17 Easy lob Ideas for voluminous Hair You Can Do at Home
Is there any hairstyle more universally flattering than the lob? This chic, shoulder-grazing cut has reigned supreme for years, and for good reason. It’s the perfect sweet spot between the commitment of long hair and the boldness of a pixie. But let’s be honest—sometimes our lob can fall a little… flat. The dream of effortless, voluminous hair can feel out of reach, especially when you’re styling it yourself.
What if we told you that achieving a salon-worthy, voluminous lob from the comfort of your bathroom is entirely possible? Volume isn’t just a genetic gift; it’s a technique. With a few clever tricks and some simple styling methods, you can transform your limp locks into a bouncy, head-turning mane. We’ve rounded up 17 incredibly easy lob ideas and techniques designed specifically to inject body, movement, and that coveted volume into your hair. Get ready to say goodbye to flat hair and hello to your most voluminous lob yet.
1. The Classic Blowout with a Volumizing Twist
Every lob owner should master the at-home blowout. The secret to maximum volume lies in the direction you brush and dry. Start with damp hair and apply a volumizing mousse from roots to ends. Then, using a round brush, lift the roots at a 90-degree angle as you blow-dry each section. Always direct the airflow down the hair shaft to seal the cuticle and boost shine. For an extra oomph, once the hair is 90% dry, flip your head upside down and blast the roots with cool air to set the volume.
2. Overnight Heatless Waves with Socks
Yes, you read that right—socks! This viral hack is a game-changer for creating soft, voluminous waves without any heat. Take a long sock (a crew sock works well) and cut the toe off to create a fabric tube. Twist it into a donut shape. Gather your hair into a high ponytail and slide the sock donut to the ends. Then, loosely wrap sections of hair around the sock, tucking the ends under. Sleep on it, and in the morning, unravel to reveal beautifully textured, voluminous waves that start high up on the head.
3. Textured Ends with a Flat Iron
Your flat iron isn’t just for straightening. It’s a powerful tool for adding volume and texture. After straightening your lob as usual, go back in and grab small, horizontal sections. Instead of clamping and pulling down, clamp the iron halfway down the hair shaft and give it a slight, outward twist. Do this randomly throughout your hair, focusing on the bottom layers. This breaks up the uniformity and creates a lived-in, voluminous texture that prevents the hair from looking flat or triangular.
4. The “Pineapple” Ponytail for Second-Day Waves
This isn’t just for long hair! A loose, high “pineapple” ponytail can preserve and enhance the volume of your lob overnight. Gather your hair into a very loose ponytail at the very top of your head using a silk or satin scrunchie—the key is to be gentle to avoid creases. While you sleep, the roots are protected from being flattened. In the morning, take it down, flip your head over, and shake out your roots for instant, effortless volume and refreshed waves.
5. Volumizing Dry Shampoo as a Styling Product
Stop thinking of dry shampoo as just a cleanliness product. It’s a texture and volume powerhouse! On day-old hair (or even clean, dry hair), lift sections and spray the dry shampoo directly onto the roots. Let it sit for a minute to absorb oils, then massage it in with your fingertips. This creates grit and lift at the root, giving your lob a solid foundation of volume that lasts all day.
6. The Invisible Part
A simple change to your part can work wonders. If you always wear a center part, try shifting it slightly to the side. Even a half-inch change can make the hair on the “larger” side appear much fuller. For the ultimate volume trick, create a zig-zag or “invisible” part. Using the tip of a comb, draw a subtle zig-zag line along your scalp. This breaks up the part line and allows hair from both sides to support each other, creating a naturally fuller-looking crown.
7. Velcro Rollers for Instant Root Lift
Velcro rollers are a classic for a reason. On dry or slightly damp hair, take large sections at the crown and front of your hair and roll them down toward your scalp. Leave them in for 10-20 minutes (or while you do your makeup), then gently remove them. Do not brush them out—just use your fingers to tousle the shape. This gives you incredible, bouncy volume at the roots that looks natural and salon-fresh.
