Everything I Used For My Fashion Week Hair Transformation

It’s officially the second week of September, which means that people from across the globe are flocking to New York City for nine days of runway shows, cocktail parties, celeb sightings, and nonstop taxi rides, all in the name of fashion. No matter how many outfits you plan or beauty appointments you book, nothing can truly prepare you for the chaotic good that is fashion week. Rest assured, us fashion editors will die trying. This year, I’m determined to have hair that looks just as good as (if not better than) my outfits. Nine times out of ten, my hair is pulled into a slick-back style with a bun at the nape of my neck. But if there’s one event that calls for a hair change, it’s this one.

For the past decade, Sally Beauty has been my one-stop shop for affordable haircare, so a trip to the store was necessary. I’d been eyeing the Ion Luxe Turbosonic Hair Dryer since it won Marie Claire’s Hair Awards this year, so naturally, it made its way into my cart. I can confirm that it’s a certified winner in the styling tool department—and did I mention that it’s under $100? I know, I couldn’t believe it either. If you want to see how my hair stole the show at fashion week this year, just keep scrolling.

Before I dive right into my hair transformation, I need to give you a little bit of context. I went natural back in 2020 after years of using chemical relaxers to straighten my hair. Four years in, I’ve learned that I have low-porosity 4A/4B coils that require copious amounts of attention. Everything you see on the internet about wash day is absolutely true—yes, my hair requires hours of detangling, but the luscious curls (and amazing arm workout) I get make it all worth it.