I’m often asked about my hair and how I get it to look the way that I do. How do I get those soft touchable yet bouncy curls? How do I get loose waves that actually hold? My blowouts also last several days (thankfully) and my hair has remained fairly damage free for the last number of years.
A Small Disclaimer
Something to keep in mind here is that I have a lot of hair. It’s also naturally curly so it holds a style really well (and for a few days). BUT, even if your hair isn’t like mine, the tools and products that I use should do the trick to create your own version of these styles.
Because of my naturally curly hair, I have to use a straightening iron on the roots of my hair after I blow dry it, before I curl each section. This is likely something most of you will be able to avoid. If you have bangs, you’re going to want a straightening iron, though! A note about lasting blowouts: Sometimes I have to wash my bangs only (because forehead oil) after a day or two but otherwise, it’s perfect.
In this post I am going to share my favourite products and tools from Drybar – the perfect blowout Mecca. Their lineup is sure to achieve the at-home blowout that dreams are made of.
Wash Your Hair
What you use to wash your hair is important. This is where you cleanse out any dirt, oil and impurities and add extra moisture that your hair might need. Consider your hair care products the same way that you would consider your skin care routine. Everyone requires something different for their specific hair needs. I use different shampoos and conditioners depending on how I plan to style my hair, the season, what my hair needs/doesn’t need at any given time.
Apply The Right Products
Products matter. The ones you choose can either add oomf to your hair or they will weigh it down. Products that claim to extend the life of your blowout? Also important here! Here is what I use:
I start with a leave-in conditioner. I live in a dry climate, my hair is often naturally on the dry side, so this is a must for me. Those of you with thinner strands might want to skip this step.
Next I apply a blow dry heat cream like Drybar’s Hot Toddy to protect my hair from any damage from my hot tools. This product prevents heat damage, colour fading and protects against UVA/UVB.
I also use a blowout extending product. My fave is Drybar’s Jump Start. This product actually allows me to get an extra day out of my blowout and I swear it helps my hair dry a bit faster, too.
If I feel like my hair is heavy and/or I want some extra root volume or volume overall, I apply Drybar’s Southern Belle Volume Boosting Mousse. You don’t need a ton and it works really effectively.
I finish it off with a pomade/finishing cream: Drybar’s The Chaser. I mention it here because we’re talking about products, but this is literally the finishing step for me – once everything is curled and set. I use a super small dollop, I rub it on my hands and finger comb it through my hair to set everything to perfection.
Let’s Talk Tools
The right hot tools are a must for getting the right style. Investing in quality tools is really important, too. A salon-quality blow dryer will pay off in the end by shortening drying times and helping to protect your hair from damage. The right round brush is also important. Choosing a quality straightening iron and curling iron(s) is also important. You want something that is going to help seal your hair cuticles rather than do additional damage.
Okay, now on to the tutorial!
Blow-Dry Your Hair
How you blow-dry your hair matters – did you realize that? I swear that the majority of my “styling efforts” are done in the drying stage. Here is what I do:
- I towel dry my hair and apply the necessary products and comb everything out.
- I dry my bangs first – always. I use a round brush to dry my bangs before moving on to the rest of my hair.
- I do what I call a “rough dry” of the rest of my hair. I blow dry it without clips or sections just to get the majority of the moisture out.
- I then section my hair out into large sections with clips and blow dry each section with a round brush. I usually use the Drybar Half-Pint but if I’m looking for bigger volume, I’ll use the Drybar Full-Pint.
- I basically dry my hair from bottom to top.
So much of the smoothing and ‘body building’ is done by blow drying with a round brush. Just switching to the Drybar round brushes has taken the burden off of my hot tools and in turn improved the overall condition of my hair.
How-To: Loose Curls + Touchable Waves
The key to looser curls is using a larger barrel curling iron like the Drybar 3-Day Bender 1.25″ Curling Iron. Here’s what I do:
- I section out my hair into small sections with clips. Like when blow drying, I style my hair from the bottom up.
- I curl 2″ sections of my hair clipping the curling iron about 2/3 up the way of the section and rolling. The larger the section of hair, the looser the wave.
- Continue this process all the way through each section of your hair.
- Once you’re done, touch up any sections that aren’t “waved” to your liking.
- I wait until my hair has cooled before I add my finishing product (The Chaser). This allows everything to set properly before you perfect it.
- I rub the product on my hands and comb it through my hair pulling slightly. This gets rid of the tighter curls and turns them into looser waves.
How To: For Soft Bouncy Curls
I get my soft bouncy curls by using a smaller barrel curling iron: the Drybar3-Day Bender 1″ Curling Iron. This is how I style my hair on the regular. I feel like it’s my ‘easiest’ hair style to do because on day one I have bouncy curls and days 2, 3 and sometimes 4, I have great waves or the perfect base for a full ponytail. Here’s what I do:
- I section out my hair into small sections with clips. Like when blow drying, I style my hair from the bottom up.
- I curl 1-2″ sections of my hair clipping the curling iron about 3/4 up the way of the section and rolling. The larger the section of hair, the looser the wave, so the smaller the section, the tighter the curl. I curl my hair into what almost look like “sausage curls”.
- Continue this process all the way through each section of your hair.
- Once you’re done, touch up any sections that aren’t “curled” to your liking.
- I wait until my hair has cooled before I add my finishing product (The Chaser). This allows everything to set properly before you perfect it.
- I rub the product on my hands and comb it through my hair pulling slightly. This gets rid of the tight curls and makes them soft and bouncy.
Extra Hair Styling Tips
For some extra bounce and volume, I use this set of products + tools:
For some additional tips on boosting your blow out and making it last a few extra days, check out my post for additional ways to use dry shampoo here!
Need more info about getting the perfect blowout at home? Check out Drybar founder, Ally Webb’s book here: