Bouncy blow-out with a straightener: this is my routine
I often get asked: how do you do your hair? I sometimes switch it up, but I usually wear my hair in a bouncy blow-out style. Most people think I use a Dyson Airwrap for this, but it's actually much simpler. It does take some time, but I style my hair just once and then it looks nice all week. These are my hair secrets.
Shampoo & conditioner
I don't wash my hair just once, but really multiple times. The last thing you want is for there to be any product left in your hair or for some kind of layer to remain after you've just spent an hour styling it. That's why I like to use a clarifying shampoo; my current favorite is the one from Living Proof, which I alternate with Pantene shampoo. I'm not very picky with conditioner, as long as it doesn't weigh my hair down. My hair holds the styling better when it's a bit stiffer.
The pre-blow-out
I simply blow-dry my hair with a blow-dry brush and some heat protectant from L’Oréal Paris. Very simple, as I don't make it an extensive blow-out yet. I have curls naturally, and if I let my hair air dry, it takes forever to dry. That's why I first blow-dry it before I start the rest of my routine.
This is how I curl my hair
Now comes the important part: curling my hair. I only do this when my hair is really completely dry, sometimes even the next day. A crucial step is a dry heat protectant, no wet spray and definitely no oil. I don't want to use something that makes my hair wet again or weighs it down. I'm a huge fan of The Shield from Amika, because it not only protects against heat but also helps to combat frizz and makes my hair more resistant to humidity.
Then I section my hair and curl it layer by layer. I use a flat iron instead of a curling iron for this. I feel like I have much more control with a flat iron, and the curls last longer for me personally. I slide the flat iron down my hair and twist it once along the way, creating a curl naturally. The model of flat iron doesn't matter much to me; I use one from Remington and have even used one from Primark for a long time.
The perfect cut
To create these bouncy waves, you need some length difference and layers in your hair. That's why I always ask my hairdresser for long, round face-framing layers. I often have the front pieces cut a bit shorter so that they fall somewhere between my cheekbones and chin. How your hair is cut largely determines how it looks when you style it. Frame Amsterdam is, in my opinion, really the unofficial ambassador of the bouncy blow-out. You do need to book in advance, but then you can be sure you're in good hands.
For variety
If I want something different, I like to wear my hair shiny and straight, or create super voluminous waves with hot rollers. For straight hair, I use the L’Oréal Steampod: a flat iron that emits steam, making your hair look healthy and shiny. Hot rollers may be a bit old-fashioned, but in my opinion, there's nothing that gives as much volume, and the end result is truly beautiful.
After a few days, the curl usually still looks nice, especially since I sleep with a loose bun in my hair. However, the volume does decrease a bit, and my hair can become a bit flatter or sleeker. For that, I have two holy grails: dry shampoo and volume spray. I already wrote earlier about my obsession with the K18 dry shampoo, but I honestly think this is the absolute best dry shampoo on the market. After use, your hair simply looks fresh and not greasy at all. If I still want a volume boost, I create that with the Balmain Texturizing Volume spray, which makes my hair nice and stiff at the roots, allowing the volume to come back better.
Of course, you don't need to buy all these products to create the perfect blow-out. People are often surprised when I tell them that you can create just as beautiful curls with a €14 flat iron from Primark as at the hairdresser. It's mainly a matter of trying until you find a routine that works for you. After all, you know your hair best. By testing different products and techniques, you'll discover what your hair responds well to. It also took me quite a bit of effort to find a routine that withstands the Dutch autumn and winter. Because going through all that trouble for a blow-out that immediately falls flat or becomes frizzy outside is, of course, a shame.
