How To Get Victoria’s Secret Hair

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?

24 Member Comments

ThisIsMe 22 Jul 2019 3:16 PM

I can only do it with a straightener I could not do curls or waves with a blow dryer

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S-P 10 Jul 2019 12:55 PM

Thank you for this article. I can't wait to practice on my daughter's hair.

Seashells 9 Jul 2019 5:32 PM

My hair doesn't hold a curl well let alone a wave, and that's regardless of whether a pro does it or I attempt it (which has usually ended in a fail, me cursing the hair gods & telling myself that I'll never do this again). It ends up being so much effort for a result that doesn't last long at all, especially when professionals decide to brush the curls out.

Shop A Everyday 6 Jul 2019 7:24 PM

I saw the sunshine, decided to go for a walk, oh you guessed it, a huge rain shower, my hair looks terrible lol

Miss Cazichi 5 Jul 2019 10:48 PM

I would love beautiful curls, but I can't even curl with a GHD so probably don't think I can master it with a blowdryer. I also am not good at curling with a curling wand...just seems my curls are uneven or turn out frizzy making me look like a witch...and if I get 1 or 2 good curls, they don't hold properly after 10 minutes and make the rest of my hair uneven. Lucky those girls have hairdressers that can actually make their style work!

onlyoni 5 Jul 2019 2:44 AM

Curls aren't something I'm looking for no matter how pretty they look.

IndieAna 4 Jul 2019 5:04 PM

I'm too lazy to try and recreate the styles, but they sure look amazing. Besides, is anyone really looking at their curls??????? Lol

Shop A Everyday 3 Jul 2019 1:36 PM

lovely and loose flowing curls

sootyblack_14 3 Jul 2019 9:29 AM

Great LOOK!!! So pretty!!!

Susmat 3 Jul 2019 9:17 AM

Not so easy with short hair

Angage 3 Jul 2019 8:07 AM

Nice to have a video on it how they are doing.

RalucaP 2 Jul 2019 10:32 PM

Not exactly curly , but they all have beautiful hair .

dani_rahmi 2 Jul 2019 8:54 PM

I was a excited to read this article but feel I need a video... I mean who doesn’t aspire to a VS bouncy ‘wave’ every now and then.....But what does “twisting the brushing mean”?

Lucy16 2 Jul 2019 7:40 PM

Whaaa? These aren’t curls!!! Beautifully styled hair maybe but definitely not curls!!!

Sally10 2 Jul 2019 5:38 PM

That's not really curly hair though, is it? Very loose waves instead.

Karenelle 2 Jul 2019 5:04 PM

I see you're using the term 'curl' loosely! lol Not one curl among them!!! This is a wave at best. ;)

Miss19 2 Jul 2019 4:41 PM

It's actually quite easy to create those soft curls. I do it all the time with my straightener

clearcrystalwater 2 Jul 2019 4:05 PM

I think I would have an epic fail if I tried that at home! Not to mention that my hair is the most stubbornly straight hair in the world.

LadyLola 2 Jul 2019 3:56 PM

I use my VS Sassoon Smooth & Wave tool, it gives the perfect curl every time. The best thing is it was a fabulous BH prize and I honestly don't know how I managed without it Xx

Lucy16 2 Jul 2019 7:41 PM

I received mine as a bh prize as well but it’s not the best tool for the job.

It’s not bad by any means but then again, I have curly hair already...

Yohanna 2 Jul 2019 3:17 PM

My go to is stuff hair in a braid or tight bun after washing when just tiny bit dampness left. Sleep. Wake up with fab bouncy wavy hair =D Oh and using some hair leave in stuff or in shower treatment that help to keep the 'bounce' and hair look healthy

Trish_D 2 Jul 2019 2:56 PM

I'm sorry, Sadaf but I'm laughing almost hysterically at the idea of me doing something like this!!!!!! I can just imagine the result and it wouldn't be attractive! I manage my hair with a good result but this is way out of that area. I'll leave this to the gorgeous younger beauties!