15 Long Hairstyles That Add Volume to Flat Hair

1. The Classic Long Layers

This is the undisputed champion for adding volume to long hair. Long, face-framing layers remove weight from the interior of your hair without sacrificing length. By creating different endpoints for your hair strands, layers allow your hair to move freely and stack on top of itself, creating natural body and bounce. Ask your stylist for layers that start at your chin or below to maintain a long look while maximizing lift.

2. The Voluminous Blowout

More of a styling technique than a cut, a professional-style blowout is a game-changer. The key is directing the roots upward while blow-drying with a round brush. Use a volumizing mousse or root lifter on damp hair, and always dry the roots first. For extra oomph, bend over at the waist and dry your hair upside down. This timeless style gives you that coveted “just-left-the-salon” body and swing.

3. Textured Shag with Curtain Bangs

The modern shag is a volume wizard. Its signature features—choppy ends, heavy internal layers, and face-framing pieces—are designed to create a perfectly imperfect, textured look. Adding soft curtain bangs pulls focus to your eyes and cheekbones while breaking up the hairline, which automatically makes the crown area look fuller. This cut works wonders on straight, wavy, and curly hair that tends to go flat.

4. Voluminous Beach Waves

Straight hair can often fall flat, but adding a wave creates instant dimension and body. Use a large-barrel curling wand (1.5 inches or larger) and alternate the direction of your curls. Once all your hair is curled, run your fingers through them to break them up, then finish with a texturizing spray. The uneven texture and bends in the hair shaft prevent it from lying flat against your head.

5. Face-Framing Highlights or Babylights

Color can be a powerful tool for volume! Strategically placed highlights or fine babylights around the face and crown create visual depth and dimension. The slight variation in color causes the eye to perceive more separation between strands, which translates to the illusion of thicker, fuller hair. Lighter pieces also tend to reflect more light, adding to the overall effect of body.

6. Half-Up Crown Braid or Twist

This romantic style is a quick fix for flat roots. By taking just the top section of your hair and braiding it or twisting it into a small crown, you physically lift the hair at your crown and secure it in place. It pulls hair away from your face, creating a beautiful, voluminous effect at the back and top of your head while leaving the rest of your length down.

7. The “Lob” with Long Layers (The Long Bob)

If you’re open to losing a few inches, a long bob (or lob) that hits at the collarbone is a volume revelation. This length is perfect for adding body because it’s short enough to relieve significant weight but long enough to feel like long hair. Combine it with long layers and textured ends, and you have a style that naturally wants to flip out or curve under, creating shape and fullness.

8. Teased Roots (The “Bump”)

A little strategic teasing goes a long way. At the crown, take a small section of hair and gently backcomb it at the roots. Then, smooth the top layer over it. This creates instant, invisible lift that lasts all day. For a more polished look, create a “bump” by teasing the hair right behind a headband or a half-up ponytail base. It’s an old-school trick that never fails.

9. Deep Side Part

Sometimes, volume is as simple as changing your part. A deep side part instantly adds height and drama. It redistributes the weight of your hair to one side, allowing the hair on the opposite side to lift away from the scalp. This creates an asymmetrical volume that looks modern and chic. Switch your part from center to deep side, and you’ll see an immediate difference.

10. Voluminous Ponytail

Skip the sleek, tight ponytail that emphasizes flatness. Instead, create a voluminous pony. Lightly tease the crown hair before gathering it, and don’t pull it too tight. Use a hair tie, then gently pull at the top of the ponytail to release a bit of tension. You can also wrap a small section of hair around the base to conceal the tie and add a polished touch of fullness.

11. Textured Braids (Fishtail or Dutch)

Wearing your hair in a braid all day can actually create beautiful, voluminous waves when you take it down. A fishtail or Dutch braid is particularly effective because they are looser and more textured than a standard three-strand braid. The act of braiding creates bends and waves, and when released, your hair has a tousled, voluminous texture that lasts.

12. Soft, Voluminous Updo

A messy bun or a loose, twisted updo can make your hair look thicker. The goal is looseness and texture. Pull your hair into a casual bun at the crown or nape, but leave out face-framing pieces and don’t smooth down the sides. Gently pull at the bun to make it larger and more relaxed. This style gathers all your hair, making it appear more abundant.

13. Root-Lifting Products and Proper Blow-Drying

Your tools and products are half the battle. Invest in a good volumizing shampoo, a lightweight conditioner (applied only to the ends), and a dedicated root-lifting spray or mousse. When blow-drying, use a nozzle concentrator to direct heat precisely at the roots while lifting them with a brush or your fingers. This foundational step ensures maximum lift from any style.

14. Feathered or V-Cut Layers

This is a more dramatic layering technique where the ends are cut into a soft, feathered pattern or a “V” shape at the back. This removes significant bulk from the ends while keeping length in the front. The feathered ends catch the air and move independently, creating a light, airy feel and the appearance of incredible fullness throughout the length.

15. The “Undercut” for Strategic Volume

This is a bold, secret weapon. A very subtle undercut—where a small section of hair at the nape of the neck is shaved or cut very short—removes a surprising amount of weight. The top layers completely cover it, so it’s invisible, but you’ll feel a dramatic difference in how light your hair feels and how much the top layers can lift and move. It’s a drastic but highly effective solution for very thick yet flat hair.

Embrace Your Volume Potential

Flat hair doesn’t have to be your destiny. As you’ve seen, volume is often a matter of strategic cutting, clever styling, and the right techniques. Whether you opt for a major chop into a layered lob or simply master the art of the voluminous blowout, each of these 15 hairstyles offers a path to hair with more body, bounce, and confidence-boosting lift.

Start with one change—a new part, a texturizing spray, or a conversation with your stylist about layers. Your long, beautiful hair has the potential to be full of life; you just need to show it how. Here’s to saying goodbye to flat and hello to hair that makes a statement with every turn of your head.