Byrdie / Sabrina Carpenter’s Instagram
If there’s one thing Sabrina Carpenter is known for (besides her impossibly catchy catalog of pop hits), it’s her signature hairstyle. From her voluminous bangs to her bombshell curls, the “Espresso” singer’s instantly-recognizable hair has been the subject of headlines and TikTok videos since the beginning of her Short n’ Sweet tour. It’s Disney princess-meets-pin-up icon, and her long blonde strands perfectly complement her retro-inspired costumes and flirty on-stage persona.
To uncover the secrets behind Carpenter’s bouncy blowout, I tapped the mastermind himself—Carpenter’s hairstylist, Scott King. “Sabrina’s hair has become so iconic because it’s different from the undone beachy wave that was popular for so long,” King told Byrdie, adding that he draws inspiration from 1950s and 1960s starlets. “Her hair is bringing back old-Hollywood glamor with a modern twist.” King walked me through the process of creating the viral look, including the products he relies on.
Wavytalk Pro Fast Drying Hair Dryer and Diffuser
Amazon
$100 $72 at Amazon
To prevent heat damage and breakage, King first preps Carpenter’s hair with Redken’s Acidic Bonding Concentrate Treatment (Carpenter is a Redken ambassador). The salon-quality, strengthening treatment has more than 3000 five-star shopper ratings on Amazon.
After applying a volumizing mousse at her roots, King explained, “I blow dry with the Wavytalk Pro Fast Drying Hair Dryer, and I take one-inch sections using the 1” Iron Barrel Attachment of the Wavytalk 5-in-1 Curling Want Set, and set each curl for an hour or two.” Pro tip: If you act fast, you can snag the exact hair dryer he uses at a great price, as it’s currently on sale for less than $100. When Carpenter’s hair is done setting, King sprays a flexible-hold hair spray on a boar bristle brush and brushes through each of her curls to complete the soft, vintage look.
Wavytalk 5-in-1 Curling Wand Set
Amazon
$63 $42 at Amazon
King’s curling iron of choice is also on sale, and marked down to $42 with a coupon. Even better? This surprisingly budget-friendly product is actually five different styling tools in one. “I love the 5-in-1 Curling Wand Set because it has so many attachments that you can use to create many different looks,” said King. “It also heats up very quickly, which is great for touching up on tour.”
Redken Full Volume Mousse
Amazon
$14 at Amazon
To achieve Carpenter’s bombshell curls at home, King recommends prepping your hair with volumizing products before blow drying. Two of his go-tos are the Redken Full Volume Mousse and Redken Root Lifter Volumizing Spray.
Redken Root Lifter Volumizing Spray
Amazon
$27 at Amazon
Finally, there are steps you can take after curling your hair to ensure the volume lasts. “Hot rollers and setting your curls so they don’t fall flat is key to keeping a voluminous look,” King told Byrdie. “Dry texturizing spray and a flexible or stronger hold hair spray is also key.”
