Does Your Bob Haircut Look Flat & Lifeless? A Stylist Shares The Tips And Tricks On How To Get ‘Tons’ Of Volume For Your Short Hair

When you first cut your hair into a chic bob you probably thought: finally, the answer to my flat hair problems has been solved once and for all! It looked amazing after your stylist spritzed it with a volumizing spray, grabbed a blow dryer, and went to town with a round brush. Maybe they even showed you a few tricks and you were able to keep your bob looking gorgeous for weeks after. But, at some point, most of us face the inevitable: we wake up with flat hair that appears lifeless and we wonder if our hair just needs another cut.

A chop isn’t always the necessary solution, though — what your cut may call for instead is a few great tips on how to keep your bob looking its fullest and most glam.

YouTube Hair Expert Glam Girl Gabi always brings the looks and the stellar advice. If your bob has been flat and lifeless lately, try her best tips for infusing it with life and body.

You Need Layers

The first and maybe most obvious reason why your bob could be looking flat is that it’s too blunt. If your bob has blunt ends with no layering, it may lack movement and texture — making it easier to fall flat and look lifeless. A bob that features light layering around the face and longer layers in the back automatically invites the hair to move when you walk. It also makes it easier for you to style your hair with hot rollers or a round brush — which Gabi gets into.

Use a Root Boost

Gabi uses a product called Moroccan Oil Root Boost. She adds a generous spritz to her part and then continues parting her hair in various ways to work in the product everywhere. Make sure you’re getting the spray in areas you really want it, such as your crown, and work it in well. Gabi also reminds us to add product to the shaft of hair. Work it in from root to end with brush — and make sure you are adding product when your hair is wet.

Rough Dry Your Roots

If you grab a hot brush and attempt to dry and style soaking wet hair with it, Gabi warns it will take forever. A better approach is to “rough dry” your hair by blowing your hair at the roots — but upward — never downward. Rough drying for a few minutes will remove excess water but still leave your hair damp enough that it will respond to styling.

Work in Sections

Clip most of your hair up and leave a workable amount of hair down. Using a hot air brush, push the hair upward as you rotate your hair with the brush to dry it. This next part is very important: if you are moving from one section to the next without fully drying that section, you could be making your hair frizzy. Make sure that section is completely dry and then take another small section of hair to work on. And don’t dry your hair with the brush tilted downward — this method won’t create volume.

Play With Your Part and Use Hot Rollers

If your hair isn’t as voluminous as you want it to be, play with your part. Used to parting your hair in the middle or to the right? Flip it to the left. You might be surprised to find a simple part change can make an amazing difference.

Finally, hot rollers are your friend. Adding large hot rollers to dry hair and allowing them to sit (you can do your makeup while they set) gives volume and a bend to the ends of hair, without adding actual curl.

Your hair may not be flat because you’re in need of a new haircut — you may just require a few great styling tips to refresh your bob.