Permanent Color & Thicker Hair
I have fine, limp hair and so I use a volumizing shampoo every other day with a volumizing conditioner just on the ends. I also use a volumizing root lifter but still, after a couple of hours, my hair is limp again.
My questions are:
1. Does permanent color really thicken your hair?
2. With fine hair like mine, that is also color-treated, do I use products for color-treated hair or for fine hair?
1.) Yes, permanent color does temporarily thicken your hair by expanding the cuticle layer in order to deposit color into the shaft or disperse existing pigments.
Many women and men with fine hair love the immediate change in texture created by the process. They often find that the hair feels thicker, has more grip, and moves with more body.
However, there is a catch: because permanent color permanently lifts the cuticle and alters the internal structure, it makes fine hair more porous and fragile over time. This leads to dryness and breakage, which can ultimately make your hair look thinner in the long run.
If you switched to semi-permanent dye to avoid damage, sticking with it - or trying a demi-permanent color/clear gloss - will give you a subtle plumping effect without restoring that damage.
2.) You actually don't have to choose between the two.
While color-treated products are formulated to be gentle and prevent fading, many heavy "color repair" lines contain rich oils and silicones that will weigh fine hair down. On the flip side, some standard volumizing products can be too drying on colored hair.
The ideal sweet spot for you is to look for sulfate-free, volumizing products. Being sulfate-free protects your color, while the volumizing formula keeps the hair light and full.
A Tip for Lasting Volume:
Regarding your root-lift product: try blow-drying your hair with your head inverted (upside down), at least until the scalp area of the hair is dry. However, avoid using a maximum-hold styling gel at the roots. Gels are often too heavy and wet for fine hair, which actually drags the root down and causes it to go limp faster.
Instead, try pairing your root lifter with a lightweight volumizing mousse before drying, or finish your style with a dry texturizing spray at the roots once dry. A texture spray adds instant grit and absorbs the natural oils that cause fine hair to flatten out after a couple of hours.
©Hairfinder.com
See also:
Questions about fine hair
Hair thickening spray
Give fine limp hair more body