8. The Half-Up, Half-Down Topknot
This style is a quick and chic way to create the illusion of a fuller lob. Gather the top section of your hair, from your temples back, as if you were making a half-up ponytail. Instead of just securing it, twist it loosely or create a small, messy bun on the crown of your head. Gently pull out a few face-framing pieces. This instantly lifts the top section of your hair, making the entire lob look thicker and more voluminous.
9. Sea Salt Spray for Beachy Texture
Beach waves are synonymous with volume and texture. Spritz a sea salt spray onto towel-dried hair and scrunch it from the ends upward. You can let it air dry for a natural look or use a diffuser to enhance the wave pattern. The salt in the spray creates a slight grit that helps strands support each other, preventing them from falling flat and giving your lob that effortless, just-back-from-the-shore volume.
10. The “Under-Curl” Technique
This is a pro-stylist secret for hidden volume. Using a curling wand or iron, take the bottom under-layers of your hair and curl them away from your face, but only the under-layer. The top layers remain straight or can be styled differently. When your hair falls back into place, these hidden curls act as a cushion, pushing the top layers up and out to create incredible, unseen volume that looks completely natural.
11. Back-Combing for Targeted Lift
Sometimes called teasing, back-combing is a direct route to volume. Take a small section of hair where you need lift (usually at the crown). Hold it straight up and, using a fine-tooth comb, gently push the hair downward toward the scalp in short strokes. Do this only a few times, then gently smooth the top layer over it. This creates a cushion of volume that can be as subtle or as dramatic as you like.
12. The Low, Textured Bun with Face-Framing Pieces
A low bun doesn’t have to be sleek and flat. Create a loose, messy bun at the nape of your neck. The key is to pull it apart gently with your fingers after securing it. Then, pull out a few strategic pieces around your face and at the temples. This draws the eye upward and contrasts the loose top with the gathered bottom, making your lob appear fuller and more dynamic.
13. Headband Styling for a Vintage Vibe
A wide headband is more than an accessory; it’s a styling tool. Place a fabric headband over dry hair, then gently tuck and push small sections of hair under the band, creating soft poufs and waves. You can leave the ends out for a modern look. This automatically adds height at the crown and volume around the face, giving your lob a romantic, vintage-inspired lift.
14. The “Rope Braid” Waves
For defined, voluminous waves, try rope braids. Part your damp hair down the middle. Take one section and twist two strands around each other (a true rope braid), then secure the end. Repeat on the other side. Sleep with them in or use a blow dryer on a low setting to speed up the process. When you unravel them, you’ll have beautiful, bouncy waves with tons of body and very little frizz.
15. Flipping Your Part at the End
This is perhaps the easiest trick on the list. Once you’ve finished styling your lob, simply flip your part to the opposite side. So, if you styled it with a left part, flip it to the right. The hair has been trained to fall in the opposite direction, so when you flip it, it naturally resists and stands up at the root, giving you an immediate boost of volume. Set it with a quick spritz of hairspray.
16. The “Twist and Pin” Root Lift
This is a set-it-and-forget-it method. On damp hair, take a section at the crown, twist it lightly away from your face, and push it upward slightly to create lift. Secure it flat against your scalp with a bobby pin. Blow-dry the rest of your hair as normal. Once your hair is completely dry, remove the pin and shake out the roots. You’ll be left with lasting, built-in volume.
17. The Power of a Good Haircut
Last but certainly not least, the foundation of a voluminous lob is the cut itself. When you next visit your stylist (or if you’re considering the chop), ask for long layers and textured ends. Layers remove weight, allowing the hair to move and bounce more freely. Texturizing techniques, like point cutting, help break up thick ends that can weigh the style down. A well-cut lob will be infinitely easier to style voluminously at home.
Embrace Your Voluminous Lob
As you can see, achieving a voluminous lob doesn’t require a drawer full of expensive tools or a cosmetology degree. It’s about using what you have in clever, strategic ways. From overnight hacks to five-minute tricks, these 17 ideas are your toolkit for transforming your medium-length hair into a voluminous masterpiece. Volume is all about creating space and texture, and now you have all the secrets to do just that. So, pick a technique, have fun with it, and get ready to fall in love with your lob all over again.
