Beauty report: Fixes for fine, flyaway hair

Fine hair is incredibly common, and comes with its own unique problems and needs. Those of us with finer hair perpetually seek out volume, but often end up with lank or greasy hair after using volumising products. Finer hair is also more prone to damage from colouring and breakage from heat styling. With so much to consider, it can be hard to find the right products. Here are a few of the highest performers.

Percy & Reed Smoothed, Sealed and Sensational Volumising No Oil Oil for Fine Hair (€19 from Marks and Spencer): Oil and fine hair don't make good bedfellows. On bad hair mornings, when the fuzz is as expansive as your to-do list, sweep this through the ends of dry hair for instant appeasement of the hair gods.

Structure Smoothshock Foaming Oil (€16.95, for stockists, see xpertpro.ie): Essentially an oil-mousse, this divinely fragranced fluff gives body to the hair without weight or any of the crunch associated with traditional mousses.

L'Oréal Professional Pro-Fiber Recreate Range (from €15.99 from salons nationwide): I passed this range onto a tester whose very fine, damaged and colour-treated hair was getting her down. It involves a few steps of treatment and a regular routine but, after six weeks, she says her hair is softer, shinier and less damaged-looking than it has been in years. This is a professional treatment product, and it works.

Pureology Fullfyl Range (from €18): Pureology can't seem to do wrong. This new range is unique – after shampooing and conditioning, individual hairs instantly feel coated, as though scotch-guarded. When dry, the hair looks visibly more bountiful. Ideal for colour-treated and damaged hair.

Invisibobble Hair Ties (€4.99 from Boots): Prevention is half the battle. Traditional ties can pull hair too tightly, stressing and snapping it, as well as causing those awful "I need to take my hair down right now!" headaches. These clever ties are far kinder to the hair and come in a range of colours.

L'Oréal Elnett Styling Crème Volume Mousse (€8.99): Elnett is a household staple. Its new handy pump mousse (no shaking or tipping cans upside down) adds oomph on a budget and melts invisibly into the hair.

L'Oréal Elvive Fibrology Air Conditioner (€5.84): The Fibrology range works similarly to the Pureology products, but for all hair types. It is quite rich but the new Fibrology Air transparent conditioner gives boost to fine hair without causing greasiness.

Ojon Damage Reverse Thickening Styling Mist for Volume and Lift (€30 from hqhair.com): If your fine hair is prone to breakage, a strengthening leave-in product is a good idea. This is rich in protein and oils, so keep it to the lengths and ends to avoid oiliness.

Swell Ultimate Volume Dry Shampoo (€27 from Marks and Spencer): Those with lots of fine hair, prone to greasiness, know how hard it is to find a dry shampoo that actually does absorb all that oil. This does. It's pricey, but it buys you an extra day for your blow dry.