Big hair has a long cultural history in American beauty, from the towering beehives of the 1960s and the voluminous feathered looks of the 1970s to the deliberately supersized blowouts of the 1980s. In 2026, the trend has returned with a more modern sensibility: full, textured, and movement-forward rather than stiff or heavily lacquered.
The stylists at A Moment’s Peace in Franklin, TN work with volume every day. Here is what actually works, broken down by technique, product, and hair type.
Understanding What Creates Volume
Volume comes from two sources: structure and texture. Structure is about the cut. Texture is about how the hair shaft behaves and how products interact with it. Getting big hair that lasts requires attention to both.
Fine hair has more strands per square inch but each strand is thinner and smoother, which makes it slippery and prone to losing volume quickly. Thick hair has fewer, coarser strands with natural body but can be weighed down by heavy products. Wavy and curly hair has built-in texture that creates natural volume when encouraged rather than suppressed. Understanding your hair type determines which of the techniques below will deliver the most impact.
The Foundation: A Volume-Supportive Cut
Volume starts with the cut. Heavy, blunt cuts with no layering can produce a curtain effect that lies flat regardless of how much product is applied. Layering removes weight from the mid-lengths while keeping the perimeter, allowing each section to move independently and create the separation that reads as volume.
For fine hair, layers starting at the cheekbones and graduating through the lengths are the most effective structural approach. For thick hair, point-cut ends and internal weight removal through the mid-lengths create movement without reducing density. Ask your stylist to assess your hair’s specific weight distribution before recommending a layering approach.
Blowout Technique: The Root Lift
The most significant factor in a volume blowout is where you direct the airflow in the first two to three minutes of drying. While the hair is still damp, rough-dry the roots by directing the air upward and forward, lifting each section away from the scalp as you work.
A round brush used at the root creates a bend that the hair holds even after the brush is removed. Work in 2-inch sections, rolling the brush under and directing the airflow down the hair shaft from root to end. This creates both volume at the root and smoothness through the lengths.
Finish each section by holding the tension for 10 to 15 seconds after removing the heat, letting the hair set in the lifted position while still warm. Releasing it too quickly before it cools collapses the root bend.
Products That Build Volume Without Weight
Volumizing Mousse
Applied to damp roots before blowdrying, a lightweight mousse creates a setting foam around each strand that holds the position the heat creates. Apply to the roots only, not the mid-lengths or ends where it adds weight rather than volume. Scrunch it in, do not smooth it through.
Root-Lifting Spray
Applied directly at the scalp on damp or dry hair, root-lifting spray creates friction between the hair shaft and the scalp, which is physically what keeps hair standing away from the head. It is one of the most reliable products for fine hair specifically because it does not add product weight.
Texturizing Spray or Sea Salt Spray
Applied to dry hair, texturizing products roughen the hair’s cuticle slightly to create grip between strands. This grip is what makes volume last. Without texture, strands slide past each other and collapse. A light mist through the mid-lengths and scrunch with the fingers is the most effective application method.
Dry Shampoo
Used between washes, dry shampoo absorbs oil at the roots and creates the same friction effect as root-lifting spray. For clients whose hair loses volume by midday, a quick pass of dry shampoo at the roots and a fingertip massage at the scalp can restore a significant amount of lift.
Backcombing and Teasing
Backcombing, also called teasing, involves gently combing the hair backward toward the root in short, rapid strokes to create a tangle-based cushion of volume underneath the surface. It is the oldest volumizing technique and still one of the most effective for immediate, dramatic results.
The key is using it selectively. Tease only the root zone in 2-inch sections, then smooth the surface hair over the top. Avoid teasing through the lengths or ends, which causes breakage and knots that are painful to remove. A fine-tooth or tail comb is the right tool. A paddle brush is too aggressive.
Finish with a light-hold hairspray applied from 12 inches away to hold without stiffening. A flexible-hold formula is preferable to maximum-hold for a lived-in result.
How a Professional Blowout Delivers What At-Home Techniques Cannot
The difference between a professional blowout and a home blowout is the angle, the tools, and the tension. A professional stylist works from every angle simultaneously, uses a round brush of the correct diameter for your hair length and volume goal, and applies consistent tension throughout the strand that creates a bend the hair retains for days.
At A Moment’s Peace, a blowout with volumizing technique can be booked as a standalone service or added to any color or cut appointment. Our stylists can also teach you the at-home technique during your appointment so you can replicate the result between visits.
Volume and Hair Health
The American Academy of Dermatology notes that heat styling is the primary cause of hair damage when tools are used at excessive temperatures or on hair that has not been protected. For clients who blowdry daily, a heat protectant applied to damp hair before drying is essential. Tools used at 300 to 380 degrees Fahrenheit are sufficient for most hair types. Higher temperatures produce faster results but accumulate damage faster.
Fine hair is more vulnerable to heat damage than thick or coarse hair. Rotate between blowdrying and air-drying with texture-enhancing products to give the hair recovery time.
Book a Blowout or Styling Appointment in Franklin, TN
A Moment’s Peace is at 9050 Carothers Pkwy, Suite 108, Franklin, TN 37067. Our stylists offer blowouts, volume-focused cuts, and styling consultations. Book online at amomentspeace.com or call 615-224-0770.
