Hi Everyone … I hope you all had a great weekend!
Over the last several weeks, many of you have been asking for a hair-styling how-to post …. so here it is … how I get my everyday-look: volume + texture!
Products
Alright, so don’t hate me … but somehow when it came to the gene pool, I struck gold. I have naturally thick, voluminous hair, which means I don’t really need much product for my hair to look fabulous (I know, I know … like I said, please don’t hate me)! I also know this is not the reality for many of you and, luckily, there’s a boatload of kick-butt products out there to deal with whatever issue is holding you back from that Giselle-worthy blowout you’re after. Below are a few great options at different price points, courtesy of a few friends and colleagues.
Your Cut
So, this is one point I cannot stress enough. I don’t care what products you use or how much time you spend “styling” your hair … unless you put some time, thought, and expertise into the right cut for you, it’s gonna disappoint. Which really boils down to one thing — you need to find a talented and brutally honest hairstylist who you trust.
I’ve been seeing the same woman for about 3 years now, and I seriously don’t know what I’ll do when we move (which we plan to do in the not too distant future). I’ve even joked with her that the added cost of a plane ticket is going to make my haircuts quite expensive. But, she’s really THAT good. And, she’s honest.
When I first started seeing her, my hair extended hair half-way down my back, and since then we’ve experimented with various styles ranging from that original length to near-pixie length. And I’ve loved every. single. cut …. because whenever I brought in a picture with a new style I was eager to try, she took the time to explain what that cut would look like on MY head with MY hair. And if adjustments were needed to get the look I wanted, she told me. Brutal honesty … it’s crucial to getting what you actually want.
If you haven’t found a stylist your willing to go steady with yet, start looking, and don’t be afraid to shop around. Just a word to the wise, don’t try anything drastic until you know you’ve found your girl (or guy).
The Blowout
Ok… and now on to the how-to part!
— If you’re using a volumizer or other product, go ahead and add that to your towel-dried hair. And you’ll need a round barrel brush — I generally use two … one with a 2-inch barrel, and one with a 4-inch barrel.
— To begin the blow drying process, I usually just use my fingers … and I go to town with the dryer, all over until my hair is about 50-60% dry. If you’re really looking for volume, spend a few minutes bent over and let gravity help get the job done. This does wonders for lift at the crown.
— Now grab one of the brushes (it doesn’t matter which one at this point), and, as you blow dry, brush your hair in the opposite direction of how it will lay when you’re finished. So, starting with the hair on the right side of your head — brush it up and over the top of your head towards the left side of your head. Repeat on the left side, brushing up and over to the right. And in the back, brush it up and over the top of your head towards your face. For the top of your head, whichever direction you plan to part your hair, brush it the opposite way. Keep going until you reach about 90% dry. You should already notice an increase in volume.
— Now we smooth everything out and add some nice curves to the mix. I tend to stick to the large barrel brush for the sides of my hair, and the smaller barrel brush for the back and crown (where I want the lift to be a bit more pronounced). Divide your hair into sections and use the appropriate barrel brush on each section, lifting at the roots, rotating the brush as you blow dry each section. This will give you a nice soft, smooth curve. At the crown, really lift the hair from the root as you dry. Once everything is fully dry, I like to go over each section one more time with a quick blast of cool air to seal in the curve and provide a super-smooth finish.
— And voila! If you want super-smooth and sleek, go no further, you’re done! If you want some slightly messy, or even bed-head like texture, now we bring out my secret weapon … Garnier Fructis Texture Tease … seriously one of the best products I’ve ever used, and it comes in at only $7. I’ve also included a few other cult favorites below.
Finishing Touch — Texture
If you want subtle texture, start with just a few sprays, somewhat scrunching your hair as you go to help distribute the product throughout your hair. Then use your fingers to “rough it up” a bit, separating the strands, and providing additional volume. The more “bed-head” you want it, the more product you should use here. But, don’t go overboard … I’ve found that less is more with this product, and it’s easy to over do it.
And you’re done! Now get out there an strut your stuff, and don’t forget to show a little sass 🙂 And, check out a few of the products below that will help extend the life of your blowout …
I hope you have a great start to the week you guys … and stay tuned for a new style post, going live tomorrow 🙂
xoxo, K
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