Want that big, beautiful Southern hair without all the teasing damage? You’re in luck! Southern women have perfected the art of achieving stunning volume without backcombing their locks to death.
These tricks will give you that gorgeous, bouncy look while keeping your hair healthy and happy.
1. Sleep With Damp Hair In A High Bun
Twist slightly damp hair into a loose top knot before bedtime. The height creates natural lift at the roots while you sleep.
Unravel in the morning for effortless volume that lasts all day.
2. Velcro Rollers Are Your Best Friends
Large velcro rollers create magnificent volume without damaging hair. Place them at your crown while getting ready.
The gentle lift they provide mimics teasing but leaves hair smooth and bouncy instead of tangled.
3. Round Brush Blowout Magic
Hold sections of hair upward with a large round brush while blow-drying. The heat sets the lift at your roots permanently.
Focus extra attention on crown areas where Southern women love maximum height.
4. Switch Your Part Regularly
Hair falls flat when trained to lay in one direction too long. Flipping your part to the opposite side instantly creates natural lift.
Try a zigzag part for even more root volume without any teasing.
5. Root-Lifting Spray Before Styling
Spritz volumizing product directly at your roots while hair is damp. Massage it in gently with fingertips for even distribution.
These sprays contain polymers that create space between hair strands, mimicking teased volume.
6. Flip-And-Dry Method
Bend forward at the waist, letting hair hang toward the floor while blow-drying. Blood rushes to your head as roots dry in an upward position.
When you flip back up, you’ll have instant volume that lasts.
7. Strategic Haircut Layers
Ask your stylist for invisible layers specifically at your crown. These shorter pieces naturally push up longer sections, creating built-in volume.
Unlike obvious layers, these hidden ones give lift without changing your overall style.
8. Backwash Your Shampoo Routine
Shampooing daily weighs hair down with product buildup. Try washing just twice weekly, using dry shampoo between washes.
Slightly dirty hair actually holds volume better than squeaky clean strands do.
9. Mousse Applied Correctly
Modern mousses aren’t the crunchy products from the 80s. Apply egg-sized amount to damp roots, then scrunch upward.
The alcohol in mousse evaporates quickly, leaving behind resins that expand each strand for natural-looking fullness.
10. Sleep On Silk Pillowcases
Cotton pillowcases create friction that flattens volume overnight. Silk allows hair to glide freely, preserving your style.
Southern belles have sworn by this trick for generations to maintain their signature bouncy locks.
11. Clip-Lift Setting Technique
After blow-drying, roll sections at your crown around fingers and secure with duckbill clips. Let cool completely while finishing makeup.
Removing the clips reveals perfectly set volume that holds much longer than teasing.
12. Cold Water Final Rinse
Finish every shower with a blast of cold water on your hair. The temperature shock closes cuticles and creates natural lift.
Bonus: sealed cuticles reflect more light, making hair appear fuller and shinier.
13. Texturizing Powder At Roots
Dust a tiny amount of texturizing powder at your roots after styling. The microscopic particles create friction between strands.
Gently massage with fingertips, then fluff upward for instant volume that rivals any teasing comb.
14. Strategic Bobby Pin Placement
Cross two bobby pins in an X-shape underneath sections at your crown. This hidden structure props up hair from beneath.
The pins remain completely invisible while creating height that lasts all day.
15. Diffuser Upside-Down Drying
Attach a diffuser to your blow dryer and dry hair upside-down. Cup sections gently in the diffuser while moving upward.
This method creates natural-looking volume without disrupting curl patterns or causing frizz.