Collage: Jemeria Davison; Source images: Courtesy of Allure editors and brandsSave this storySave this story
The best volumizing hair products can be lifesavers for second-day styling, deflated blowouts, and flatness-prone strands. Mousses, sprays, and powders (oh, my!) add dimension and texture to hair that needs a boost, using ingredients like polymers, copolymers, and resins to restore your long-lost zhuzh. Still, you don't need fine or flat hair to benefit from a volumizing hair product. Even people with naturally fuller hair can use these formulas to amp up volume and bounce for that just-left-the-salon look that lasts for days. Interest piqued? Keep scrolling to discover our favorite hair volumizing products to give that crown some well-deserved lift.
Our Top Volumizing Hair Products
- Best Overall: Crown Affair The Air Dry Texturizing Air Dry Mousse, $38
- Most Long-Lasting Hold: Hours Full-Time Plumping Mousse, $27
- Best Heat Protectant: Olaplex Volumizing Blow Dry Mist, $32
- Best for Fine Hair: K18 Biomimetic Hairscience AstroLift Reparative Volume Spray, $46
- Best for Second-Day Refreshes: Dae Fairy Blaster Texturizing Spray, $30
- Best for Curls: Chris McMillan The Hair Mousse for Bouncy Volume, $36
- Best for Oily Hair: Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray, $52
- Best for Frizz: Davines OI Soufflé, $50
Frequently Asked QuestionsLargeChevron
- What does a volumizing hair product do?
- How do I choose a volumizing hair product?
- What should I avoid in a volumizing hair product?
- Meet the experts
- How we test and review products
- Our staff and testers
Best Overall: Crown Affair The Air Dry Texturizing Air Dry Mousse
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Crown Affair
The Air Dry Texturizing Air Dry Mousse
Sephora
Violet Grey
Allure social media manager Bianca Richards after applying the Crown Affair The Air Dry Texturizing Air Dry Mousse
Why it’s worth it: Don’t let the word “mousse” scare you away—Crown Affair’s The Air Dry Texturizing Air Dry Mousse always leaves strands feeling flexible and soft, which is partly why it won a 2024 Allure Best of Beauty Award. Infused with nourishing tsubaki meadow oil, texturizing pink salt, and a plant blend of kale, carrot, and lemon extracts that, together, strengthen and add moisture, this featherlight formula hydrates, de-frizzes, and disappears upon contact—though the results stick around for hours. “It's perfect for enhancing curls, giving you good volume and a strong hold that will last,” Katelyn Ellsworth, a hairstylist based in San Diego, CA, told Allure. It’s our go-to for days when we skip heat styling, but still want natural movement and airy volume. When it’s time to re-style your hair the next day, you can brush right through your strands without worrying about any leftover stickiness or residue.
Richards before applying the Crown Affair The Air Dry Texturizing Air Dry Mousse
Richards after applying the Crown Affair The Air Dry Texturizing Air Dry Mousse
Bianca Richards
Tester feedback from social media manager Bianca Richards
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“I love how seamlessly the Crown Affair The Texturizing Air Dry Hair Mousse fits into my low-maintenance, low-effort haircare routine, and it leaves my hair looking the best I've ever felt in my natural state. It’s a super low-lift way to achieve that effortless, undone look. Unlike other mousses, it doesn’t leave your hair feeling crunchy—which is the best part!” —Bianca Richards, social media manager
Tester feedback from senior commerce director Shanna Shipin
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“My thick hair is incredibly stubborn about maintaining volume at the roots and body throughout the day, but this mousse does what was previously impossible: It provides a natural, flexible hold (absolutely no crunch!) that sends my curls into juicy, hydrated spirals, giving my hair an allover plumping effect. It's the manifestation of va-va-voom for air-dried hair.” —Shanna Shipin, senior commerce director
More to know
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- Key ingredients: tsbukai meadow oil, pink salt, plant protein blend (kale, carrot, lemon)
- Who it's good for: those who like to air-dry their hair
- Fragrance-free: no
Most Long-Lasting Hold: Hours Full-Time Plumping Mousse
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Hours
Full-Time Plumping Mousse
Amazon
Nordstrom
Why it's worth it: The lightweight, foamy, and soft-but-mighty Hours Full-Time Plumping Mousse won an Allure Best of Beauty Award in 2023 and 2024 for its all-day staying power. The formula leans on fatty acids derived from castor oil to help hydrate the scalp and reinforce each strand, creating a good foundation for volume. Once dispensed, the airy propellants in the formula expand and then evaporate, giving the roots a subtle lift as your hair dries. That expansion acts almost like scaffolding, encouraging strands to stand taller. Then, humectants like propylene glycol and butylene glycol draw in moisture, plumping the hair shaft so it looks and feels thicker.
