shoes, I notice goodhairlikely because my own is so pitiful.
We all have our things, right?
It’s that serious.
My hair is naturally mousy brown and flatter than the state of Kansas.
Within an hour of waking, its pulled into a baby bun or a wispyponytail.
But in the most human and selfish way, I also want really good hair.
I want Johnny Weirs towering updo.
So I tried eight products that promised to add volume, thickness, and height to my fine hair.
After a month of testing and ton of scary selfies, here are the results.
I sprinkled this powder on my roots, and at first, it felt damp and sticky.
Its made with boar and nylon bristles.
In a nutshell: This is the brush that flat-hair dreams are made of.
After a satisfying backcomb session, my hair instantly resembled that of a ’50s-glam movie star.
I swept it into a chic ponytail, which was a major improvement over my limp baby pony.
I loved that this product didnt make my hair sticky, but gave it volume and bounce.
The verdict: Try this if you want a soft, bouncy blowout.
The tool was easy to use and reminded me of an old-school crimper.
The verdict: Fantastic volume with five-minute effort.
The only downside is that the heat can be damaging to my already limp hair.
The jar claims to add texture while absorbing oil for a matte finishall this without a grimy, build-up.
The verdict: Volume for days with a malleable texture for styling.
A word of caution: Dont go overboard; a little goes a long way.
It took me a total of five minutes to go from my snoozy short lob to elbow-length Disney locks.
The hair could easily be curled or cut, but I loved the hippy vibe of the long look.
I felt a bit like my mom in the ’70s.
The verdict: I like that this product can be washed and removed at night.
I can also easily change up the style depending on my mood.
The one problem: I could not stop looking at myself in the mirror.
Atkin has dubbed this product the push-up bra for your hair.
The verdict: My hair volume went from an A to a C cup with zero added weight.
Plus, I smelled like a garden.
It’s supposed to leave hair clean and full of body.
Post-software, my hair appeared much less oily and the product delivered instant bounce.
The verdict: This is a fancier version of your everyday dry shampoo that works.
Bonus: It smells heavenly.