15 Products To Help Your Holiday Blowout Go The Distance
With all of the '90s inspired looks we're seeing in 2022, it's no wonder that the voluminous blowout has made its official comeback. The trend does come with some surprise though — had you told our 2010 flatiron-wielding selves that volume would make its way back onto the hair scene in the future, we would have simply laughed and pulled out the mini straightener from our purse to slick down those bangs. Somewhere between now and then, however, we realized bouncy hair is actually pretty sexy.
TikTok has shown users exactly how simple it is to turn limp hair into vintage Cindy Crawford runway locks within a matter of minutes. So, naturally, desiring a blowout for the holidays is not only trendy, it's practical too. With the right products and care, you can get an entire week out of your style right up until New Year's Eve when it's time for a fresh one. In order to help you achieve the longest lasting blowout possible, we've curated the ultimate product list that doubles as the perfect step-by-step routine for the dreamiest of holiday hairstyles.
How we selected these products
If you've ever had a blowout done professionally, you already know that it costs a pretty penny to have those tresses slayed to the high heavens. On the other token, when you do a blow dry yourself you know the time and energy it takes to create the look you're going for. So, why not do everything in your power to make sure you're getting the most out of your hairstyle?
Whether you are leaving your blowout results in the hands of your stylist or you prefer to save some extra holiday cash by doing your own, there are steps that can be done before, during, and after to get longevity. In light of this, we've selected the best products on the market for each step of your routine. Every item on this list was carefully chosen based upon positive user reviews, ratings, and easy accessibility.
Best shampoo for prep-work
Clean hair is the number one first step for making a blowout last. Whether we know it or not, every time we apply product to our hair it begins to build up in the hair cuticle. This can cause hair damage over time, leaving your locks laying flat and lifeless. So, the very first product that you want to reach for before your blow dry is a clarifying shampoo to remove old product, oil, and dirt. What makes the Total Results High Amplify Root Up Wash from Matrix unique is that it is not only a clarifier, but a volumizer as well.
Purchase the Matrix Total Results High Amplify Root Up Wash from Amazon for $17.
Best conditioner for prep-work
Using the right conditioner before your blowout is critical. You're going to be applying heat to your hair, so it's important to enrich the strands with moisture. You also want to select a product with volumizing properties in order to avoid weighing the hair down. The Extra Volume Conditioner from Moroccanoil is the best of both worlds in these categories — it will deliver the quenching properties we need combined with that effortless lift we are trying to achieve.
Buy the Moroccanoil Extra Volume Conditioner from Amazon starting at $26.
Best product for creating body
After you've properly prepped your hair with shampoo and conditioner, it will be time to move on to styling products. You'll want to use a few different ones to help add definition and volume, but be sure not to go overboard because this will weigh down the hair or make it appear greasy. First, work in the Extra-Body Sculpting Foam by Paul Mitchell. This product is fantastic because it can make even the thinnest of hair appear full of life. "I have very thin, limp hair that won't do anything but hang," writes a reviewer. "I've tried everything! It either makes my hair stiff or doesn't hold well. This is different! Just enough hold and lasts until the next wash."
Purchase the Paul Mitchell Extra-Body Sculpting Foam from Amazon for $14.
Best product for taming frizz
When it comes to great blowouts, frizz is nowhere to be found. But of course, any time you're applying heat to your locks you will run the risk of some added extra frizziness. The best way to combat this is with a heat cream that will protect and silken the hair. The Kenra Platinum Silkening Heat Crème will be your best friend when it comes to battling frizz. One reviewer raves, "Love this product! I don't know if I could ever go without it. It definitely decreases the amount of time it takes to style my hair. Leaves it feeling soft all day long as well."
Buy the Kenra Platinum Silkening Heat Crème from Amazon for approximately $19.
Best root spray
The secret to the highest amount of volume actually lies in lifting the root — not in the ends or mid-shaft. So, using a spray that is specifically formulated for just that is essential in your blowout routine. Many products on the market deliver these results by using strong formulas that can make the hair crunchy or stiff, but for a blowout this is a no-no. What we love about the Color Wow Raise The Root Thicken and Lift Spray is that its formula is delicate enough for the bouncy, movable texture we're looking for with a blowout.
Purchase the Color Wow Raise The Root Thicken and Lift Spray from Kohl's for $24.
Best blow dry spray
One final wet styling product that's great to apply to your hair before you begin blow drying is blowout spray. This is because it's important to add something with texture to your hair for some grip without compromising lift — which can happen with products like leave-in conditioners. The Brooklyn Bombshell Blowout Spray by Amika is the ideal product for this because it provides not only shine and moisture, but volume, texture, and heat protection all in one. The spray has an overall 4.5 star rating.
