Tired of battling with limp, lifeless locks? Give yours an instant lift with our simple strategies for glamorous, head-turning hair

Most of us aren't graced with a head of naturally gorgeous and vibrant hair, but when it comes to increasing the volume of our tired tresses, there are several options available. First, take steps at the source to ensure that your hair looks fuller, rather than relying solely on products to pump it up. When it comes to blow-drying, pull small sections of your hair away from your head and use a diffuser to aim the heat directly at the roots.

Hair expert Charles Worthington recommends 'blow-drying your hair using hot air before giving each section a cold blast to set the body and hold the style.' Doing this will help lift your hair from the roots, giving you a fuller look overall. He adds that 'using extra-large rollers is a great way to create volume.'

Worthington also recommends working from the top to bottom of your head in sections and 'rolling your hair under in the direction you want the style to go, ensuring that the rollers fit snugly against your scalp for maximum body'. Then spritz hair with Charles Worthington's Big Hair Great Body Styling Spray (£4.19 for 200ml) and blow-dry. Once cooled, remove the rollers and style hair to achieve your desired look.

Strategies for a full effect
Another way to get the bouncing, volumised style you want is to 'have your stylist cut some layers into your hair, as even subtle layering makes hair look fuller and easier to work with,' says Thomas Dunkin, a senior stylist at John Frieda. Another successful strategy is having your hair coloured. 'This process swells the cuticle, giving the appearance of thicker hair,' says hairdresser Jo Hansford.

She adds that vegetable colour will add depth and an incredible shine, while highlights and lowlights (combining different shades of colour), will pick up the light and give a fuller effect. Soft body perming is also an option, but regular conditioning treatments like Jo Hansford's Revive & Rebuild Intensive Conditioner (£4.49 for 150ml; available at Boots or by ringing 020 7495 7774) are essential to prevent hair from becoming dry and frizzy.

The best boost for you
If you don't want a drastic volumising effect, there are a slew of products available at your local supermarket and chemist that help add a little oomph to your lagging locks. Some of our favourite volumising-specific ranges include L'Oréal's Elvive Ceramide-R and Wella's Vivality Volume & Care. With so much choice, it's worth experimenting to find what works best for you. Once you've found a product you like, try sticking to ones within the same range. Another line to watch for: Pantene's Pro-V Sheer Volume Collection that claims to increase hair lift by as much as 80 per cent.

Combining certain techniques with styling products is the easiest way to give your hair a boost. Mousses like Umberto Gianni's Incredible Body Amazing Volume Mousse (£4.45 for 200ml) work just as well as styling sprays, such as Trevor Sorbie's Volumising Spray for Lift, Body & Volume (£3.99 for 200ml) - it's just a case of which types of products you prefer to use. While styling products can be helpful, too much of a good thing will weigh down your hair, so use sparingly.

However, don't fall into the trap of thinking conditioner will make your hair go limp. It doesn't have to - you simply need to choose a light conditioner and avoid applying it directly to the roots. You can also choose a spray formula like Trevor Sorbie's Body and Bounce Leave-In Riche Conditioner (£4.49 or 250ml). It's easy to control how much you put on, and it detangles and nourishes without making hair too heavy.

One-step wonder
On days when you're short on time - you wake up with bed head or you need a quick boost for an evening out, Dunkin advises a simple solution - use John Frieda's Readytowear Instant Boost + Shiner Finishing Spray (£3.75 for 200ml). Rejuvenate hair by 'spritzing the spray onto dry hair and running your fingers through to work in the product. The spray dries in no time, without the need for blow-drying, and you're ready to go,' says Dunkin.