What to look at
Look at the first few inches after drying. Straight or smooth roots with curls lower down mean the roots were weighed down or dried flat. Flat roots that look greasy point to the scalp, not the styling.
Change one thing on your next wash
Pick one for your next wash:
- Put conditioner, leave-in and cream on the mid-lengths and ends only.
- Use a foam or light gel at the roots instead of a cream.
- Clip the roots up with small clips while hair dries, then take them out.
- Diffuse the roots first, tipping your head to the side or upside down.
- Flip your part, or scrunch the roots upward when applying styler.
- Let your hair dry fully before lying on it.
When this is not the answer
Long, heavy hair will always sit flatter at the roots than short hair, and some heads have looser curls on top. If you are noticing more scalp than before or a wider part, that can be thinning rather than flatness, and is worth showing a dermatologist.
Products that do this job
Foams and light gels give hold without weight.
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