I've Tried Practically Every Tool and Product for *Perfect* Curls—These Ones Deliver

There are very few things on the planet that can boost my confidence like a fresh blowout. Besides, who doesn't love the feeling of walking out of the salon with squeaky-clean, shiny hair? I wish I could bottle it. I’m particular when it comes to my blowouts. When greeted at the salon with the inevitable “What are we going for today?” I usually respond with “Victoria’s Secret Angel hair” or “’90s supermodel curls,” which are two classic blowout references that never steer me wrong. While I am loyal to my Brooklyn-based hairstylist, Bri, she was out of town, and I had a trip to Miami coming up, so I desperately needed a blowout.

Luckily for me, one of my favorite skincare brands Augustinus Bader had just expanded into haircare and offered to let me test-drive its new products with a fresh blowout. It’s like the hair gods heard my prayers. While I was a little apprehensive since I rarely let anyone besides Bri touch my hair (she’s that good), I knew was in good hands with the hairstylist Augustinus Bader had set me up with. You can see the results below.

Now, let’s be real: More often than not, we can’t run to an Augustinus Bader salon every time we need a hair refresh. (Although how awesome would that be?) Sometimes we have to take our blowouts into our own hands. I’m no stranger to the at-home hairstyle game, and I have to say that after years of trial and error, trying to get the perfect bouncy blowout out of the salon can be tough. But after playing with so many products throughout the years, I’ve kind of got it down. Instead of sitting on all of this hair knowledge, I thought I’d share it with you, dear readers.

Keep scrolling to see the hair products that make getting the perfect curled-hair look that much easier.

Before Curling the Hair

Every big curl–loving person knows that when going for a Victoria’s Secret Angel–level look at home, it’s all about the prep. You’ve got to start with the right conditioner and shampoo to clean and strengthen your hair before you get in there with your tools and start working your magic. While a good shampoo-and-conditioner combo is the first step in prepping your hair, there are so many masks, heat protectants, and treatments you can do that can make the difference between voluminous and flat strands.

If you’re determined to blow out your hair but don’t have time for the whole song and dance of starting from scratch (or, in this case, starting from wet hair), I put in plenty of dry shampoo options in case you want to skip washing. My hair-prep favorites? I'm obsessing over the new conditioner and shampoo from Augustinus Bader, as using them feels like a luxury experience in your shower. Regarding masks, I’m a huge fan of Olaplex’s No. 3 Hair Repair Perfector Mask and K18’s Molecular Repair Hair Mask. For dry shampoo, I’m reaching for Dae’s Fairy Duster dry shampoo more than usual lately, and Olaplex’s No.4d Clean Volume Detox Dry Shampoo. Don’t worry—they’re all linked below.

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Tools

When it comes to at-home blowout tools, it takes a village—starting with a great wand, iron, or curler. A good curling tool is the difference between ’90s supermodel–level curls and not-so-fabulous ones. There’s the universally loved Dyson Airwrap, which does work wonders but is also on the pricier side. I’ve listed some affordable options as well, like tools from Mane, which I own in my collection and happen to be a huge fan of. But not all curls are made with curlers and wands, and it takes more than just a good hot tool to get the job done. I also listed out my favorite hairbrush from French brand La Bonne Brosse and hair clips from Mane perfect for sectioning off your hair as you curl or blow-dry it.

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After Curling the Hair

Now it’s time for the cherry on top. The final step of polishing off your freshly blown and curled hair is with the right hair oils, hair sprays, volumizing sprays, texturizing sprays, and more. I love it when my blowout has a healthy shine to it, and I have tried almost every hair oil out there for the perfect shiny—but not greasy—lightweight option (several of which are listed below). After using my curling wand and shaking the curls loose with a wide-tooth comb, I place a quarter size of hair oil in my palms, rub my hands together, and work it through the hair evenly.

Next comes a volumizing or texturizing spray to make the blowout extra bouncy. To lock it all in, finish off with a good hair spray. As someone who lives in a city with unpredictable weather, I need one that can both protect my hair from humidity and lock in my look for a few extra days.

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