I think I want bigger hair, how do I achieve please?

[cosmopolitanplease]

Looking at recent photos I feel that my hair is too flat and 'small' and makes my face look massive in contrast. I actually have thick hair but as it's naturally wavy and prone to frizz my main aim has been to smooth it down and I think I've got in a rut. I use a revlon one step dryer brush combo that smooths brilliantly but doesn't give any volume (or at least not how I use it).

Do I need to get a normal hairdryer and separate brush? Velcro rollers? A kind of product for root volume?

Please tell me how you would style my hair

Have you tried Curly Girl method? It looks as though you've got a lot of damage from heat styling and that won't help the volume.

Try co-washing with a silicone-free conditioner to restore the gloss and bulk a bit.
Aveda’s spray for volume (can’t recall name, sorry) is meant to be very good, as is Biolage’s.

It makes your hair feel a bit gross but hair powder is the thing that works best to give mine volume. If I’m really going for it I use hair powder and backcomb at the roots. I can make my hair look massive that way!

I did try curly girl yes, I couldn't get on with it at all and I was a mass of frizz!

I use a lot of deep conditioner and Moroccan oil to combat the dryness, and I don't know if that stops it having volume. I actually asked my hairdresser what I could do about the condition and she said it's not in bad condition or damaged! Then she recommended keratin straightening at extortionate cost.

It's cos you're straightening it. You need to embrace the curls if you want volume.

You mentioned conditioner and oil, do you use anything like gel, mousse or creme when you style it? You need a product of some description to kind of hold and set the curl IYSWIM.

Ooh hair powder, that's something to research thanks.

I have tried going silicone free but it didn't work on my hair- I really need it to stop the frizz! My hair is all kinds of different waves, straight bits and curls and doesn't look good left natural, believe me.

Also recommend drying your roots with a diffuser with your head upside down for volume.

I use EVO root canal (have used it for years,
love it, it feels light but works well) and I blow dry my roots before using my air wrap round brush (similar to your tool) on the lengths.
I have been using the Garnier papaya cream (big tub, cheap) as a leave in on my dry-ish ends, and to kill any frizz, and it works really well for me.

I don't use gel or mousse but I use a heat protection styling spray.

If I dry my hair upside down with a diffuser I look like Crystal Tipps or Worzel Gummidge!

This is a photo of the kind of effect I would like, big and bouncy but also smooth and shiny, with height at the roots.

@AmorFati yes I think I need to start using a root spray (gosh that evo one's a bit dear though!) and going back to a hairdryer on my roots and then smoothing the lengths with my revlon brush.

Thank you all for your tips! I sometimes feel like a child who's just learning to do hair with a Girl's World, I'm nearly 50 ffs

@cosmopolitanplease Same issue here. I use a volumising mousse and when drying either air or diffuser I clip my roots using double prong clips or you can use small butterfly grips.

When I want my hair straight I use the revlon one step brush. I brush most of my hair forwards and when I flip it back it has that bounce.