Fine hair has so much going for it. It's soft, it moves beautifully and it dries quickly. What it wants most is a little help at the root, and the best brush for fine hair is the one that gives you lift without weighing everything down.
After years of blowouts on every hair type, I can tell you the brush makes more difference here than almost anywhere else.
There's a common idea that fine hair should go without product, or barely any. I'd argue the opposite. Fine hair can actually be a winner when it comes to a blowout, because it dries so quickly. Less time drying means more time to let each section set and cool, and that's where volume is really built. With the right technique, the right brush and a product made for your hair type, fine hair holds more shape than you'd think.
Look for natural bristle
Natural boar bristle grips each strand gently, so you get tension and smoothness without snagging or flattening. On fine hair, that grip is everything. It holds the hair up at the root long enough for the heat to set the shape.
Go for a medium barrel
A very large barrel can smooth fine hair a little too flat, and a very small one tends to give more curl than volume (and more tangles). A medium barrel sits right in the middle. In the studio, we reach for the Ibiza B8. Its barrel curves in slightly toward the centre, so you get the body of a tighter brush without it being so tight that fine hair wraps around and knots.
The technique that does the lifting
Here's the trick: dry your roots in the opposite direction to how they'll fall. If you part on the left, dry the roots over to the right first, then flip them back. This is called over-directing, and it's how stylists build volume that lasts all day.
At the crown, lift each section straight up from your scalp as you dry, then give it a few seconds of cool air before you let go.
This is the part most people rush. Because fine hair dries so fast, you have time on your side, so use it. Let each section sit and cool in place before you move on. That cooling is what sets the shape, and it's what makes your volume last all day (not just until you leave the bathroom).
Don't skip the product
Just because your hair is fine doesn't mean it can go without a styling product. Less is more, but you still want something in there. My pick is the Iles Formula Haute Performance Serum. Fine hair can get tangly, dry or brittle, which leaves it without much movement, and this brings that movement right back without weighing anything down. It's your leave-in moisturizer, your heat protectant and your shield against the elements, with a soft hold that gives your blowout a little memory. It's a real workhorse, so there's no need to layer a ton of products. On day two, a mist of R+Co Balloon brings the lift right back.
Get a little product in, pick up the right brush and give every section time to cool. You'll have a very different head of hair.
Shop the Ibiza B8 →
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