A Haircare Routine for Volume and Scalp Health

Fine, curly hair is wildly unpredictable. I would know, I'm a hairstylist, with fine, curly hair.

One day your curls are bouncy, defined, and behaving like they belong in a haircare commercial.

God, do I ever want to be in another commercial.... Next, they look flat and frizzy! Add a sensitive scalp into the mix and the whole thing becomes a balancing act. I have eczema and psoriasis on my scalp, cute, I know. Over the years, I’ve found a haircare routine that gives my hair volume and definition without weighing it down or irritating my scalp. These are the products and techniques I keep coming back to.

Haircare that is heavily fragranced or harsh can cause my scalp to become irritated very quickly.

I need products that add volume, provide moisture, and keep my scalp calm.

Colour Wow Security Shampoo

This is the only sulphate-free shampoo that's ever left my scalp feeling properly cleansed. I use this each time I wash my hair. It removes buildup and it doesn’t leave my scalp feeling tight or itchy.

It takes me about twenty-five minutes to blow out my hair. A fairly decent time frame, given my length and texture. I’m formally trained and use a Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer, so I can move through the process faster than most. Someone with similar hair to mine, using standard tools and doing a proper blowout at home, could easily spend forty minutes or more at this. That is a lot of time to invest in styling!

There are few things less irritating than spending all that time carefully blow-drying your hair section by section, only to realize your roots still don’t feel clean because your haircare didn’t do its job.

My hair gets oily quickly, especially at the roots, so I need a shampoo that removes buildup thoroughly without stripping my scalp or dulling my colour and I'm allergic to (most) dry shampoo. If my roots don’t feel genuinely clean a wash and blow drying...

I am beyond frustrated! I avoid anything too rich or overly moisturizing. I deal with more hair loss than I’d like, thanks to a combination of hormones and stress. I’ve found that professional haircare products/tools, regular exercise and a good sleep can help.

Best Silicone-Free Haircare

Many conditioners are either too lightweight and do very little, or so rich that your roots look greasy before the day is over. This one manages to strike a very impressive balance.

K18 Damage Shield Protective Conditioner is lightweight, silicone-free, and deeply hydrating. It helps soften the hair, detangle beautifully, and adds shine without leaving behind the kind of coating that can make fine curls fall flat.

I also love how easily it rinses out. My hair feels smooth and manageable, but still light and bouncy.

The formula is designed to help protect the hair from:

• UV damage

• environmental stressors

• and mechanical styling

Which is very helpful if you colour/lighten, heat style, or you're trying to be a little gentler with your hair.

The scent is very subtle and neutral. I noticed a real difference in how manageable my hair was after using the K18 Damage Shield Conditioner. If your hair needs hydration but gets weighed down easily, this is one of the best lightweight conditioners I’ve tried.

Best Repair Treatment

K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask

After I shower, this is the first haircare product I apply. K18 is one of the few products I’ve tried that genuinely made my hair feel stronger and more manageable over time.

The formula is designed to help repair damage caused by:

• colouring

• heat styling

• harsh environments

  
  

I apply one to two pumps through the mid-lengths and ends of my hair, avoiding the roots because my fine curls do not need any additional encouragement to look flat. Then I leave it alone for five minutes before combing it through or applying mousse.

This part is important: K18 recommends giving the product time to work before layering other products on top, and I’ve found that following those directions really does make a difference. Once the five minutes are up, I gently comb it through with a detangling brush and continue with the rest of my styling routine.

Best Mousse For Any Hair Type

Sebastian Mousse Forte

This is what I reach for when I want a big, soft, bouncy blowout with lift at the roots.

Think Jessica Simpson in her Newlyweds era. A round brush, this mousse and my Dyson blow dryer make it possible.

Sebastian Mousse Forte has been around forever, which in the beauty world usually means one of two things: it’s either wildly outdated or excellent. In this case, it’s excellent. If your goal is full, glamorous, early-2000s supermodel hair with lift and movement, this mousse is one of the best styling products I’ve found.

The formula has a strong hold, but it never leaves my hair feeling crunchy or sticky. It gives my curls or my smooth blowout, structure, definition, and the volume that fine hair needs to look its best. I apply it to soaking wet hair, focusing especially on my roots and mid-lengths. Mousse is one of the few styling products where I’ve learned that using too little is often the problem.

The brand also claims to have added a heat-damage protectant to the formula. If you regularly use very high heat or hot tools like curling irons or straighteners, I would still use a dedicated heat protectant. When a brand says a mousse offers “heat protection,” that does not necessarily mean it provides the same level of protection as a dedicated heat protectant spray. The ingredient doing most of the heavy lifting is Polyquaternium-11, a film-forming polymer that coats the hair and helps shield it from some heat and mechanical damage. Panthenol also helps keep the hair hydrated and more resilient.

What I Love About It

• Adds volume at the roots

• Provides long-lasting hold and reduces frizz

• Doesn’t feel sticky or heavy