Allure commerce producer Sarah Hoffmann before applying the Hours Full-Time Plumping Mousse
Sarah Hoffmann
Hoffmann after applying the Hours Full-Time Plumping Mousse
Sarah Hoffmann
Tester feedback from commerce producer Sarah Hoffmann
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"Listen, mousse was a dirty word to me for the majority of my life—I did my time in the crunchy curl trenches in middle school—but I've done a full 180 since discovering Hours Plumping Mousse. My hair retains a ton of water post-shower and gets weighed down super easily, but adding two pumps of this to wet hair inflates my hair like a freakin' balloon. It's also responsible for the longest-lasting blowout I've ever had—it's literally a miracle product to me." —Sarah Hoffmann, commerce producer
More to know
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- Key ingredients: propylene glycol, castor oil, sodium polyitaconate
- Who it's good for: those with flat, fine hair that gets weighed down easily
- Fragrance-free: no
Best Heat Protectant: Olaplex Volumizing Blow Dry Mist
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Olaplex
Volumizing Blow Dry Mist
Ulta
Allure senior news editor Nicola Dall’Asen applying the Olaplex Volumizing Blow Dry Mist
Why it's worth it: No bouncy blowout is complete without a good heat protectant, like Olaplex’s Volumizing Blow Dry Mist. This 2024 Allure Best of Beauty Award winner safeguards your strands from temperatures up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit while wrapping them in a barely-there veil of defense. Bamboo extract lipopeptides form a weightless, protective film that helps fortify the hair fiber. Pea peptides and jackfruit polysaccharides join the mix to boost hydration and encourage airy lift, minus the frizz. The finish is touchably soft and completely invisible, for hair that looks naturally sky-high.
Tester feedback from senior news editor Nicola Dall’Asen
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"That any product could create volume on my superfine, color-treated hair is a damn miracle, which means Olaplex's Volumizing Blow Dry Mist is basically a religious deity in my eyes. With a few hearty spritzes of this lightweight spray along my hairline and in my roots—plus some elbow grease with a round brush, of course—I can at last achieve a style that makes me look like I have more hair than I actually do." —Nicola Dall’Asen, senior news editor
More to know
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- Key ingredients: bamboo extract, pea peptides, radish root ferment
- Who it's good for: people who style with heat regularly
- Fragrance-free: no
Best for Fine Hair: K18 Biomimetic Hairscience AstroLift Reparative Volume Spray
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K18
Biomimetic Hairscience AstroLift Reparative Volume Spray
Amazon
Sephora
Allure features director Dianna Singh applying the K18 AstroLift Reparative Volume Spray
Dianna Singh
Why it’s worth it: Powered by the brand’s biotech-backed peptide complex called K18peptide, which mimics the natural structure of keratin, the Allure Best of Beauty Award-winning Biomimetic Hairscience AstroLift Reparative Volume Spray does more than just add volume. A few spritzes boost fullness while repairing damage and reducing breakage. According to Eddie M. Parra, a hairstylist in New York City, it delivers a conditioning effect (thanks, red algae) without sacrificing lift. And, it has two-day hair memory, so the volume lasts for up to 48 hours whether you apply it on damp or dry hair (it goes on completely invisible either way).
Singh before applying the K18 AstroLift Reparative Volume Spray
Dianna Singh
Singh after applying the K18 AstroLift Reparative Volume Spray
Dianna Singh
Tester feedback from features director Dianna Singh
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"I've tried a lot of volumizers in my day, and I've found a handful that deliver oomph immediately—but very few that add volume that lasts. This spray is one of those rare gems: I apply it in damp hair, blow-dry, and then enjoy the extra bounce well into the following day." —Dianna Singh, features director
More to know
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- Key ingredients: red algae, arginine, K18peptide, polymers
- Who it's good for: flat, damaged hair
- Fragrance-free: no
Best for Second-Day (or Third-Day) Refreshes: Dae Fairy Blaster Texturizing Spray
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Dae
Fairy Blaster Texturizing Spray
Sephora
Allure managing editor Alessandra Foresto applying the Dae Fairy Blaster Texturizing Spray
Alessandra Foresto
Why it’s worth it: Dae’s Fairy Blaster Texturizing Spray absorbs oil at the roots, making it a great pick for hair that hasn’t been washed in…a few days. But, unlike a dry shampoo, it also adds lift at your roots and bounce throughout the entire hair shaft with zeolite, a volcanic material known to add volume and cleanse the scalp. One spray gives hair a light refresh, while three-plus sprays offer more volume and zhuzh. It features yucca stem extract, indica seed oil, moringa leaf extract, and glycerin, all of which protect hair from environmental damage, improve softness and manageability, reduce breakage, and add shine.
