Why Headphones Should Be Your New Stealth Hairstyling Tool

Ignoring the world has a secret beauty upside.

The amount of dry shampoo in one's hair is directly proportional to how close to the weekend it is. This is Beauty Law mostly because we've lived it, but also partly because we 'grammed it. See?

Unless you've got baby-fine strands or the energy to shampoo and condition more than twice a week (you the real MVP), you're probably an expert on the normal part, opposite part, no part, why is this mat hanging out on top of my head dance. But did you know your *headphones* can put off that "I've got zero plans tonight except to wash my hair like I'm living an '80s rom-com" feeling even longer?

First devised by yours truly to revive a deflated supermodel swoop, the Headphone Method (patent pending) relies on the same principles as the final steps of a proper blowout: Brush the front hair in the opposite direction you want it to lie, blast, flip back over, marvel at the movement you've achieved. But remove the heat, add Views or the back half of Dangerous Woman, and you get this anytime, anywhere trick for volumizing and redistributing oils—as you crank out reports at your desk, while you're jaywalking, whatever.

Here's how you do it.

1. Pick your soundtrack. Albums or Spotify-hopping will both do—you just want to stay interested long enough for the rest of the Headphone Method to work. I recommend Spector Moth Boys, but only if you want to feel young and hot and disaffected and sad.

2. Optional: Douse your foul roots (no offense, because, same) with dry shampoo. We've got a tutorial in GIFs if you need it, because haphazard spraying is no bueno.

3. Locate your part, and ask yourself the big questions. As in, "Do you want to keep this part? Do ya, punk? Or would you perhaps like to carve out a new one?" If you're sticking with the same, proceed to 4a. If new, go to 4b.

4. The actual doing of it. 4a.) Middle-parters, take a two-inch section from either side, and toss it over. Side-parters, move the hair from the heavier side up and over until it's basically lying on top of your head. 4b.) Use your fingers to comb the hair into a new part, duh.

5. Clamp on headphones. And wait. This is like "baking" your makeup but for hair. Plus it's kind of funny to have a pouf. 

6. Shake it out. When you're ready to bounce, remove headphones, blend and massage to integrate any remaining powder, then rearrange everything. And they said you couldn't get results without effort. 

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Chelsea Peng
Assistant Editor

Chelsea Peng is a writer and editor who was formerly the assistant editor at MarieClaire.com. She's also worked for The Strategist and Refinery29, and is a graduate of Northwestern University. On her tombstone, she would like a GIF of herself that's better than the one that already exists on the Internet and a free fro-yo machine. Besides frozen dairy products, she's into pirates, carbs, Balzac, and snacking so hard she has to go lie down.