I Tried Every Volumising Spray I Could Find—Only These Ones Are Truly Worth the Hype
Want to add body, bounce, texture and lift to fine hair? The best volumising sprays are the answer.
Eleanor Vousden
One of the most important parts of my job as a beauty editor is to work out which topics will resonate most with our readers and to find the answers to the questions that people are searching for most at any given moment. And whilst those areas of interest definitely fluctuate, depending on what season we're in or which beauty products are currently going viral on TikTok, there's one beauty concern that seems to be pretty universal amongst Who What Wear UK readers: how to get thicker-looking hair and the best volumising hair products. Yes, from the best hair colours for thin hair to the best hairstyles for thin hair, it appears that bulking up the appearance of fine hair is top of many of our hair wish lists.
There's a lot to be said for the efficacy of a great hair-thickening shampoo or conditioner, but a lot of these science-led formulations take time to work. That's all well and good, but sometimes, we want our hair to look instantly thicker. Hair tools such as hot brushes can help, but hair volumising sprays can make all the difference. From thickening the appearance of your strands to boosting texture and adding volume, volumising sprays are some of the most versatile styling products you can have in your haircare arsenal.
In fact, even before my hair started thinning, I swore by volumising sprays to add grit to freshly washed hair for a more undone, relaxed feel. You'd be hard-pressed to find a hairstylist who doesn't have a can or two of volumising spray in their kit at all times, thanks to this versatility.
Keep scrolling for the best hair-volumising sprays that will make even the thinnest hair look so much thicker.
How We Tested
I called upon the Who What Wear UK team to test some of the best volumising sprays firsthand. Most of us want a little more volume in our hair, so we thoroughly tested them over two weeks to see how they fared in boosting volume and providing lift at the roots. We tested sprays designed to be used on both wet and dry hair, so you can work out which is best for you.
How to Use Hair-Volumising Sprays
The formula will determine how you use your volumising spray. Some are designed to be used on wet hair prior to blow-drying and styling, whereas others can be used on dry hair to add instant volume, lift and texture. You may wish to spritz it throughout your hair or focus it on targeted areas like the roots for more lift.
The Best Hair Volumising Sprays, Tried and Tested
- Best Volumising Spray for Lift: Colorwow Raise The Root, £24
- Best Luxury Volumising Spray: Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray, £47
- Best Volumising Spray for Texture: Living Proof Full Dry Volume & Texture Spray, £31
- Best Lightweight Volumising Spray: Sam McKnight Cool Girl Superlift Volumising Spray, £28
- Best Volumising Spray for Hold: Djerf Avenue Breezy Styling Mist, £25
1. Colorwow Raise the Root
Pros
- Volumises
- Heat protection
- Adds lift to the roots
- Feels weightless in hair
Cons
- No cons here!
How to use: Spray onto damp hair and on roots for lift before blow-drying, or on dry hair for a boost.
Our review: "If there’s one thing you should know about me, it’s this: I hate using products in my hair. Outside of a wash-out mask or heat protectant spray, I don’t tend to use anything else on my strands. I even avoid hairspray! So, when I was asked to test a volumiser, I was sceptical and a little bit concerned. Washing and drying my hair takes an age as I have so much of the stuff, so I really didn’t want to have to head back into the shower to wash out anything too sticky. Turns out I needn't have worried. I’ve seen rave reviews after rave reviews on Color Wow products on TikTok; so much so that they seemed too good to be true. However, this product has sold me on the brand.
"I used it on damp hair, targeting my upper roots, and whilst it felt tacky at first (especially the residue I had to wash from my ear after an ill-aimed spritz), the formula seemed to evaporate while I dried it. In its place was volume that, if I’m being honest, I didn’t expect to see. My crown had height to it that I usually struggle to achieve, and it made the rest of my hair cascade beautifully below it. Feeling my roots, there’s absolutely no residue whatsoever. Two days later, it’s not greasy nor clumped together. Whilst I’m yet to test it on dry hair, this is definitely the product I’ll reach for when I know I want some extra oomph. Something tells me it’s going to get addictive."
2. Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray
Pros
- Volumises
- Texturises
- Can be used as a dry shampoo
- Luxe formula and packaging
Cons
- Expensive
- Product feels noticeable in hair
How to use: Spray onto dry hair as a hair texturiser, volumiser and even a dry-shampoo alternative.
Our review: Part volumiser, part texturiser and part dry shampoo, this is a truly versatile hair spray that adds plenty of volume, undone texture and makes your hair look effortlessly styled, even if you've just run your fingers through it. The only downside is that you can feel it in the hair, but if this doesn't usually bother you, then it won't be a deal-breaker. That being said, it brushes out really easily, and I love how it instantly adds volume to my lengths (even when I haven't styled them, as pictured above). It's expensive, but the multiple uses make this a hardworking hair product to have in your routine. Of course, it's Oribe, so the luxury bottle is something you will want to have out on display on your dressing table, too.
3. Living Proof Full Dry Volume & Texture Spray
Pros
- Volumises
- Adds texture
- Adds lift to the roots
- Doesn't feel sticky
Cons
- Not as long lasting
How to use: Spray onto dry hair for instant volume.
Our review: "A little about me: my hair is so flat and can’t hold any curl that I attempt to put in, so I'm always on the hunt for a great texturising and volumising spray. I’d say I’ve tried over 20 different types to see what actually works. What I like about Living Proof Volume & Texture Spray is that it has a really nice smell and isn't as sticky as other products. I really hate it when your hair goes sticky and crunchy, so I was pleased that it didn’t do that when I tested it.
