The ultimate New Year’s Eve blowout: Styles for short and long hair
If there’s one night when you want your hair to look fabulous, it’s New Year’s Eve.
And when it comes to party-ready hair, nothing beats a blow-dry for creating a chic and sexy look to ring in 2025 in style.
“People love volume for New Year - it's something that never goes out of style,” says Lamia Diani, creative director at Paul Edmonds London.
“My clients love fresh, shiny hair, and we’re getting a lot of requests for beachy waves at the moment, but in a glamorous way.”
The brilliant thing about blowouts is that they can be tailored to your hair type and length.
“I always recommend waves for my clients who have fine hair because it gives them that feeling of having thicker, fuller hair,” says Lamia, who is an expert at creating voluminous blow-dry looks that last.
If you haven’t got time to get to the salon for a styling appointment before your big New Year’s Eve bash, we’re here to help, with step-by-step guides for DIY blow-dries.
Here, the team talk through how they do wavy and straight options for long and short hair, so you can create the ultimate glamorous blow-dry at home…
1. Glossy waves blowout for long hair
Beachy waves get a party-perfect boost with this voluminous blowout.
Lamia explains how to get the look:
- I recommend starting with our Collagen Infusion treatment in salon to give great shine and condition to the hair.
- Next, I brush the hair through and put some Shu Uemura Essence Absolute serum on the ends, that’s one of our hero products, and then I use Tsuki Shape for heat protection and Awa Volume mousse to add lift at the roots.
- To blow-dry waves I use a medium-sized round brush with a ceramic barrel. I always lift a lot at the roots, making sure the hair is really dry before I move onto the mid-lengths and ends. I make sure the flow of air is in the direction of the cuticle to smooth it, but I leave the ends quite soft and not poker straight because it looks more natural.
- While blow-drying I pin curl the hair because it creates natural-looking waves. You take the hair in sections, blow-dry the section then put the brush down, twist the hair around your fingers and clip the section away, starting at the top of the head and working down.
- When the whole head is finished and the hair has cooled I take the clips out and ask the client to tilt their head back and give the hair a gentle shake.
- I usually use a mix of hair two sprays at the end. I love the Oribe Impérmeable Anti-Humidity Spray followed by Davines This is an Invisible No Gas Spray, a medium hold spray that dissolves in the hair.
2. Sleek and straight blowout for long hair
Lamia talks through her foolproof method for creating super-smooth locks.
- I recommend starting with the SAM treatment in salon to add lots of shine and moisture to the hair.
- Next, I brush the hair through and apply put some Oribe Maximista Thickening Spray for volume and heat protection.
- To blow-dry straight, use a medium barrel brush, directing the air flow in the direction of the cuticle to ensure the hair dries thoroughly and closes the cuticle to get a shiny result that lasts. However, I never like to touch the hair dryer to the brush because I’m always very protective over the condition of the hair. It’s better to leave an inch between the nozzle and the brush. Where you start is also key. If the hair texture is prone to frizzing you want to start at the front of the hair so it’s easier to obtain smoothness without over-heating the hair.
- I very rarely use straighteners, but if the hair is super thick and dense it’s useful to run the hair through with them after the blow-dry. Be careful, though, because if you use them too soon you might lose the volume that you have meticulously put in with your blow-dry technique.
- Finish by misting Kérastase Styling Laque Couture Hairspray over the hair to keep it looking sleek all night.
3. Voluminous blowout for short hair
Use curlers to give you bob a full-bodied New Year makeover. Paul Edmonds explains how:
- Start with Davines Volume Boosting Mousse applied on wet hair into the roots, because you want to get the volume there, then smooth through the mid-lengths and ends.
- If you want a lot of volume then your best bet is to use large rollers. Taking small sections one at a time, blow dry each section with a round brush and then place a roller in that section, working from the front to the back, then do the same through the sides.
- Take the rollers out after leaving them to cool for about 10 minutes.
- Sprinkle a little Oway Volume & Texture Hair Puff at the roots then brush it through and run your fingers through the hair to create movement and separation. If you do that you shouldn’t need to back comb the hair or apply hairspray.
4. Undone waves for short hair
Textured waves are the coolest way to do party hair. Paul explains how to get the look:
- Apply Shu Uemura Netsu Design blow dry cream to provide heat protection and give the hair a bit of hold, then rough-dry your hair with a hair dryer.
- Taking vertical sections starting at the front, twist the hair away from the face around a medium barrel curling tong, stopping just before the end to create a modern undone wave. Repeat on the other side of the head, twisting the sections in the opposite direction.
- When you’ve finished the whole head, use a wide tooth comb or your fingers to lightly comb through the waves. Add a touch of Sam McKnight Cool Girl to finish.
Go out with a bang
A chic and trendy blowout is the ideal styling solution for the biggest bash of the year.
Follow our DIY guides to try your hand at a blow-dry at home, or head into the salon and our pros will create your perfect party look.
Heading out for a New Year knees-up? Book a blowout appointment at Paul Edmonds London.
FURTHER READING
FURTHER READING
Party season hair ideas to elevate your festive look
Winter ready hair: How to take care of your hair in the colder months