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The week of Thanksgiving is one of the busiest in my chair every single year. Clients want to walk into family dinner, the Friendsgiving potluck and the first holiday party of the season with hair that looks polished, and they want it to still look good on Saturday. After more than twenty years behind the chair here in Houston, I can tell you that a long-lasting blowout isn't luck. It comes from how we prep, dry and set your hair in the salon, and from a few simple habits at home. Here's how to plan your Thanksgiving blowout and make it last through the whole holiday stretch.
A great blowout starts before the dryer ever turns on. In the salon we pick a shampoo and conditioner for your hair type, use the right amount of heat protection and styling product, and dry your hair in small, controlled sections with a round brush. Drying each section fully, from the roots to the ends, and letting it cool in shape is what locks in smoothness and volume. At home, most of us rush the roots, leave a little dampness behind or skip the cool-down, and that's when frizz and flatness show up the next morning.
Houston adds its own challenge. Even in November, we can swing from a crisp cold front to a muggy, rainy day in the same week. Humidity is the number one enemy of a smooth blowout, so the way your hair is prepped and finished matters even more here than in drier cities.
The Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving fill up fast, so I always tell clients to book early. A few timing tips:
You can see what's included in a salon blowout on our Houston blowout page and book online through our booking page.
Sleep on a silk or satin pillowcase, and loosely twist your hair into a high, soft bun on top of your head or wrap it before bed. Avoid tight elastics that leave dents. In the morning, let it down, shake it out at the roots, and you're ready.
Water and steam undo a blowout faster than anything. Wear a shower cap, skip long steamy showers if you can, and keep a compact umbrella in the car for Houston's surprise showers. If you're cooking a turkey with the oven door open or standing over boiling pots, a loose clip-up keeps steam off your hair.
The best time for dry shampoo is the night before the roots start to feel oily, not after. Spray it at the roots, let it sit, then massage and brush it through in the morning. It absorbs oil and gives you back a little lift.
On day two or three, use a large round brush and a blow dryer on low heat just at the front pieces and crown. A few minutes of touch-up gives you a fresh look without washing and starting over, and it's gentler on your hair.
Touching and twirling your hair all evening transfers oil and flattens volume. Pin it back during dinner prep and let it down when it's time for photos.
If your blowouts never seem to survive Houston weather, a smoothing treatment might be the right move before the holidays. Many of my curly and frizz-prone clients choose a Brazilian Blowout (starting at $381 and up) or a keratin treatment (starting at $310 and up). These treatments reduce frizz and make blow-drying faster and easier, so every blowout after them holds up better. Not sure which one fits your hair? Read our guide to Brazilian Blowout vs. keratin treatment, and book a consultation so we can look at your hair together.
A lot of my clients in their 40s, 50s and beyond tell me their hair simply doesn't behave the way it used to. Texture can change, hair can feel finer or drier, and a style that once lasted days might fall flat by lunchtime. That's part of why I wrote my book MENO POSSE. In the salon, we adjust for these changes with lighter volumizing products at the roots, more moisture on the ends and a lower heat setting, and sometimes a fresh cut that gives the blowout more shape. If you're noticing thinning, read Menopause Hair Thinning: What Changes and How Your Stylist Can Help.
This article is for general information and isn't medical advice. If you're experiencing sudden or unusual hair loss or scalp irritation, please see a doctor or dermatologist.
Pair your blowout with professional makeup for photos that look as good as you feel. Our makeup application starts at $103 and up, and you can find long-wear ideas in our post on holiday party hair and makeup. Want to recreate the look at home? Shop the line I designed at Janelle Alexis Cosmetics. And if your hair feels dry and staticky once the cold fronts hit, check out our winter hair care tips for Houston.
With good care, many clients get several days out of a salon blowout. How long yours lasts depends on your hair type, the weather, how you sleep on it and how much moisture it's exposed to.
Book the Tuesday or Wednesday before Thanksgiving, and book early because those days fill up quickly. We're open Tuesday through Saturday, 9am to 6pm, and closed Sunday and Monday.
Sweat at the roots will loosen the style. If you work out, pull your hair into a loose, high bun, use dry shampoo afterward and do a quick touch-up at the front with a round brush.
Humidity is tough on any blowout. Careful salon drying, a good finishing product and keeping your hair away from steam and rain help a lot. If frizz is a constant fight, ask about a Brazilian Blowout or keratin treatment.
We're at 5750 Woodway Drive, Suite 110, Houston, TX 77057, near the Galleria and Tanglewood. Learn more about our Galleria and Tanglewood salon.
Ready for holiday-ready hair? Book your blowout online, call 713-780-2412, or visit us at 5750 Woodway Drive, Suite 110, Houston, TX 77057. We're open Tuesday through Saturday, 9am to 6pm, and closed Sunday and Monday.
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