For those who’re dreaming of bouncier, fuller-looking hair at your crown, a great root-lift spray may be your five-second reply. These light-weight, focused volumizing products are designed to offer hair a lift proper on the scalp (the place quantity begins) with out the crunch or stiffness of conventional styling merchandise. Paired with a great hair-thickening conditioner, their results can final for days, too.
Good for wonderful, flat, or thinning hair, root-lift sprays assist create the phantasm of thicker hair whereas holding your type gentle and touchable. They’re additionally nice for including longevity to your blowout, stopping types from falling flat by noon, or just giving hair that refreshed, lifted look between washes. “Root-lift sprays type a coating or barrier round hair strands, offering construction and an phantasm of thickness,” says Eddie M. Parra, a hairstylist in New York Metropolis. Many are heat-activated, making them best for blowouts or fast quantity touch-ups.
Our High Picks
Regularly Requested Questions
Greatest General: Residing Proof Full Quantity & Root Lifting Spray
Why we adore it: For lasting quantity and raise—particularly for wonderful, thinning, or low-density hair—you’ll be able to’t go flawed with Living Proof Full Volume & Root Lifting Spray. The components options the model’s patented thickening molecule and water-soluble resins to create full-bodied, touchable quantity that doesn’t really feel sticky or stiff. It additionally consists of amaranth peptides, which assist plump hair for a bouncier, fuller look. “I really like how light-weight it feels whereas nonetheless delivering as much as twice the amount in comparison with untreated hair,” says Parra. “You’ll be able to spray it instantly on the roots and all through your hair for an all-over thickening impact. Plus, it protects towards warmth as much as 450°F and is protected for color-treated hair. It’s a win-win.”
“This root spray has form of ruined my life, as a result of now that I do know what an at-home blowout seems to be like with it I may by no means probably return to doing my hair with out it. It offers me a lot bouncy quantity that appears and feels pure—no greasiness or crunch in sight.”
Key substances: resin mix, peptides, mushroom extract, proprietary time-released styling know-how
Perfume-free: no
Greatest for Lengthy Hair: Shade Wow Elevate the Root Thicken + Raise Spray
Why we adore it: A 2024 Better of Magnificence Award Winner, Shade Wow Elevate the Root Thicken + Raise Spray, can also be a stylist favourite. Designed to be used on each damp and dry hair, it options proprietary elastomers that act like tiny springs on the root, giving hair immediate, long-lasting quantity with out stiffness or stickiness. “For those who’re in search of critical root raise—particularly for wonderful or thinning hair—that is it,” says Lauren Paglionico, a hair colorist in New York Metropolis. “It’s sulfate-free, gives warmth safety, and makes hair look noticeably thicker.” Whereas the components units because it dries—making it a bit trickier to blow-dry—New York Metropolis stylist Kimberly Gueldner says that’s precisely what makes it best for curler units or structured blowouts. “It has spectacular endurance and works particularly effectively for medium-fine and oily hair varieties,” she provides.
“My hair is lengthy and heavy, so gravity is not actually on my aspect. Nonetheless, a number of spritzes of this magic in a bottle on the roots and my hair is larger than Snooki’s poof in 2009.”
Key substances: polymers, panthenol, keratin
Perfume-free: no
Longest-Lasting: K18 AstroLift Reparative Quantity Spray
Why we adore it: Volumizers normally include a catch (crunchiness, stickiness, or buildup), however K18’s AstroLift Reparative Quantity Spray is in its personal league. Powered by the model’s biotech-backed peptide advanced (sure, the identical one which made their leave-in mask go viral), this featherlight spray does extra than simply increase quantity—it repairs harm from the within out. “K18 is infamous for the strengthening peptide of their merchandise, which is on this spray,” says Parra. “It has a conditioning impact whereas creating quantity.” You should use it on damp or dry hair, with or with out styling, and because of its two-day hair reminiscence, that quantity lasts.
“I’ve tried a whole lot of volumizers in my day, and I’ve discovered a handful that ship oomph instantly—however only a few that add quantity that lasts. This spray is a kind of uncommon gems: I apply it in damp hair, blow dry, after which take pleasure in the additional bounce effectively into the next day.”
Key substances: seaweed, arginine, K18peptide, polymers
Perfume-free: no
Greatest for Flat Hair: RŌZ Air Thickening Spray
Why we adore it: After years behind the chair at Mare in LA and styling a few of Hollywood’s finest manes (hello, Emma Stone and Cara Delevingne), celeb hairstylist Mara Roszak bottled her experience into RŌZ—and the Air Thickening Spray is a standout. “This light-weight, buildable mist provides ethereal quantity, touchable texture, and versatile maintain with none crunch. It’s infused with substances like rice protein and mushroom root extract to strengthen strands and assist scalp well being, particularly useful in case you’re not washing every day,” says Paglionico. It’s not simply what she advises her purchasers to make use of; she makes use of it on herself: “It delivers spectacular quantity with out weighing the hair down and works superbly on each wonderful and medium textures. The mist is ultra-light and by no means sticky, which makes it straightforward to layer. I additionally love the scent—it’s contemporary with a delicate floral notice that’s by no means overpowering,” she says.
Key substances: rice protein, mushroom root extract, rice water, radish root
Perfume-free: no
Greatest for Frizz: Sisley Paris Volumizing Spray
Why we adore it: Sisley Paris Hair Rituel Volumizing Spray brings flat roots again to life. It’s loaded with plant-based substances that do extra than simply type: Boswellia gum offers your roots raise and construction, rice bran proteins plump up every hair, and pro-vitamin B5 provides power and shine. A light-weight volumizing resin retains every thing bouncy and touchable, not stiff. “Sure, this spray is opulent and costly, but it surely’s price it,” says Paglionico. “It has anti-humidity substances that maintain your hair full, even within the warmth. And since it’s so light-weight, it gained’t weigh hair down or make it frizzy. I additionally love the contemporary scent.”
