Historically, my hairstyling repertoire has been limited. When my hair was extra long (think: below-waist-length Gothic-romance-movie-protagonist long), my entire routine revolved around smoothing frizz and maybe adding a few curls for movement. Everything shifted after a big chop a year and a half ago—a haircut that I was wrong to assume would make styling easier. Short hair, it turns out, is a paradox: quicker to manage overall, yet still requires daily maneuvering to maintain the bobs you see on TikTok. I eventually found my footing with a flippy below-the-chin bob that served me well, but now as I tentatively grow my hair out, I’m stuck in an awkward in-between phase. It’s not quite short, but not quite medium-length either.
I turned to the ’90s for inspiration (as one does). A late-night binge of Charmed led to me pinning ’90s supermodel runway images to my Pinterest board—zooming in the bouncy blowouts of Yasmeen Ghauri, Christy Turlington, and more. This look seemed like the perfect styling solution, but I didn’t quite know how to achieve it—and I most certainly wasn’t going to go to the salon weekly. So I became obsessive about perfecting the bouncy blowout routine.
Vogue’s Favorite Blowout Essentials
Hailee Steinfeld, as it turns out, would change my regimen for the better; her supermodel blowout tutorial to the rescue! As she worked, she held her round brush horizontally and directed the dryer downward, coaxing the ends into a perfect, subtle flip. I thought, So that’s the secret! It’s a concept that was totally knew to me, but the pros have long known. “Tool placement is everything: It shapes the volume, bend, and overall finish of your blowout. Holding your tool horizontally gives you that lifted, bouncy, ’90s effect, while vertical placement creates softer movement,” celebrity hairstylist Yusef, whose clients include It girls form Rihanna to Tyla, tells Vogue.
Naturally, I made a few adjustments. I’m far too impatient to let curls set in rollers, and my blow-dryer coordination leaves room for growth. But after some trial, error, and strategic shortcuts, I landed on a version of the routine that worked for me. And the results? Let’s just say I can’t make it across the office without someone stopping me to comment. Convincing enough? Scroll on for the step-by-step and a full video breakdown at the end.
Step One: Start With Heat Protectant
If you’re not in the business of frying your hair, heat protectant spray is a non-negotiable. When I’m styling my hair with a tool that uses airflow (think a multistyler, blow-dry brush, or hair dryer), I prefer a heat protectant spray over a cream or dry spray. I always start off by drenching my freshly washed, towel-dried hair from root to tip with my formula of choice. My usual go-to is ColorWow’s Dreamcoat for its ability to protect against damage and impart a lovely glossy, frizz-free shine on my raven hair. Meanwhile, other popular options come from Mizani’s hydrating mist and a bond repairing pick from K18.
Step Two: Use a Styling Cream
After rough-drying my hair about 70%, it’s time for one of the newest upgrades: Incorporating a bit of styling cream has made a bigger difference than I expected. “Foundation is the key to the longevity of a blowout, and it needs grip,” says Nureev stressing the importance of using styling products. He also recommends mousses or thickening sprays and alternate effective options.
When I started using Emi Jay’s offering (my current favorite for it’s flexible hold and lovely scent), I immediately noticed better hold and polish, without that dreaded crunchy feel. Think of it like makeup: A styling cream is the primer of your hair routine. It creates the foundation, smoothing and prepping everything so your style holds its shape. Then, when you later finish with hairspray, that’s your setting spray—locking it all in place and making sure your blowout actually lasts long after you step out your front door.
Step Three: Have Your Multistyler at the Ready
If you’re like me and can’t quite finesse a hair dryer and round brush like the pros (or Steinfeld), the experts assure you’re not alone. “It’s harder to do correct hand positions and placement with a brush and the blow dryer,” Nureev says. Instead, the pro-approved solution for at-home styling is to opt for a multistyler tool. “Streamlining what’s in your hand makes the entire styling process smoother and much more achievable at home,” Yusef adds.
Once primed with styling cream, I switch my Dyson Airwrap attachment from the hair dryer to the curling barrel. To keep things manageable, I divide my thick hair into three sections—bottom, middle, and top—to help achieve that smooth, intentional shape. My biggest tip is to hold the barrel horizontally, with the airflow directed downward, so the ends curve under into that soft, bouncy finish. Holding the tool vertically gives you more of a defined curl; not the blowout effect we’re after.
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Step Four: Don’t Forget a Root Lift Spray
There’s no denying it: Volume is the defining feature of a great blowout. Without that root lift, hair that’s simply flipped under falls a little…flat. (Womp womp.) No matter your hair type—fine, thick, or somewhere in between—achieving that subtle, lasting height at the crown requires one key player: a root-lifting or volumizing spray.
When I get to the top layer of hair, I reach for my holy grail root lift spray from ROZ Hair. A generous press of the continuous mist at the roots make all the difference, giving the final look that airy, full-bodied finish. Then it’s back to business as usual: working piece by piece with my Dyson Airwrap Coanda curling barrel, holding it horizontally and directing the shape downward to maintain that signature blowout curve. It’s a small step that makes all the difference for a salon-worthy result.
Step Five: Brush Out Your Hairspray
I’ll admit it: I used to be a full-blown hairspray hater. I’d long (and erroneously) associated it with immovable updos and gravity-defying ’80s teased silhouettes. I hated the crunch, the stiffness, the artificial feeling of it all, so I avoided hairspray entirely. As it turns out, the problem wasn’t hairspray—it was how I was using it.
“I love brushing out my blowouts after the hairspray sets; it breaks up any stiffness and gives you that soft voluminous finish,” says Yusef. “A gentle brush through keeps the body while making the style feel effortless.” With that in mind, once my heat styling is exactly where I want it, I give my hair a generous even mist of hairspray, making sure to gently lift at the roots as I spray to preserve volume. Make sure to let it dry completely, with no fussing or added touching. Then brush through the hair in roughly three-inch sections, following the direction of the curl—my favorite brush is Crown Affair’s dual bristle brush. Et voilà!
Meet the Experts
- Ruslan Nureev is a a celebrity hairstylist based in LA. His roster includes Jessica Alba, Karlie Kloss, Jasmine Tookes, and many more,
- Yusef is a New York–based celebrity hairstylist. His celebrity clients include Rihanna, Naomi Campbell, Tyla, Bella and Gigi Hadid, Jourdan Dunn, and many more.
