Hailee Steinfeld is a woman on a mission. That mission? Volume. And not just the kind that comes from her powerhouse vocals. The 28-year-old actress and singer—currently starring in the haunting new horror film Sinners—is chasing a different kind of drama. Enter: the iconic, full-bodied blowout inspired by ‘90s supermodels who are some of Hailee’s forever beauty icons. “I’ve always loved the classic ‘90s supermodel glam, which feels like a great blowout and minimal makeup for the most part, or just like a great nude lip and slightly smudgy eye,” she says. Of course, a great blowout starts with the right cut. Hailee has leaped into her fresh chop era with hair that just grazes past her collarbone, admitting she can’t believe she didn’t take the plunge sooner.
After some trial-and-error experimenting with different blowout techniques, Hailee found her secret weapon: Nexxus HY Volume Cloud Foam, the latest innovation from the brand’s innovative technology, three-step HY Volume Collection. Hailee’s haircare ritual starts in the shower with Nexxus HY Volume Shampoo and Conditioner. “I’ve been using Nexxus forever. It was actually the first shampoo my mom ever bought me,” she shares. Post-wash, she pumps two generous dollops of the Cloud Foam, applying it to her wet hair, concentrating at the roots, smoothing it through. “I’m so obsessed with this product and the lift that it gives me. It feels so weightless and so yummy. [The collection] has hyaluronic acid and collagen protein, which is so good for your hair. It’s like skincare for your hair.” The magic lies in science. “Many volume formulations achieve volume through use of harsh surfactants, removing moisture from hair, creating a rigid strand which is then held in place with strong-hold styling products. This process can further damage your hair upon washing to remove the strong-hold styling products,” explains Nexxus Principal Scientist, Beth Labrecque. “Our HY Volume Collection contains Hyaluronic Acid, known to retain moisture, and our patented Hyaluronic Tubing Technology to create a tube around each strand, plumping and adding bounce. Our Air Lift Technology adds space between the plumped strands, giving your hair even more volume.” And if you tend to lose volume overnight, there’s a fix. “Wet the mohawk section of your hair, reapply one to two pumps of product, and re-blow dry that section,” Labrecque advises. The collection delivers up to two inches of vertical root lift and three times more weightless volume versus untreated hair. Unlike traditional volumizers that can leave hair stiff or brittle, this formula creates touchable fullness that lasts, without sacrificing hair health.
With her hair prepped, Hailee moves on to styling. First, she sections her hair into a half-up, half-down style and uses her fingers to rough-dry the bottom layer. Then comes the round brush. Working in small sections, she rolls each piece from root to tip, blow-drying as she goes. Once dry, each section is wrapped in a roller and pinned into place. “Pro tip: don’t do this before a big event. Test it first. The first time I did rollers, I was going to a friend’s wedding, and it just so happened to work out. Thank the hair gods.” She repeats the process on top, saving the mohawk section, right above the forehead, for last.
With the rollers pinned—each one tucked under and rolled away from her face—Hailee seals everything in with Nexxus Comb Thru Flexible Hold Hairspray. Then, after some time for the hair to set, it’s time for the big reveal. She unpins the rollers, releasing soft, shiny bounce with just the right amount of drama. “Look at that volume!” she beams, flipping her hair. “Can we just take a second for the root lift? And the best part is—I know it’s going to last.” And with that, Hailee Steinfeld is ready for anything. Mission accomplished.