"It did provide texture and volume for me for a while, but after a few hours, my hair was left lifeless; I have a feeling this is more to do with my type of hair than the product itself. I’d recommend this to someone who already has a bit of movement in their hair, where the product is more likely to hold onto! That being said, I’ll still be using the spray more in the evening when I don’t need to hold it all day. The bottles are a good size, so I would say that it's worth the price."
4. Sam McKnight Cool Girl Superlift Volumising Spray
Pros
- Pleasant scent
- Adds volume without greasiness or stickiness
Cons
- Provides more subtle volume
How to use: Spray onto wet or dry hair and blow-dry to create volume and lift.
Our review: "I’m a big fan of Sam McKnight, so I was excited to try this volumising spray since I hadn’t used one before. I liked that it can be applied to dry hair and then blow-dried, making it perfect for refreshing dull hair a few days after washing. The product smells lovely and doesn't leave any residue. My hair felt voluminous without feeling heavy or sticky. True to its name, it delivers that effortless, 'I woke up like this' finish. The volume is subtler compared to a traditional spray, but if you want your hair to look and feel naturally enhanced, this is a great option."
5. Djerf Avenue Breezy Styling Mist
Pros
- Smells amazing
- Adds volume and hold to your style
Cons
- Can feel a little sticky or stiff if you use too much
How to use: Spray onto damp hair before blow-drying, or use on dry hair to add lift to the roots.
Our review: "I had high expectations from Matilda Djerf's beauty line, and I have to say I'm impressed with this spray. It's designed to be used on damp hair before blow-drying to give volume and lift, but you can also use it tactically at the roots on dry hair and blow-dry it in for extra volume if you're short on time. One thing I really love about this is the sandalwood scent (think Le Labo Santal 33 in a hair mist), but it also gave my hair plenty of bounce and shine. I'd recommend this one if you want your style to hold, as it creates a grippy texture in the hair. I'd err on the side of caution when spritzing, as too much can make hair feel crispy if you're not careful."
6. Ouai Wave Spray
How to use: Shake and spray onto damp hair, scrunching upwards to reveal waves and texture.
Our review: Ouai founder Jen Atkin is the hairstylist behind the strands of celebs like Kim Kardashian, Chrissy Teigen and Gigi Hadid, to name a few, so it's no surprise that her hair products are seriously impressive. This is another volumising spray that you apply to clean, damp hair before styling. It adds lift, bounce and volume without weighing hair down and is particularly great for curly hair.
Pros
- Great for wavy and curly hair types
Cons
- Creates waves more than volume
7. Oribe Maximista Spray
How to use: Apply to damp hair and blow dry to activate.
Our verdict: The entire volume range from Oribe is brilliant for thin hair, but this spray is the star of the line. It's formulated with copolymer resins and marine glycogen to actually plump and volumise every strand of hair. Plus, it smells absolutely incredible.
Pros
- Plumps hair for a fuller look
Cons
- Needs blowdrying to activate
8. Wella Proffesionals EIMI Sugar Lift Volume Spray
How to use: Apply to both wet and dry hair, shaping and moulding to boost volume.
Our review: We love that this lightweight styling spray can be used on damp or dry hair, depending on how much lift you're after. Plus, it's enriched with sugar, which adds a glistening shine to your finished look.
Pros
- Packed with nourishing ingredients
- Use on both wet and dry hair
Cons
- Doesn't give as much lift as some sprays
9. Redken Root Lifter Volumising Mousse Spray
How to use: Apply to towel-dried hair before styling.
Our review: This has a unique foam spray formulation that really helps to create a sturdy foundation for whatever style you're creating. If you overdo it, there's a risk of it feeling a little tacky, so using short, sharp bursts is the way to go. However, if you're creating a special-occasion style, the volume this creates really cannot be rivalled.
Pros
- Can be used to set as well as style
Cons
- Can feel tacky if over applied
10. L'Oréal Paris Elvive Collagen Lifter Volume Spray
How to use: Spray onto damp hair, focusing mainly on the roots, before styling. Or apply to dry hair as needed for an added boost of volume.
Our review: Infused with collagen peptides, this lightweight styling spray makes fine hair look noticeably fuller and is especially good at lifting the roots upwards to prevent hair from falling flat throughout the day. After blow-drying, finer hair will look noticeably denser and more voluminous, without any tackiness or residue on the surface of the hair. Plus, you can use this to touch up styles throughout the day, too, if you do need a little lift.
Pros
- Lightweight texture that doesn't leave residue
- Creates a full and bouncy look
- Collagen peptides help to nourish
Cons
- Works best when heat-styled rather than left to air dry
11. Arkive Headcare The Movement Dry Texturizing Spray
How to use: Spray on dry hair, through the roots, lengths and ends, then massage in using your fingers. For softer volume, spray directly onto a hairbrush and comb through.
Our review: This modern volumising spray is the key to achieving cool-girl lift and effortlessly tousled texture, rather than your classic blowout-level volume. Not only does it lift hair at the roots, but it helps thicken the mid-lengths of hair so it's fuller overall rather than just puffed up at the crown. Plus, it adds a chic piecey texture throughout your hairstyle too. Oh, and like all Arkive products, it smells amazing.
Pros
- Adds grip and body to fine, flat hair
- Smells so expensive
- Great for airy texture and movement
Cons
- Can leave ends of hair feeling a little dry
Why Trust Us
At Who What Wear UK, we know that beauty isn’t one-size-fits-all. Our editors have tested thousands of products over the years—spanning skincare, makeup, hair and nails—and work closely with trusted experts including dermatologists, makeup artists and leading industry insiders to ensure every guide is well-researched, inclusive and relevant to you.
We focus on formulas that deliver, whether they’re affordable favourites or luxury investments. Our product selection is based on tangible results, ingredient know-how and what we’d truly recommend to a friend.
