Which Blowout or Hairstyling Look Is Right for You?
- Sparkle Evans
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
Sleek, Soft, Bouncy or Hollywood Waves?
How to Ask for the Blowout You Actually Want
You sit down in the salon and say:
“I just want a blowout.”
Sounds simple, right?
Not exactly. 😂
A blowout can mean completely different things depending on how you want your hair to feel, move, and finish.
You may want glassy and sleek.
You may want soft movement.
You may want big, bouncy, round-brush volume.
Or maybe you want full-on Hollywood waves.
And even though these looks can start with the same haircut, the shampoo, styling products, brushes, heat tools, and technique may all be different.
So before your next appointment, ask yourself:
How do I want my hair to FEEL when I leave?
1. The Sleek Blowout
Smooth + Polished
This is the cleanest and sleekest of the four finishes.
The goal is smooth roots, controlled mids, polished ends, shine, and very little unwanted volume or frizz.
This isn't necessarily about making the hair completely flat. We can still leave movement — we're simply creating a more controlled silhouette.
Ask your stylist for:
“I want a sleek, smooth blowout with frizz control, polished ends, and lots of shine.”
If you don't want much volume, say that too.
Best shampoo + conditioner:
Look for formulas described as:
Smoothing
Hydrating
Anti-frizz
Moisture balancing
You want enough moisture to help control the hair without leaving it heavy or coated.
Styling products:
A simple combination might include:
Heat protectant
Lightweight smoothing cream
Anti-frizz serum
Very small amount of finishing oil or shine product
Tools:
Blow dryer with concentrator nozzle
Paddle brush or large round brush
Flat iron if additional polishing is needed
How to style it:
Direct the airflow down the hair shaft and keep good tension through each section.
Finish the ends smooth rather than curling them dramatically under or out.
Pro tip:
If you want the sleek look to last overnight, wrap the hair or use a silk/satin pillowcase to reduce friction.
Best for:
Someone who loves hair that feels:
Clean. Smooth. Expensive.
2. The Soft Blowout
Body + Movement
This is what I think of as the classic everyday salon blowout.
It's polished — but it doesn't look overly styled.
There's soft movement through the mids and ends, a little lift at the root, and enough bend to make the haircut come alive.
Ask your stylist for:
“I want a soft blowout with movement and natural body — not too straight and not too curly.”
That's much more helpful than simply saying “blow it out.”
Best shampoo + conditioner:
Look for:
Lightweight moisture
Balancing formulas
Lightweight strengthening formulas
Conditioner that gives slip without weighing the hair down
Styling products:
Try:
Heat protectant
Lightweight mousse
Blowout cream or styling lotion
Light finishing spray if needed
Tools:
Blow dryer
Medium round brush
Hot brush if appropriate for your hair
How to style it:
Use your round brush to create a gentle bend through the ends rather than a full curl.
Think movement — not ringlets.
Pro tip:
On day two, a quick pass with a round brush, hot brush, or large curling iron can bring the movement back without completely restyling the hair.
Best for:
Someone who wants:
Pretty everyday hair that still looks like hair.
3. The Bouncy Blowout
Lift + Volume
Now we're turning it up. 💁🏽♀️
This is for the client who wants:
Volume. Movement. Big hair.
A bouncy blowout focuses on root lift, fuller shape, and large flowing curves throughout the hair.
This is especially beautiful on layered cuts, butterfly cuts, ’90s layers, and hair with lots of face framing.
Ask your stylist for:
“I want a big bouncy blowout with lift at the roots, lots of round-brush volume, and movement through my layers.”
If there's a particular part you love — flipped ends, big face framing, extra crown volume — say it.
Best shampoo + conditioner:
Look for:
Volumizing shampoo
Lightweight conditioner
Body-building formulas
Products that won't weigh down the roots
If your hair is very dry, you can still use moisture — just concentrate heavier conditioner more through the mids and ends.
Styling products:
Try:
Heat protectant
Volumizing mousse
Root-lift spray
Lightweight styling foam
Light hairspray after styling
Tools:
Blow dryer
Large round brush
Velcro rollers or large rollers
Sectioning clips
How to style it:
Lift each section away from the scalp while drying.
Overdirect the hair where you want extra fullness.
For maximum bounce, set sections in rollers while they're still warm and let them cool completely before removing them.
Pro tip:
That cooling time matters.
Hair sets as it cools.
If you pull rollers out immediately because you're impatient…you just gave away half your volume. 😂
Best for:
Clients who love:
Big. Bouncy. Glamorous.
4. Hollywood Waves
Styled + Defined
Hollywood waves are different from a traditional blowout.
The blow-dry creates the foundation, but the final look is usually shaped further with a curling iron or another hot tool.
The signature is a smooth, polished wave pattern that flows together rather than a head full of separate curls.
Ask your stylist for:
“I want polished Hollywood waves — soft, defined waves that flow together with shine and lasting hold.”
If you have a preference, show us whether you like:
Larger loose waves
More sculpted vintage waves
Deep side part
Center part
More volume
Flatter, sleeker roots
Best shampoo + conditioner:
Look for:
Moisturizing formulas
Smoothing formulas
Shine-enhancing formulas
Enough conditioning to create polish without making the hair limp
Styling products:
Try:
Heat protectant
Lightweight setting spray
Styling foam or mousse
Light-hold hairspray
Shine serum or finishing product
Tools:
Blow dryer
Round brush
Curling iron
Sectioning clips
Finishing brush or wide-tooth comb
How to style it:
Curl sections in a consistent pattern.
Allow the curls to cool before brushing.
Then gently brush them together so the individual curls form that continuous, glamorous wave.
Pro tip:
Don't panic when the curls look too tight before brushing.
That's often exactly what we need.
Once they're cooled and brushed together, the shape softens into the wave.
Best for:
Special occasions
Weddings
Photos
Date night
Events
Anytime you just feel like being extra 😂
Same Haircut. Completely Different Finish.
This is one of the biggest things I want clients to understand.
You could have the exact same layered haircut and wear it:
Sleek + Polished
for a refined finish
Soft + Movable
for everyday hair
Big + Bouncy
for maximum volume
Hollywood Waves
for full glamour
Sometimes the inspiration picture you love isn't showing you a completely different haircut.
It may be showing you a different styling technique.
That's why bringing styling inspiration photos is just as useful as bringing haircut pictures.
Products Should Match the Finish
You don't need twelve styling products.
You need the right products for the result.
Sleek:
Think smooth + protect + polish
Soft:
Think lightweight + flexible + movable
Bouncy:
Think volume + lift + hold without heaviness
Hollywood:
Think heat protection + memory + hold + shine
Your hair texture, density, condition, and weather also change the product combination.
And Your Shampoo Matters Too
Great styling actually starts before the blow dryer turns on.
If you're trying to create huge volume but you've overloaded fine hair with a very heavy shampoo, conditioner, mask, oil, and cream…
we've already made the blowout harder.
Likewise, if very dry, coarse hair doesn't get enough moisture before a sleek blowout, you're going to spend the entire styling process fighting frizz.
Your wash routine should support your styling goal.
Bring the Picture
Just like with your haircut:
Bring inspiration.
And instead of simply saying:
“I want this.”
Tell me what you love about it.
Is it:
The root volume?
The smoothness?
The flipped ends?
The size of the waves?
The shine?
The side part?
The movement around the face?
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