Growing out my hair can be such a pain, but I guess I have to keep my focus on my goal – to grow it to at least past my shoulders. Yes, I know seems like a rather mundane, yet self servicing type of goal. Very vain indeed. But, hey, it’s nice to indulge in ourselves once in a while. Ok, back to the topic at hand. We all know, well for most of us anyway, that with growing out our hair equates to loosing volume. Especially on the top part of our head. So, I’m going on a journey to discover how to achieve volume while growing out my hair.
In the first of the “Getting Volume for Your Hair” series, I decided to contact the people at Oscar Oscar Salons. I mean, what better way to learn about getting volume than from an expert hairstylist right? Thanks to Gabby, the Style Director over at the Chadstone salon, I got not only a step-by-step guide on how to achieve it via blow drying my hair. Yes, a “how to” on blow drying my hair!
To be perfectly honest, I don’t do the “pin in sections” and blow dry methodically, when I do dry my hair. Usually, I blast my hair dryer, turning my head upside down (does that make sense?) and blast away! Then I’ll style it up nicely with my VS Sasson Big Hair Styler, but again, not in nicely laid out sections. So it was great to actually learn that there is a method to achieve a great blow job – and I mean blow drying job ok.
Gabby, first explained the products that she would be using on my hair to achieve the volume I was after. Take note though that when I mean volume I wasn’t talking about the type that is synonymous with the Barberella type of image. Just something that gives my hair that nice shape, instead of looking limp and flat.
Aveda Pure Abundance range
The basics to getting volume of course, is the products you use to shampoo and condition our hair. The ones from the Aveda Pure Abundance range promises to create fullness, whilst cleaning and conditioning our hair. The good thing about the Aveda Pure Abundance Conditioner is the fact that it’s made from clay. Which means, it absorbs the oiliness – which is what normally causes the flatness in hair, and you won’t have to worry yourself silly if you did apply this on your scalp! That little bottle up front – the Hair Potion – well, that’s like the magic dust. Basically, a “wet” dust that helps to give your hair texture and add volume. How you use this is by dusting the powder onto your hair – NOT on your scalp. And then, rubbing it into your hair. The wet “liquid” will react to your hair once you rub it in. So please DO NOT shake the bottle – EVER, you will sort of destroy the properties.
First up, Gabby gave me a really relaxing neck and shoulder massage – something that comes as part of the “package” when you go to Oscar Oscar Salons for a blow dry. Then, off for a shampoo, and then…another blissful relaxation act – massaging my hands while having a warm towel draped around my hair – NICE!
Aveda Volumizing Tonic
Then the lesson began. First up, Gabby sprayed some of the Aveda Volumizing Tonic onto the top part of my hair. Just a little, because if she sprayed too much, it will get too oily and so adding weight to my hair. Then used the Aveda Phomollient, which is actually a styling foam, to the mid and bottom sections of my hair. Besides giving volume, it helps with traction and support when blow drying.
AVEDA Phomollient
Gabby then divided my hair into 3 parts. More like 3 tiers. Top, mid-section and bottom. With a medium sized barrel brush, and a hair dryer with a concentrator, she started blow drying my hair in parts. Her first tip is to make sure the brush is just the right size. Your hair should be able to fill the mid section of the brush. Then it all starts. Here are some handy hints to achieve that smooth, flawless and voluminous hair.
Blow drying upwards for volume
Blow drying straight out for a sleeker look
- By pulling your hair UPWARDS with the brush while blowing it with the hair dryer gives it volume. But, to create that sleeker finish, pull it straight and blow again afterwards.
Brick style
- When going onto the next section/tier, blow dry in a “brick style”. This means if you blow dried the bottom bit starting from position (a), then start from position (b) on the next tier. This will ensure that you won’t have that weird demarcation on your hair and makes it look a lot sleeker.
- Once you have blow dried the sections, always “smooth” it out by blow drying them together again.
And here is the end result:
Nice sleek, yet with a little bounce and volume thanks to Oscar Oscar Salon in Chadstone
That me with Chadstone's Oscar Oscar Salons Style Director, Gabby
While my hair didn’t end up having sky high volume – something I wasn’t after, it felt bouncy and not flat on my scalp. Mission accomplished.
Stay tuned next week for Part 2 of Getting Volume for Your Hair, where I check out the different ways I can inject instant volume to my hair.
Baubles, Bubbles & Bags
4 comments
2 pings
Alyce {Blossom Heart}
February 17, 2012 at 4:28 pm (UTC 10) Link to this comment
Aw, pretty Norlin!! Looks lovely
I can’t blow dry my hair – would take me too long to ensure I don’t frizz and fluff it up! Ah curly hair… thankfully it dries into a nice curl naturally 
Alyce {Blossom Heart} recently posted..My First Wall Hanging… Only 5 Months Late!
baublesb
February 18, 2012 at 4:04 pm (UTC 10) Link to this comment
Wished I had curls. I honestly think curls are awesome. It’s good that your dries into a nice curl instead of going all frizzy. But, you can always use those hair oil/serums to tame your mane if it gets a bit dry. Not too much just a little to freshen them up a little. I still use them on the ends of my hair even though I haven’t got curls.
Rin
February 17, 2012 at 5:05 pm (UTC 10) Link to this comment
Well, this would explain why have always kept my hair super long: I hate all the volumn! It’s not good volumn, it’s the frazzled, bouffy kind
I hate it, I wish I had flat hair! And i have never mastered how to blow dry properly for a sleek look, I’m too uncoordinated to hold a dryer & hairbrush at the same time! When I dry my hair, I simply blast at it until it’s dry. I wish I could do it properly, though, because then I could skip the hair straightener…
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baublesb
February 18, 2012 at 4:06 pm (UTC 10) Link to this comment
Have you tried using hair oils Rin? Or serums? Would that help in taming the frizz? As for being co-ordinated to dry your hair with a brush and hair dryer – same here. Very un-co. That’s why I was glad to be able to have the VS Sassoon big hairstyler. I can leave out using a brush and hairdryer because, it’s like a two in one. Great for those who are un-co like us!
Getting Volume For Your Hair Part 2 | Baubles, Bubbles & Bags
February 23, 2012 at 8:01 pm (UTC 10) Link to this comment
[...] with my journey to finding the solution for getting volume for my hair, I’ll share with you some easy ways to get volume – instantly! Besides using the right [...]
Getting Volume For Your Hair Part 3 - Styling Products | Baubles, Bubbles and Bags
March 9, 2012 at 7:53 pm (UTC 10) Link to this comment
[...] can read the previous two parts – Part 1 and Part 2 to see what I’ve done so [...]