How to Extend a Blowout for Five Days

What’s your beauty superpower? Framing your eyes with pristine winged eyeliner in one flick? Painting dotted nail art like you’re Yayoi Kusama? Mine is no secret: I can make a blowout last… and last and last.

One masterful styling session at the salon (my favorites happen at The Second Floor Salon and Bumble and Bumble in New York City) can stay looking “fresh” for two or even three days on my thick hair, but it’s on days three, four, and five (sometimes up to 10 days, which is my record) where creativity really starts to count, and bows, braids, and buns come into play.

Candidly, because my hair is so thick, it absorbs excess oil for a few days—more so than ultra-fine hair would. But the tricks I’ve cultivated can help anyone extend a blowout. Switching things up, and most importantly, keeping my hair away from my face, has made for multiple great hair days in a row—with minimal effort.

Ahead, how one at-home blowout lasted five days, plus the products that powered me through.

The Prep

First and foremost, it’s imperative to start with a clean foundation and a healthy scalp. I begin my routine with a pre-wash (lately, it’s been Aavrani Hair and Scalp Recovery Pre-Wash Oil), massaging the oil into my scalp, focusing extra attention on the crown of my head and hairline before jumping into the shower. After that, I suds up with a clarifying shampoo to wash away any buildup, and then I round it all out with a rich conditioner. I let it sit on my strands for a good five to ten minutes to rehydrate my hair before rinsing out.

Day One

Since my blowout is fresh—and at its bounciest—I wear my hair down. That’s it. That’s the look during the day. But when it comes time to get ready for a night out or bed, I proceed with caution, making sure to avoid getting makeup or cleanser in my hair. Kitsch Creaseless Hair Clips are particularly useful while refreshing my makeup, and sometimes I wear a spa-like headband that loosely holds back my face-framing pieces without causing any creases while washing my face. I also keep Slip Slipsilk Skinny Scrunchies at the ready. Two loops of these hair ties will hold back my hair—and not leave behind a telltale bend.