Heat styling is where a lot of healthy hair quietly gets lost — and where a little technique makes the biggest difference. So here's exactly what I reach for behind the chair: the protectant I never skip, my blow dryer, both flat irons (and the honest tradeoff between them), my curling iron, and the trick to curls that actually hold.
A quick note: several of the product links below are affiliate links, so I may earn a small commission if you shop through them — at no extra cost to you. I only point you to the tools and products I actually use behind the chair.
First rule: never skip heat protectant (I use two)
If you take one thing from this whole article, it's this — heat protectant goes on every single time you use heat. It's the easiest way to stop breakage and keep color from going dry and brassy. On freshly washed, damp hair, before I blow-dry or style, I actually layer two sprays. They each do a slightly different job, and together they're better than either alone — a few sprays of each, mid-lengths to ends.
This one's my shine-and-protection layer. It shields the hair from heat and leaves it looking glossy rather than dry. I spray it on damp before anything hot touches the hair.
Shop it on my Amazon →My detangle-and-smooth layer — it melts knots, tames frizz, and (I won't lie) smells incredible. I use it alongside the Redken on damp hair before blow-drying. Keep it off the roots so it stays weightless.
Shop it on my Amazon →Refreshing day-two hair
The two above are my wash-day, on-damp-hair sprays. But what about day two, when you're not rewashing and just want to revive or re-curl? That's a different product. On dry hair, before I touch it up with a hot tool, I use a lightweight, invisible heat protectant that also fights humidity and frizz — so your refreshed curls actually survive the day.
Lightweight, invisible heat protection with UV filters and anti-frizz — made for dry hair. This is my between-wash refresh spray, not a wash-day step. A light mist before re-curling and you're protected without weighing the hair down.
Shop it on my Amazon →My blow dryer
A good dryer does more than save time — drying gently and evenly is part of keeping hair healthy. This is the one I rely on all day.
Fast, powerful, and even — it cuts down drying time, which means less heat exposure overall. A workhorse that's earned its spot in my kit.
Shop it on my Amazon →Flat irons: what I use, and the honest tradeoff
I get asked for "the best flat iron" constantly, and the honest answer is — it depends on your budget and how hard you'll use it. I genuinely use and recommend two, and they sit at different price points for a reason.
The budget-friendly pick, and it gives beautiful results — smooth, shiny, great for everyday styling. Full honesty: I've replaced mine a couple of times. But here's the important caveat — I'm running my tools all day, every day in the salon, which is far harder use than at home. For someone styling a few times a week, the L'ange may last you years.
Shop it on my Amazon →The investment pick. It costs more, but it's held up noticeably longer for me under that heavy daily salon use. If you style often or just want one that goes the distance, this is the one I'd point you to.
Shop it on my Amazon →My curling iron (and the waves it gives)
This is the iron behind the soft, lived-in waves I post most often. A 1¼" barrel is my sweet spot — big enough for a relaxed, undone curl that drops into a gorgeous wave, not a tight ringlet. (Hot Tools actually reshared one of my tutorials with this one, which was a fun moment.)
My go-to for beachy, lived-in waves. The 1¼" barrel gives that soft, modern bend that grows out into a natural-looking wave through the day.
Shop it on my Amazon →Why your curls fall flat
If your curls look great for an hour and then drop, it's almost never the curling iron — it's the prep. Three things make curls actually hold: start with clean, fully dry hair (excess oil and dampness kill a curl), don't overload product before curling, and — this is the big one — let each curl cool completely before you touch or brush it. The cooling is what sets the shape.
The other secret is giving the hair a little grip. Smooth, freshly washed hair is slippery and won't hold; a light texture or volume spray gives curls something to grab onto so they last all day.
My finishing trick for curls that stay put. A light mist adds the grip and lived-in texture that keeps waves from sliding out — without the crunch of hairspray.
Shop it on my Amazon →My full at-home routine, in one guide
The exact products I use and recommend, how often to use each one, and my simple wash-day routine — plus an interactive Wash Day Routine card for your phone.
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