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You know bombshell hair when you see it. It’s bouncy yet sleek, with that voluptuous va-va voom. It’s the kind of hair that tops every girl’s beauty wish list – and the kind of hair that no dude can resist. Unfortunately, curly-haired ladies often see the bombshell blowout as unattainable. Think again, mademoiselle. With the right techniques and products, you can transform the most rebellious of ringlets into the drool-worthy ‘do of your dreams.
The Right Stuff
A sleek, frizz-free blowout starts in the shower, so look for shampoo that says “straightening” or “smoothing” on the label. Products that pack proteins and silicones seal down the hair cuticle, to lock in shine and banish frizz. Opt for conditioner loaded with rich, heavy emollients – think butters and oils such as shea, avocado or cocoa – to give your blowout a head start on smooth.
Prep Work
Hold it right there – you can’t just slap straightening product onto sopping wet strands and expect it to unravel your ringlets. When you apply product to soaking wet hair, the water dilutes it, making it less effective. To get the most out of your straightening balm, first blot and squeeze your tresses with a soft towel. Let your hair air-dry until it’s about 50 percent dried. Now you can go ahead and comb straightening balm through your mane from roots to ends. Use a quarter-sized dollop for long hair, a dime-sized dab for short or medium hair. To give your blowout extra bounce, work volumizing mousse into the hair at the crown.
The Mane Event
Start with the strands that frame your face, lifting them up with a round brush as you blow dry each piece opposite the direction it naturally falls. This technique creates bounce and body at the crown – an absolute must for bombshell hair. After you’ve dried the front pieces of hair, divide the rest of your mane into top and bottom layers. Pin your top layers out of the way and begin working on the lower layers. Lift chunks of hair with the round brush, gliding the brush down the section and holding it taut at the ends as you follow along closely with a blow dryer. Move on to the upper sections of hair after the bottom is completely dried. Keeping the blow dryer’s nozzle pointed downward over the hair shaft seals the cuticle for a glossy, frizz-free finish. A quick blast of cold air over a freshly dried section locks in the sleekness and shine.
On a Roll
It’s time to finally ditch the notion that hair rollers are for grannies only. Used in combination with a blowout, large Velcro rollers give your hair that bodacious bombshell bounce. After blow drying, wrap sections of hair around the rollers and wind them away from your face toward your scalp. Let the rollers set for about 10 minutes, until your hair is completely cooled. If you’re strapped for time, rolling up just the hair at the crown gives the look a quick, sultry boost.
The Finishing Touches
You can’t have a bombshell blowout without plenty of shine, so use your fingers to rake a smudge of glossing wax through your tresses. The product also adds movement to your mane, keeping the blowout from looking too “done.” After all that work, you’d hope your bombshell hairdo would last for a while – and no worries, with a few pro tricks you can keep your blowout looking fresh for up to three days. To restyle your blowout in the morning, mist your hair with a light styling spray and touch up the hairline with a comb, fixing your part or smoothing down any flyaways as needed. Massaging a dusting of baby powder into your scalp soaks up oil at the roots and extends the life of your blowout.