Buy the Amika Brooklyn Bombshell Blowout Spray from Kohl's for $28.
Best dryer brush for body
You've made it through all the prepping and you're finally at the big part — the actual blowout. While the classic method uses a round-brush and a blow dryer, this routine can be somewhat tricky without some practice. What's great about the Revlon Ionic Technology Perfect Heat & Style Hair Dryer is that it's essentially a round brush and a blow dryer all in one; this means less awkward hand motions and cramping. The small barrel of this dryer will also help you achieve more lift and volume compared to bigger blow dryer brushes on the market.
Purchase the Revlon Ionic Technology Perfect Heat & Style Hair Dryer from Target for approximately $25.
Best hair spray
The hard part is over! Now it's time to preserve all of the hard work you put in. Of course, this means beginning with a good hairspray. We're looking for one with a strong hold, but that will not cause stiffness — this look is all about the bounce. The Amika Fluxus Touchable Hairspray is exactly the formula we need. "Love this hairspray!" a reviewer shares. "It's strong enough to hold my fine, uncooperative hair but does not feel crunchy or leave a dull film. Awesome!"
Purchase the Amika Fluxus Touchable Hairspray from Amika for $26.
Best humidity spray
Now, your style is looking awesome; everything is nice and set with hairspray. But the moment you step outside, you realize your worst enemy is out to play — humidity. This is nothing the Living Proof No Frizz Instant De-Frizzer can't handle. The highly-rated product is designed to tame up to 92% of frizz by providing hair with the essential nourishment it needs to withstand the weather.
Purchase the Living Proof No Frizz Instant De-Frizzer from Sephora for $32.
Best scrunchies for sleeping
So many of us have made the mistake of not protecting our blowouts during sleep. The friction between your hair and pillow can essentially ruin your blowout — a style you should be able to wear for up to a week. Wrapping your tresses up in a messy bun with silk scrunchies, such as the highly-rated Feelits Royal Mulberry Silk Natural Care Hair Scrunchies, will create a barrier between the hair and pillowcase while still keeping your locks held in a preserving shape for volume.
Purchase the Feelits 100% Royal Mulberry Silk Natural Care Hair Scrunchies — Trio Set from Feelits for approximately $24.
Best silk turban for sleeping
One way you can take your sleep protection for your style even further is with a silk bonnet or turban. The Edoneery Silk Hair Bonnet is suitable for all hair types and provides a silky smooth netting around the hair to keep it from rubbing and deflating. With a 4.4-star Amazon rating, users agree that the material, comfort, and color selection of the bonnet are a win.
Purchase the Edoneery Silk Hair Bonnet from Amazon for approximately $10.
Best terry cloth-lined showercap
Another known sworn enemy of the blowout is water. Heat and moisture from the shower can cause frizz and force your gorgeous tresses to lose volume and shape. Help protect this from happening with Drybar's The Morning After Shower Cap. Designed with a terry cloth lining to keep your hair from soaking up any moisture, one reviewer says it is the "best shower cap ever."
Purchase the Drybar The Morning After Shower Cap from Drybar for $16.
Best sweat absorber for working out
Having to ditch our workouts just to keep our hair nice should never be an option. But, with working out comes workout sweat. An absorbent headband is an awesome way to still get your heart pumping without compromising your gorgeous locks. After tying your hair up with a silk scrunchie, put on the Cotton Terry Sweatband from Lululemon to minimize all of that perspiration building up in your hair.
Purchase the Lululemon Cotton Terry Sweatband from Lululemon for $14.
Best dry shampoo
Dry shampoo after a blowout might be a given, but that just goes to show how important it is. Not only does it absorb oil, it also keeps body, volume, and texture in your hairstyle. We love the Joico Weekend Hair Dry Shampoo because of its fresh smell and ability to add shine and movement. One reviewer says, "I'm very picky about dry shampoos because they either leave your hair still looking greasy or they look like a powdery mess. But this is the best. It doesn't make it all powdery looking, doesn't irritate your scalp, and makes it look like you washed your hair."
Purchase the Joico Weekend Hair Dry Shampoo from Ulta for $22.
Best hot rollers for a refresh
One of the best ways to add some curl and body back into your blowout style is with hot rollers. When things are starting to look a bit limp, flat, or straight, pop a few of the Remington Ionic Conditioning Hair Setter rollers into your hair. The metal clips are designed to hold the hair without causing kinks or dents — something that can ruin an entire look. Moreover, the ionic conditioning technology will help your tresses look even better than before.
Purchase the Remington H5600H Ionic Conditioning Hair Setter from Amazon for approximately $21.