Summer may just be starting, but we’re deep into Cowboy Carter season. With each new location on the tour, Beyoncé’s looks are evolving and upping the ante from the previous city. Coincidentally, fans are doing the same. The sea of cowboy hats is a given at each stop, but if you really want to nail the look, you should lean into a Beyoncé-esque blowout. Big, bouncy and full of life, this blowout is all about amplifying the classic style and giving it a Houston feel. Ahead, we chatted with three hairstylists to get their tips on creating a Cowboy Carter-worthy blowout at home.
Featured experts
- David von Cannon is a celebrity hairstylist
- Andrew Fitzsimons is a celebrity hairstylist
- Cheyenne DeLaCruz is a California-based hairstylist and colorist
How to create a bouncy blowout
The technique
According to celebrity hairstylist Andrew Fitzsimons, long hair and layers are essential for nailing a blowout that’s bouncy and lively. “Layers help you to achieve the lift and movement necessary for this signature look,” he says. But the haircut is just the foundation. Unlike a straight hairstyle, creating the perfect Cowboy Carter-esque blowout takes some serious work. “Start by applying a volumizing product to damp hair and rough-drying the roots to create lift,” says celebrity hairstylist David von Cannon.
The goal is to achieve a style that looks airy and light but has lots of movement even when you’re standing still. The best way to accomplish this is to begin with hair that is almost completely dry from water before styling. After washing, lightly towel dry your hair and add the products (more on this in a minute), then flip your head upside down and rough dry until your hair is 70 to 90 percent dry. According to the experts, this little trick helps prolong volume and enhance the style’s curls.
When you’re ready to blow-dry, Cannon suggests working in sections with a round brush, using tension and over-direction to shape each section. During this step, it’s best to work quickly, creating volume and shaping the hair while it’s warm. “Once a section is dry and still hot, wrap it into a loose Velcro roller or clip curl to set the shape as it cools. That cooling phase is what locks in the lift and movement,” says Cannon. Hairstylist and colorist Cheyenne DeLaCruz adds that rollers provide extra lift and give a standard blowout a bigger and bouncier look.
The products and tools to get the look
Lightweight products are common for blowouts of any sort, but are especially crucial for this look. “Anything too heavy can weigh the style down before you even start, so you want to work with lighter high-performance formulas,” says Cannon. That ethos holds true to your wash routine. “Starting with a volumizing shampoo can be beneficial to help make your blowout last longer, but it should be a lighter formula that won’t weigh your hair down,” says DeLaCruz. Once your hair is cleansed, conditioned and detangled with a leave-in product, the pros recommend prepping your hair with volume sprays or mousse and a good heat protectant.
As for tools, your brush and blow dryer are going to be doing most of the work, so it’s important to make sure you’re using the right types. “A blow-dryer with a concentrator nozzle really helps with control when working with a round brush,” says Cannon. Still, it’s not the only tool that can deliver. Thermal brushes take the guesswork out of the process and can save you time. “These are ideal for a quick blowout and can achieve the same amount of lift and soft movement as you would with a hairdryer and brush,” adds Fitzsimons.
