Living Proof's Full Thickening Cream Made My Hair Look Like It Grew Overnight

We put Living Proof's Full Thickening Cream to the test after receiving a complimentary sample from the brand. Keep reading for our full product review.

Thick hair looks and feels healthy, so any product designed to increase body and shine is one I'm interested in trying—full stop. Living Proof's Full Thickening Cream is one such product, promising to not only boost hair volume but to condition and hydrate your strands, too. The secret is in the brand's Thickening Molecule, a patented molecule that creates microscopic dots on the hair, making it thicker and fuller.

With that kind of resumé (and because I already use and love several of Living Proof’s products), I expected a lot out of the brand's Full Thickening Cream. But did it live up to my high expectations? Read on to find out.

About My Hair: Long and generally normal

My hair falls to my mid-back, and while it’s pretty normal in everything from my scalp to its thickness, I do wish I had more volume, especially when I wear a ponytail or braids.

In general, though, I avoid most styling products because I don’t like how they make my hair feel. My one exception to that is actually another Living Proof product, the Perfect Hair Day 5-in-1 Styling Treatment. Other than that, I wash my hair a few times a week using either the Living Proof Perfect Hair Day shampoo and conditioner or my custom formula from Prose.

The Full Thickening Cream needs to be applied to damp hair, so I used it after showering and towel-drying my hair.

The Feel: Coats hair and then disappears

The product is creamy and spreads through my damp hair easily like a conditioner or a hair mask. Once it starts coating my strands, my hair starts to feel mildly rubbery, and it also becomes more difficult to run my hands through it. It’s only applied from the mid-lengths through the ends (avoid your roots!) and I like to use a wide-tooth comb to make sure I’m distributing it evenly. I recommend brushing your hair before you shower, so it’s easier to comb after.

For best results, the brand recommends blow-drying your hair. I noticed that my strands felt textured while drying mine, but that feeling disappeared once my hair was fully dry. If you prefer not to blow-dry your hair, you’ll notice texture and definition, but you won’t get the same volume and boost in thickness.

The Full Thickening Cream has the same scent as other Living Proof products, which is a light, citrusy scent that feels fresh and clean (it sticks around after hair dries, too).

The Results: Actually fuller hair

Most thickening creams don’t actually work like they say they will. Living Proof’s Full Thickening Cream is not like most. My initial reaction after I dried my hair was whoa. It actually looked like I had more hair on my head.

My hair looked thicker—almost like I was wearing extensions. And, as a bonus, my hair seemed slightly smoother than usual, too. The cream didn’t leave any heaviness or build-up, either, so my hair stayed light and healthy-looking (and remained that way even the next day, too). 

I love that the cream made my hair look fuller whether I was wearing it down or just wanted to boost a simple ponytail. It actually felt like it made my hair healthier rather than just increasing volume, and for that, I think it's a must-have for thicker hair.

The Value: Pricey per ounce

This product's 3.7-ounce bottle is priced at around $29. Depending on how often you use it and the length of your hair, a bottle can go quickly, so keep that in mind when deciding if this thickening cream is right for you. But because it actually works, it may be worth budgeting for it rather than dropping money on subpar products.

A smaller, 2-ounce bottle is available for $16, so if you can’t get a tester, that may be a good way to try out the product before you pay full price.

Similar Products: Nothing quite compares

Amika Thicc Volumizing and Thickening Styling Cream: This cream not only boosts the hair you have but also helps stimulate hair growth. While patented ingredient Redensyl promotes hair growth by stimulating follicles, rice and vegetable protein boosts hair volume and thicken strands. It’s similar in price to Living Proof’s, but some reviewers say it's sticky and builds up on thin hair.

Bumble and Bumble Thickening Great Body Blow Dry Crème: For heat protection on top of thickening the hair, try this option from Bumble and Bumble. Emblica fruit extract thickens strands and other ingredients condition and hydrate hair. It’s a little more expensive, but you get over an ounce more product than with Living Proof.