How to Get the Perfect DIY Blowout Every Time: Hollywood Hairstylist Lauren Kaye Cohen Spills Her Secrets

Your favorite salon may still be shut down or limited due to COVID-19, but that doesn’t mean you’re destined to have bad hair days until after the pandemic passes. In fact, now may actually be the perfect time to master those hairstyling skills you’ve always coveted but were too busy to learn–like getting the perfect blowout at home!

“We still want to feel good about ourselves even staying safe at home,” says Hollywood makeup artist, hairstylist, and groomer, Lauren Kaye Cohen. “We might not wear much or any makeup, or even change out of our sweatpants, but sometimes all you need is good hair to feel pretty!”

We recently asked Cohen, who has worked with A-listers including Kirsten Dunst, Shania Twain, and Elisabeth Moss, to share her favorite tips and tricks for scoring the perfect DYI blowout at home–i.e., in the privacy of your own bathroom. Here’s what she had to say:

1. Stock Up On Styling Tools

If you’ve already tried and repeatedly failed to do a perfect DYI blowout at home, Cohen says you could simply be using the wrong styling tools. “Invest in a great hairdryer and flat iron,” she says. Her favorites are the Dyson SuperSonic hairdryer and T3 Lucea flat iron. “They will serve you well,” says Cohen. “You’ll also need a medium-sized round brush for the bulk of the hair and a smaller one, too, for around the hairline.  Make sure you have hair clips for sectioning. I really like Sally’s metal Duckbill clips. Also, you’ll want the right styling products for your hair type. Those are essential for prepping your blowout.”

2. Get Back to Basics

Before you even plug in your hairdryer, Cohen suggests jumping in the shower so you can literally start with a clean slate. “Use a soft, absorbent towel like Aquis to gently squeeze as much excess water from the hair as you can,” she says. “This will cut down on frizz and drying time.” Once your hair is damp, you can start organizing and using your arsenal of styling tools and products.

First, use the dryer without a nozzle attachment,” says Cohen. “Use your hands to do a rough dry by flipping your head over and finger combing throughout the hair, while moving the dryer back and forth. Do not completely dry this way! Just do it until your hair is 85 percent dry. This keeps you from continuously pulling on your hair with strong heat.”

Then start adding your styling products. “For all hair types, I always start with Mistress by IGK,” says Cohen. “It’s my favorite anti-frizz, leave-in conditioner. For finer hair that needs help with volume, I like Perfect Volume Blowout Jelly by Nature Lab. For medium, textured hair, my go-to is High Dive from R+Co. I use this for my own hair every day even in between blowouts! For coarser hair, I love Leonor Greyl Eclat Naturel.”

Image via @queencitytrends

3. Polish Your Look

Before calling it quits, make sure your hair is completely dry. “If there is water remaining, your blowout probably won’t last as long and may quickly become frizzy,” says Cohen. “And don’t skip the cooldown. If you run your hands through your hair or tie it back in a ponytail before it has cooled off, you will likely put dents in your hair and change the shape you worked to create.”

Last, but not least, don’t forget to polish your look by running a hot flat iron through your hair. “The flat iron will lock in moisture and hold the style,” says Cohen. “This really is everything for the finishing touch.”

Voila! Perfectly shiny, smooth hair every time.

Did these tips help you get the perfect blowout at home? Show us your strands on Instagram at Lulus #lovelulus–and shop our hair accessories selection to add a little something extra!