Boswellia gum doesn’t simply raise on the roots, it additionally provides ethereal texture all through your hair for that effortlessly tousled end.
Key substances: boswellia gum, resins, rice bran protein, pro-vitamin B5
Perfume-free: no
Greatest for Effective Hair: Phyto Quantity Styling Spray
Why we adore it: For those who’re after all-day quantity and hair you’ll be able to nonetheless run your fingers via, Phyto Quantity Volumizing Styling Spray is a should. This mist is boosted by waterlily extract to raise on the roots and white mallow extract, which not solely amps up shine but in addition smooths the hair cuticle for a silky, light-reflective end. “Phyto Quantity is certainly a basic in a salon setting,” says Gueldner. “It’s nice for wonderful hair as a result of it’s light-weight, straightforward to make use of, and never too stiff, so it’s simpler to blow-dry. Plus, it gained’t depart hair oily by the top of the day.” It’s freed from silicones, sulfates, and parabens, so your hair stays bouncy, gentle, and looking out wholesome.
To keep away from weighing hair down, focus your spray on the roots and mid-lengths—no have to saturate hair throughout.
Key substances: waterlily extract, white mallow extract
Perfume-free: no
Greatest for Oily Hair: Unite Liquid Quantity Texture Spray
Why we adore it: Much less is extra with Unite Liquid Quantity—in the easiest way attainable. This light-weight root lifter goes on moist, dries in seconds, and leaves a matte texture which you could reactivate anytime with a contact or brush. It delivers long-lasting fullness, helps management oil on the roots, and provides touchable maintain with out weighing hair down. “Somewhat goes a good distance with this one,” says Mia Santiago, a hairstylist in Columbus, OH and New York, NY. “It delivers main quantity and a grippy end. I prefer to say it retains your hair filled with secrets and techniques.” It’s protected for color-treated hair and extensions, so it really works for everybody in search of a lift.
Propanediol is a moisture-boosting humectant that helps the components glide easily and really feel light-weight, so your quantity stays touchable, not cheesy.
Key substances: propanediol, silica silylate
Perfume-free: no
Greatest for Warmth Styling: Kérastase Quantity in Powder Hair Spray
Why we adore it: For actually easy styling, Kérastase Quantity in Powder Hair Spray provides touchable quantity. This dry aerosol spray provides ethereal quantity and texture with a robust but re-shapeable maintain, making it good for anybody who desires full hair that also feels gentle. “It stands out to me as a result of it offers physique and maintain, however continues to be touchable,” says Raven Hurtado, a stylist at Maxine Salon based mostly in Chicago. “It’s good for wonderful hair and supplies a direct raise with out weighing it down,” she says. It additionally options dimethicone, which helps clean frizz, increase shine, and defend towards warmth harm from thermal styling. Plus, there’s UV safety to assist fend off frizz and sun-induced harm.
“Begin with a bit of—you’ll be able to construct it up, however an excessive amount of could make hair really feel sticky or soiled,” says Hurtado.
Key substances: dimethicone, dimethiconol
Perfume-free: no
Greatest for Broken Hair: Oribe Serene Scalp Densifying Therapy Spray
Why we adore it: In case your hair seems to be sparse or feels flat, give it a spritz of Oribe Serene Scalp Densifying Therapy Spray. This weightless, multitasking mist offers roots a delicate raise for immediate quantity and helps the looks of thicker, fuller-looking hair. “It’s nice for these with skinny hair who battle with quantity. What stands out is that it doubles as a styling product and a remedy,” says Hurtado. Infused with peptides and purple clover extract, pea sprout extract, and polymers, the components helps assist scalp well being and strengthen hair from the foundation. “It leaves a cooling impact on the scalp, which is how you recognize it’s working,” Hurtado provides. “It’s not sticky or waxy and doesn’t depart behind any residue.”
Hurtado makes use of it herself: “I observed my hair felt thicker, had extra physique, and my type lasted longer.”
Key substances: capixyl, pea sprout extract, densifying polymers
Perfume-free: no
Regularly Requested Questions
What does root raise spray do?
Root raise sprays are designed to spice up quantity proper on the roots, giving hair a fuller, extra lifted look, particularly when paired with heat-styling tools. “Root lifting sprays are typically utilized instantly on the root with the intention to maximise quantity whereas blow drying,” says Parra. “They create a coating, barrier, and even fibers between the hair strands, permitting it to have construction and the phantasm of thickness.”
These volume-boosting hair-care merchandise are usually light-weight and might add physique with out weighing hair down, and plenty of additionally provide warmth safety and gentle maintain for touchable, long-lasting raise.
What’s the distinction between mousse and root lifter?
Each mousse and root lifters are among the many finest hair-volume merchandise on the shelf, however they every have their very own distinctive advantages. “Root lifting sprays present extra focus on the root for quite a lot of hair varieties, whereas a mousse is used all through the hair solely for all-over physique and maintain,” says Parra. “Mousse is mostly used for occasion hair styling and is a much bigger product dedication. Except you recognize you like the mousse, root lifting sprays have extra flexibility and are usually simpler to make use of at dwelling your self.”
How do I get extra raise at roots?
To get extra raise on the roots, apply a root-lifting spray on to damp hair on the scalp and blow dry utilizing a spherical brush or by flipping your head the other way up. “Root-lifting spray can work on any hair sort, with essentially the most dramatic results on finer or flat hair due to the pure construction,” says Parra. “I inform purchasers they could wish to solely use this product whereas blow drying, as most of those sprays want warmth to be activated.”