The Five-Day Blowout

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We all enjoy a freshly washed blowout, but who has time to style their hair from scratch every day? Even after you splurge on a visit to the salon, your tresses can become limp or frizzy by the next morning! Fortunately, extending the life of your sleek style is a cinch if you know a few professional tricks. So we chatted with three stylists (yes, three!) for the best tips on how to extend the life of your blowout. Here, James Williams of the Canale Salon in Beverly Hills, Paul Anthony of José Eber Salon in Beverly Hills, and Alterna stylist Davy Newkirk—he created Jessica Alba's Golden Globe waves!—reveal how simple tweaks to your hair routine can keep your mane beautiful for up to five days!

The Blowout

A long-lasting blowout starts with a good base. If you have fine locks, "prep damp hair with a root-boosting mousse," suggests Davy. Thick, coarse, and curly hair already has volume, so run a smoothing cream or balm from roots to ends to help relax strands. "Begin blow-drying the damp hair in two inch sections working from the nape up. Snag the hair deep into your brush bristles and aim the heat down to smooth the cuticle," says Davy.

Don't forget to set your mane with a blast of cool air. "It's like a Jello mold. If you let Jello cool before you unmold it, it holds its shape better," explains James. "Same goes for hair—if you want the volume in your blowout to last, finish by blowing cool air on the hair that's wrapped around your round brush. Otherwise the hair will fall flat as it cools naturally.” Mist tresses with a flexible finishing hairspray to set your style. The key to a sleek blowout is zapping any dampness."Make sure your hair is completely dry. If any bit of moisture is left in the shaft it will get frizzy or limp faster," warns Paul.

In The Night

While rinsing your face or applying night cream, make sure to pull back your hair to avoid frizzing along the hairline. Before you hit the hay, "use a scrunchie and make a really high ponytail or a loose ballerina bun on top of your head," suggests Paul. Scrunchies are ideal because they are soft and gentle so you won’t end up with odd dents or straggly ends! Davy also recommends pinning hair up before you hit the hay: "Divide hair into five large sections: one on each side, back, crown and top. Make a huge pin curl and secure with an extra large bobby pin." Curly hair has a great memory so make sure not to wrap too tight. If you are worried about sweat along the hairline, try donning a silk headband to gently smooth edges while you snooze.

The Morning After

It seems obvious, but always wear a thick shower cap when washing up. Opt for caps with a sturdy elastic rim, rather than cheap plastic ones which tend to move around on your head, leaving edges exposed to moisture. Perk up roots with a dry shampoo or body-boosting powder. Use your fingers to work the product into your scalp. "Then, simply fluff locks with fingers or a Mason Pearson brush," says Davy. This will refresh strands and soak up any oil that may have built up overnight.

Going The Distance

To avoid frying your hair—which rids your mane of movement and make ends look ragged—only tame flyaways with a flat iron as a last resort. The better option? Blast the front and top sections with a blow dryer, which will smooth strands without losing body. If you have bangs, use a round brush with your blow-dryer to re-straighten your fringe each morning. Around day five, add some large curls to the end of your strands. You’d be surprised how a small bump on the tips can instantly refresh your hairstyle!

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