As a longtime Hilary Duff fan, I'm living for the fact that she's back in the spotlight. I've been riding with Duff since her Lizzie McGuire days and couldn't wait to get my hands on her new album, Luck… or Something. (Spoiler alert: It's amazing.) But what I was most exited to do was cozy up and hit play on her recent Call Her Daddy interview with Alex Cooper because I knew it would be next-level good. What I didn't expect, though, was to discover a few new haircare favorites via Duff's hairstylist, Barb Thompson.
Thompson used a new-to-me brand called Surface Hair to create Duff's effortless waves for the interview, and boy, am I glad she spilled the tea on this. I received the full breakdown on Duff's look, which included the brand's All-In Leave In Conditioner ($36). I decided to give it a go because it didn't contain any no-no ingredients for my hair (i.e., silicones or coconut oil), and it didn't disappoint. It leaves my hair soft, hydrated, and tangle-free almost instantly. For all the deets on this miracle product along with a few others used to create Duff's cool-girl waves, keep scrolling.
To start off Duff's look, Thompson misted this leave-in all over her damp hair to really lay the foundation. "It's great for shine, heat protection, and detangling," she explains. "Once the hair was three-fourths [of the way] dry, I partnered that with the Surface Hair Blowout Primer, a lightweight pre-style spray designed to enhance bounce and lock in style memory. I followed with a 2.5-inch round brush to sculpt a smooth, airy base that still has movement. A blow-dry like this is also an important way to create the perfect canvas for curling iron work."
Honestly, I don't usually try products that seem to work well for straighter hair types because I have thick, low-porosity, 4a curls that are pretty particular. Shout-out to Surface, though, for not putting coconut oil in this—most brands always include this ingredients, and it can be extremely drying for low-porosity hair.
My routine was missing something light (yet hydrating) that helps detangle easily, but this leave-in really is that girl for all of the above. My hair gets so knotted, and it can be a task sitting there and untangling it when I get out of the shower. This makes it so easy. My hair is instantly smoother, more hydrated, and tangle-free without weighing it down or causing any buildup. My whole haircare routine is about striking a delicate balance. My curls needs a lot of hydration but not just any hydration. It has to be lightweight enough that I can use it every day without causing buildup. I struggled to find the right leave-in in the past. Many were super hydrating but caused a lot of excess buildup for me. This leave-in is the perfect middle ground and a great addition to my routine.
If you are looking to copy Duff's waves, this is another key tool you'll need to get the look. Thompson used this for a little extra heat protection and to add shine before going in with a duo of large-barreled irons. "First, I used a 1.25-inch curling iron through the back and worked up the head finishing with a 1.5-inch iron at the top sections," she says. "For the technique, I made sure to curl all pieces away from the face, never taking sections bigger than the iron I was using at the time. It is also important to let the section fully cool before disrupting it. This helps the look last longer!"
The goal here was to create that effortless model-off-duty vibe we all know and love. "I really wanted an effortless, cool-girl, relaxed wave with soft curves and a fluid, bouncy bend," says Thompson. "To finish, I had Hilary flip her hair over, and I used my fingers to run through the iron work so the end result was smooth yet airy. To pump up the volume and break up the loose waves even more, I misted the Surface Hair Blowout Texture Spray from the roots to mid-shafts, having her then flip back up. To help break up the ends, I used Surface Hair’s Blowout Dry Shampoo Foam to create effortless, chic texture. In addition to extending your style, a dry shampoo foam is also great for lightweight lift and body. Once we were happy with the whole look, I sealed it in with Surface Hair’s Awaken Finishing Spray to maintain the curvature of the waves and ensure a lasting hold, all while keeping the hair touchable."
I haven't gotten my hands on the brand's curl-specific line just yet, but it's definitely next on my list. This sulfate-free shampoo provides a low-key (but luxurious) lather that doesn't leave hair stripped or dry. It also contains super hydrators like cocoa butter and babassu seed oil to nourish drier textures like mine.
I'm super picky about my conditioners, but everything about this curl-friendly formula speaks to me. Alongside superstar hydrating ingredients like shea butter, cocoa seed butter, flax seed oil, and jojoba butter, this conditioner also features amaranth protein. This protein is rich in essential amino acids and prevents your hair from becoming dull and dry over time.
This creamy curl serum adds shine and moisture to curls after washing. While it does contain silicones, it's great to use as a finishing product to lock everything in if your hair can handle it. You can add it to wet or dry curls for extra definition too.
It's really tough to find a hair spray that works well for textured hair. A lot of them leave my curls dry, crunchy, and tangled, but this lightweight option is designed to work well with curly hair types. It also provides heat protection and creates humidity resistance.