How to achieve Victoria’s Secret curls with a blow-dryer

Voluminous barrel curls immediately invoke sexiness. We asked Mary Alamine, owner of Royals Hair in Sydney, to give us her tips on how to create big, barrel curls with just a blow-dryer. I was lucky enough to be invited to the O&M headquarters in Sydney where Mary created this look on me – and I can honestly say, she gave me the bounciest hair look I’ve ever had! I was so happy with the end result that I had to ask her how she achieved this look!

Prepping your hair

Prepping your hair for any kind of heat styling is key before the extreme heat of a blow-dryer blasts on to the roots of your hair. When I went into the O&M salon in Sydney and met with Mary, she first washed my hair with a detoxifying shampoo, which Mary says is like a facial for the scalp as it removes any environmental and product build-up and residue. She then followed up with the O&M Maintain the Mane shampoo (see our suggestions for other volumising shampoos below). After my hair was towel dried, she applied a nourishing mask for “added moisture and shine to help close the cuticle and seal all the ingredients into the hair.” And to create an extra barrier after mymask to ensure my hair was nourished and protected before using any hot tools,  Mary followed up with a detangling conditioner. She used O&M’s ‘Know Knott’ as it has an organic blend of heavier winter-friendly oils, like coconut and macadamia. To make sure there was as much oomph in my hair as possible, Mary then sectioned it and sprayed it with a thickening spritz, focussing on roots to “help thicken and add volume to the hair.”

Creating soft, barrel curls with a blow dryer

Ok, now it’s time to pay attention ladies, this is where the magic happens. Iasked Mary to share her exact technique for creating soft, barrel curls with just a blow-dryer.

“Section the hair horizontally [from ear to ear] at the back, working with one-inch sections at a time. Using a medium to large round brush, begin to blowdry the roots, before moving down to the mid-lengths and ends, twisting the brushing around as you move further down.” Note: when getting to the hair around your face, remember to blowdry your hair back, directing it away from your face to get that signature ‘Victoria’s Secret’ bounce. 

Set the curls

To set your new, big barrel curls in place, Mary recommends using certain products. “Once you have completed all the sections, lightly spray the O&M Frizzy Logic Finishing Shine Spray. This contains cold pressed organic Argan and macadamia oil. Once the hair has cooled down, brush it out to separate the curls. Finish by lightly spraying the hair using O&M Original Queenie and brush the hair for a flexible hold.”

bh also loves: SASHAPURE Perfectly Defining Curl Cream, Hask Curl Care Shampoo – Coconut Milk & Organic Honey, Affinage Professional AP Styling Contour Cream

Would you try this look at home? What’s your go-to hairstyle?