How to Create Volume in Choppy Hairstyles

If you have a short, cropped 'do with lots of choppy layers, you may want to find a way to accentuate those layers by adding volume. This is simple to do and all you need are a few styling products, blow dryer and/or curling iron and you will be on your way to sporting volume in your choppy hairstyle.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Volume shampoo
• Volume conditioner
• Mousse
• Blow dryer
• Comb
• Gel
• Hair spray
• Curling Iron
• Highlighting kit (optional)

1. Use shampoos and conditioners that add volume. These products are formulated to plump up the shaft of your hair by adding fullness and giving short hair a voluminous effect as a result.

2. Massage in mousse into wet hair and blow dry while keeping your head upside down. This adds volume to the hair versus just drying the hair in the normal fashion. The mousse will help accentuate the short layers and add volume to the hair.

3. Tease your hair by "ratting" or back combing right against the roots. This will add automatic volume. Use hairspray or a small amount of gel to keep this look in place.

4. Finish your voluminous hairstyle by using a smaller barrel curling iron, in a half-inch circumference or smaller, to add volume to short layers.

5. Add face-framing highlights, or balliage (hand-painted highlights onto specific pieces of hair) to add a visual of volume to short hairstyles.

Tips & Warnings

• If you decide to use a highlighting kit to highlight your choppy hairstyle, make sure to do a strand test before applying to the entire head. This way, you can see if you will like the final result and also make sure that your hair can withstand the bleach. If you feel uneasy using a home kit, make an appointment at a hair salon for a professional highlighting job.