MANILA, Philippines--We all want thick and shiny hair. But most of the time, it seems like an impossible feat even if we have a plethora of products and treatments at our disposal. We know all too well that setting apart products that work from the ones that don?t can be both time-consuming and expensive. And trying out every other treatment out there can ultimately damage our hair. Hairstyling need not be complicated, as hair experts spill their styling secrets and reveal which products will really work for your hair.

For volume and thickness:

Get some layers. The right haircut can give limp hair some much-needed volume and body. Adding layers around the face and in the back creates texture and movement. ?Long side-swept bangs also look good on all face shapes and work especially well with thin hair,? says L?Oreal Professionnel hairstylist Jerry Javier.

Add color and highlights. Trying out a lighter hair color will make your strands look thicker while putting in some subtle highlights will give your hair texture. ?Highlights (and lowlights) are one of the coloring techniques that, when done correctly, can enhance not just the cut and style of the hair, but also improve one?s skin tone,? explains Ali Tiongson, salon manager of Park Jun Beauty Lab.

Use Velcro rollers. To give hair lots of volume, wrap one-inch sections of hair around each roller, following the direction of its growth. Leave them on for at least 15-20 minutes. Then, run a blow-drier through each roller, making sure it?s set in high heat. After taking out rollers, mist hair with a light hairspray.

Apply mousse, then blow-dry. Give hair some lift by applying mousse while hair is slightly wet, then run sections of hair through a drier. ?It?s important to emphasize volume at the roots,? says hairstylist Raymond Santiago. You can do this by pulling hair upward when drying.

To increase shine:

Say NO to alcohol. Alcohol-based products can seriously dry your hair, making it look dull and brittle. Using shine-enhancing products in creams or serums can prevent damage, and switching to silicone-based products can help protect hair.

Wash the right way. Most hairstylists recommend limiting shampoos to every other day. The cleanser strips hair of its natural oils, which essentially give your tresses its luster and shine. If you can?t go through a day without a shampoo, ?wash hair in the evening,? says Kiehl?s hairstylist Felicity Son. ?Your hair will produce oil as you sleep and it will coat each strand, making it look shiny in the morning.?

Try a heat treatment. A hot oil treatment can bring back hair?s moisture and shine. ?To prevent hair from drying, I highly recommend hair treatments depending on the condition of the hair,? says Tiongson. ?For very dry hair, a once-a-week treatment will do, every two weeks for dry hair and once a month for normal hair.?

Trim regularly. When long or curly hair isn?t trimmed, its ends usually look dry and damaged. This is because the ends are older and in need of more moisture. A trim every six to eight weeks should do the trick, as it takes out the hair?s driest, most damaged part. Applying a shine serum to the ends brings back its shine and prevents split ends.