Foresto before applying the Dae Fairy Blaster Texturizing Spray
Alessandra Foresto
Foresto after applying the Dae Fairy Blaster Texturizing Spray
Alessandra Foresto
Tester feedback from managing editor Alessandra Foresto
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“I've been using this spray on day two and three after a wash to give my hair a boost of volume and soak up some oil from my roots. I'm seriously impressed by how much volume a few spritzes of this spray creates. After having my hair in a bun overnight, I like to spray it and tousle my hair and roots to make my waves even bigger. Other times, I spray it on my flatiron-made curls and I find they get a nice beachy look.
The spray bottle is powerful and a little bit goes a long way to give your hair serious lift and texture. It also adds grip to hair so my lackluster French pinning abilities can be more easily hidden. Unlike other texturizing sprays, I find that results last all day and my hair does not fall flat after a few hours. The spray features Dae's nice signature citrus scent too!” —Alessandra Foresto, managing editor
More to know
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- Key ingredients: yucca stem extract, indica seed oil, and moringa leaf extract, glycerin
- Who it's good for: oily, flat hair
- Fragrance-free: no
Best for Curls: Chris McMillan The Hair Mousse
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Chris McMillan
The Hair Mousse
Sephora
Shipin applying the Chris McMillan The Hair Mousse
Shanna Shipin
Why it’s worth it: Chris McMillan’s The Hair Mousse is designed to help you recreate the stylist’s signature lift—no salon appointment required. Lightweight and airy, it’s made with curly hair in mind, giving coils instant volume and bounce while providing heat protection for diffuser days. The result? A soft, tousled texture with long-lasting hold—no crunch, no touch-ups, just effortless body that lasts. Infused with pine cone and mushroom extracts, the mousse also soothes the scalp and helps repair split ends, giving your curls a much-needed reset.
Shipin before applying the Chris McMillan The Hair Mousse
Shanna Shipin
Shipin after applying the Chris McMillan The Hair Mousse
Shanna Shipin
Tester feedback from Shipin
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“Hello, one and done! This product is your gel, your curl cream, your finishing product…all in one. It's truly been a game-changer for me, replacing all my products! I shake it up, then release a larger-than-a-golfball size amount and apply it all over. I tend to use it while my hair is slightly towel-dried, then again in the middle of my diffusing session, when it is about 40% dry. I love that it truly delivers on its promise of volumized, bouncy curls—full stop. It tames a bit of frizz, it defines my coils, and adds some necessary lift at my roots and mid-section. I've never received so many compliments on my hair. A little goes a long way, and if you do overdo it (like any mousse), you may get a little crunch. Just work it out with an oil to finish off styling and it'll soften up immediately. I think this works perfectly for my 3a hair, and I can imagine it working well for waves, too. The $36 price may seem steep, but this mousse and a diffuser are all I need!” —Shanna Shipin, senior commerce director
More to know
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- Key ingredients: mushroom extract, pine cone extract, polymers
- Who it's good for: curly hair
- Fragrance-free: no
Best for Oily Hair: Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray
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Oribe
Dry Texturizing Spray
Amazon
Nordstrom
Why it's worth it: So, you got a blowout yesterday—but this morning's Pilates class did a number on your hair. Before you panic, Oribe's Dry Texturizing Spray is here to save the day. Yes, it adds volume and definition, but it also absorbs oil—think of it as a dry shampoo and a texturizing spray in one (very chic) bottle. The formula relies on zeolite crystallines, which add rough texture to your lengths while absorbing oil at the root. The spray also features Oribe’s Signature Complex, a brand hallmark that includes watermelon, lychee, and edelweiss flower to defend hair from drying and damaging oxidative stress. Pro tip: “Hit [hair] with the dryer again after spraying for volume at the root that lasts for days,” says Kate Johnson, hairstylist and founder of the Bridal Beauty Team. And, like all products in the Oribe lineup, it’s finished with the brand’s classic Côte d'Azur scent, which has notes of sandalwood, jasmine, and bergamot.
More to know
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- Key ingredients: zeolite crystallines, ginger root extract, kiwi extract
- Who it's good for: people who work out or sweat a lot
- Fragrance-free: no
Best for Frizz: Davines OI Soufflé
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Davines
OI Soufflé
Amazon
Nordstrom
Sephora
Why it’s worth it: Made with antioxidant-rich roucou oil and softening chicory root extract, Davines’ OI Souffle is a hair-plumping mousse that delivers serious shine and volume, with none of the crunch. It also offers heat protection up to 446 degrees Fahrenheit, making it a great prep step before blow-drying for an extra full, bouncy finish. Once you apply it, you’ll notice how much silkier and smoother your hair feels, and when it’s dry, there won’t be any frizz left behind. Whether you’re defining curls or adding lift to straight strands, this is a solid pick—especially if your hair tends to puff up the second you step outside.
