How to Get More Volume in Curly Hair

Volume is the lift, fullness, and body that gives curls their airy shap. Without it, even the healthiest curls can appear weighed down or limp. Here, we’ll share with you the right techniques and volumizing hair products, so you can easily make your curls look alive.

Volume in curly hair is not just about having big hair, but about having the definition, movement, and buoyant lift to support it. Check out the following tips and formulas to help you achieve your dream volume:

Over time, conditioners, stylers, and even hard water minerals can collect at the roots, smothering your curls’ natural lift. That’s why Virtue’s Full Shampoo works double duty by clearing away impurities and infusing hair with Alpha Keratin 60ku®, a bio-identical protein that repairs and strengthens every strand.

Such a lightweight clarifying product will give you clean, refreshed curls that feel thicker and ready to spring upward. Pairing this shampoo with a volumizing conditioner ensures hydration without heaviness, helping curls retain their bounce rather than collapsing under weight.

One of the simplest tricks to give your curls an instant boost is to flip your head upside down while your hair is still damp. Gravity does half the work for you by lifting the roots and creating natural separation between curls. Scrunching in Virtue’s Volumizing Primer at this stage helps set that lift, creating memory in the hair so it doesn’t fall flat as it dries.

The curl clipping method is like scaffolding for your curls. You place small clips at the roots while your hair dries to hold sections upright. This way, curls won't dry flat against your scalp and instead lock in a lifted shape. For curls that tend to shrink toward the crown, this is a game-changer.

You can also combine curl clipping with a lightweight styler like Virtue’s Curl-Defining Whip or a touch of Volumizing Mousse. These products add hold and body while the clips do their magic, so when you finally remove them, your curls stay high, mighty, and full of life.

If you’ve worn the same part for weeks, your hair may have memorized that position, causing the roots to flatten over time. Flipping your part to the opposite side instantly adds volume at the crown, almost like a mini-lift for your curls.

This trick is especially effective when combined with a hair thickener like the Virtue® Flourish Thickening Styling Treatment. It plumps strands and adds density, so when you shift your part, your hair has extra grip and body to support the new direction.

Air-drying curls has its merits, but if volume is your goal, the diffuser is your best friend. Unlike traditional blow-drying, which can rough up the cuticle, a diffuser evenly distributes heat and helps curls dry in their natural pattern. The key is technique: tilt your head to the side or flip it upside down, gently nestling sections of curls into the diffuser bowl. Work in short bursts of medium heat to avoid frizz, pausing often to let the curls “set.”

And if you’ve ever wondered how to give your hair more volume without creating stiffness, diffusing with the right prep products is the answer. Before diffusing, work in a small amount of Virtue’s Volumizing Mousse or Volumizing Primer. These featherlight formulas create structure, so your curls dry with lasting body instead of collapsing once the roots cool.

Learning how to get more volume in curly hair is about pairing technique with treatment. You can clip, diffuse, or flip, but curls need support from within to truly shine. That’s where Virtue steps in, offering volumizing hair products that go beyond styling to repair and strengthen each strand with Alpha Keratin 60ku®.

Together, Virtue products transform limp curls into vibrant, full-bodied spirals that last well beyond wash day. So the next time you find yourself wondering how to fix flat hair, remember: Volume is more than just lift; it’s about health, strength, and styling choices that let your curls express their natural beauty. With Virtue, achieving that weightless, airy bounce doesn’t have to be a mystery. It’s simply science, elevated with style.