Tester feedback from commerce writer Lily Wohlner
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“Humidity is my curly hair’s worst enemy, so when I’m rockin’ my natural waves, I always know Davines’ OI Mousse has my back in times of need. After showering, I scrunch it into my hair and I feel confident walking out the door on a rainy day or a scorcher, knowing my curls will stay right where I left them. Oh, and I have to mention the floral and clean scent of the entire OI line—I literally get compliments on it whenever I use it, with people asking me what perfume I’m wearing.” —Lily Wohlner, commerce writer
More to know
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- Key ingredients: roucou oil, chicory root extract
- Who it's good for: those with frizzy hair
- Fragrance-free: no
Best for Softness: R+Co Rodeo Star Thickening Foam
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R+Co
Rodeo Star Thickening Foam
Amazon
Nordstrom
Dermstore
Why it’s worth it: R+Co’s Rodeo Star Thickening Foam delivers non-sticky volume with a soft feel, says Victoria McLeod, a hairstylist based in Atlanta. It incorporates skin-care ingredients, like vitamin E to deeply condition, kiwi fruit extract to help retain moisture, and aloe vera leaf extract to minimize breakage and add shine. Yes, it gives hair that fuller, bouncier look—but it also leaves strands feeling so soft, you’ll want to run your fingers through them all day long.
More to know
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- Key ingredients: vitamin E, kiwi fruit extract, aloe leaf extract
- Who it’s good for: frizzy, dry hair
- Fragrance-free: no
Best for Extending Styles: Redken Stay High Mousse
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Redken
Stay High Mousse
Amazon
Ulta Beauty
Why it’s worth it: “Redken’s Stay High Mousse is thick and has a lot of stiff texture to it, so it holds fine hair up in a way that a lot of volumizing products don’t,” says Johnson. She adds that the volume stays put all day long, whether you apply it only at the roots or throughout your hair shaft.“ Just make sure to use a small amount and run it through wet hair section by section before blow-drying,” she advises. It immediately melts into hair, never feels sticky, and hydrates and strengthens with help from castor oil. A win-win-win, in our book.
More to know
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- Key ingredients: castor oil, polymers
- Who it's good for: all hair types
- Fragrance-free: no
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a volumizing hair product do?
According to Toth, a volumizing hair product lifts roots from the scalp. "Some are simply weightless, some give incredible hold and texture, and some coat and surround each strand of hair," he says.
Raven Hurtado, a Chicago-based hairstylist, echoed Toth. He told Allure, "It works great for updos, and you could also use it as a dry shampoo." Hurtado explains, "You can also touch up your second-day blowout without having any residue."
While healthy hair can benefit from hair volumizing products, they can also help support damaged locks. Cosmetic chemist Ginger King told Allure, "Heredity, stress, poor nutrition, improper care of hair, and environmental damage (such as sunlight and harsh brushing)" can all be potential causes of thinning hair. If that sounds like you, a hair volumizing product could make a big difference, either as a permanent solution or to tide you over while going on a regrowth journey.
How do I choose a volumizing hair product?
Many products claim to be effective volumizers. But before you hedge your bets on a bottle, it's essential to know your hair type and your desired style. Santiago recommends using a root spray or a mousse before blow-drying if you want your hair to be more touchable and smooth. "If you like feeling your hair more textured, an aerosol spray or volume powder is a great choice," she adds. If you're just getting into the hair volumizing game, you might need to try a few different products before you land your best option.
What should I avoid in a volumizing hair product?
King previously told Allure to be wary of heavy oils and silicones, since "not all oils or silicones are created equal." She mentions that, while they can provide benefits like softening and hydrating, coconut and jojoba are weightier than other oils. Silicones also vary in weight and grade—but you don't need to be a scientist to determine which is which. "If it feels greasy on your fingers, chances are it will weigh down your hair," King advises.
Meet the experts
- Mia Santiago, a New York City-based hairstylist
- Devin Toth, a New York City-based hairstylist
- Raven Hurtado, a Chicago-based hairstylist at Maxine Salon
- Ginger King, a cosmetic chemist
- Kate Johnson, a hairstylist and founder of the Bridal Beauty Team
- Victoria McLeod, a hairstylist based in Atlanta, Georgia
How we test and review products
We always enlist a range of testers for our makeup vertical, but hair-care products and tools are another story. While there are certain products that can be used across different hair textures, lengths, curl patterns, thicknesses, colors (natural and unnatural), and needs, hair products are often created with specific consumers in mind. Many are created in order to address a concern (dandruff, breakage, brittleness) or to work most effectively for a specific hair type (4C curls, wavy hair, gray hair). You wouldn’t want to pick up a purple shampoo that’s only been reviewed by someone with, say, auburn hair, or a diffuser that’s never been tested by anyone with curls—right?
For our review of volumizing hair products, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, cosmetic chemists, and makeup artists—who have a range of experience studying and using these products. Testers considered performance across four primary categories: efficacy, texture, experience, and formula. For more on what's involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the “best” for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
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