Celebrity hair stylist shares tips for busy mums

As a mum, you already have a lot on your plate, and finding the time to style your hair can be a struggle in the early morning rush. While a great hairstyle can be the cherry on top that makes you feel your best, for many of us, spending hours perfecting the ultimate blow-dry technique is rarely an option.

In April 2023, Dyson commissioned a research study into the hair care and styling routines of 1005 Aussie mums, finding that over 55% do not have the confidence to create their dream hairstyle at home, and another 40% saying that they simply just don’t have enough time.

Despite the time crunch, over 70% of surveyed mothers said that their primary reason for styling their hair is self-confidence.

In the quest of helping Aussie mums look and feel their best, Woman’s Day sat down with celebrity hairstylist and Global Dyson Styling Ambassador Peter Thomsen to answer your questions about all things hair and to get the inside scoop on how to create salon-quality style in a flash.

Global Dyson Styling Ambassador Peter Thomsen has all your hair questions answered!

(Image: The Journal)

HOW DO I KNOW WHAT STYLE IS RIGHT FOR ME?

When it comes to hair, there is no one size fits all approach. According to Peter, the most important thing to consider when choosing the right style and tool for you is to understand your hair condition and how the tool works.

“It’s about looking at the condition of the hair and what temperature you should go in at to get the best results,” Peter tells Woman’s Day.

For more curly hair, the Diffuser attachment on the Dyson Supersonic hair dryer is the way to go, utilising lower heat and slower airflow to gently dry and shape the hair.

“When hair has too much heat, that’s where you get that dryness and flyaways from. I think it’s really important that women are aware when styling what that temperature is.”

While diffusers can take that little bit extra time, Peter’s overall must-have for the quick and easy salon look for any hair type is the Dyson Airwrap multi-styler with the barrel attachments.

“I find the barrels are incredible for creating that really quick voluminous look that a lot of women are after today. I think the barrels are definitely the go-to – the reason being is it’s really user friendly so it’s easy to use, it’s easy to create that style you’re after, and it doesn’t take a lot of time.”

The Dyson Airwrap multi-styler has everything you need to create salon-quality style at home.

Attachments Top to Bottom: Long barrel, Coanda Smoothing Dryer and Flyaway, Soft Smoothing Brush, Firm Smoothing Brush, Round Volumising Brush

(Image: Dyson)

POST-PARTUM HAIR LOSS: HOW CAN I PROTECT MY HAIR?

With post-partum hair loss affecting up to 40% of new mothers, ensuring the hair is protected and healthy is a number one priority.

For both mums and bubs with sensitive scalps, Peter opts for the Dyson Supersonic hair dryer with the Gentle Air attachment.

“The Gentle air attachment diffuses the air rather than putting hot air all in one spot. It’s really great for children or if you’re drying the hair around the hairline where it’s a bit sensitive and you want to be more gentle with the hair.”

To help blend in new growth, Peter recommends utilising the Flyaway attachment on both the Airwrap and Supersonic to assist with blending in any breakage or new growth into the remainder of the hair to achieve the look of soft and full layers.

The Dyson Supersonic hair dryer comes with five attachments.

Attachment Top to Bottom: Flyaway, Styling Concentrator, Diffuser, Gentle Air, Wide-tooth Comb.

(Image: Dyson)

HOW DO I CREATE QUICK SALON-QUALITY HAIR?

For mums on the go, Peter recommends the Dyson Airwrap multi-styler as the perfect all-in-one tool to help you put together any look in under 15 minutes.

With two smoothing brushes, two curling barrels, a volumising brush, and a smoothing dryer attachment, the Airwrap has everything a busy mum could need to achieve everything from a sleek and smooth look to a bouncy 90s blowout.

Regardless of style, Peter’s top tip is to ensure you have a spray bottle of water handy.

Prep each style by lightly spritzing the hair with water to give the hair enough moisture to open up the hair cuticle and enhance shine.

“Water can do so much rather than using too much product. I think that’s where a lot of things do go wrong, so you want to keep the hair very fresh, very light, and then you let the tools work for you,” Peter told Woman’s Day.

For a classic beach wave, Peter recommends utilising the 30mm barrels for a tighter curl. To perfect the lived-in look, Peter’s top tip is to hold the Airwrap upside-down, with the top end of the barrel pointing towards the floor, and then wrap the hair around the barrel before turning on the airflow.

WATCH: Dyson Airwrap Mermaid Waves Tutorial. Article continues after video.

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Peter’s time-saving tips for creating a classic Cindy Crawford style blowout is to start with freshly washed hair and a dab of your favourite styling mousse.

Before going in with the barrels, Peter recommends using the Airwrap multi-styler’s Coanda smoothing dryer attachment in drying mode, choosing high speed and heat to pre-dry your hair to about 80% dry, or use the cold setting.

Next, divide your hair into sections and use the 40mm barrel on each section, holding the tool horizontally for maximum root lift that will make even your hair stylist jealous!

From there, wrap a small piece of hair around the barrel, using high heat and airflow, and set the style with the cold shot button. Hold the button down for 5-10 seconds, or until the hair is completely dry, then slowly release the curl and use hair pins or rollers to hold each curled section in place while you continue with the rest of your hair.

To add that finishing Farrah Fawcett touch, attach the round volumizing brush and turn under the front sections of hair, sweeping hair out and away from the face.

Finally, when the hair is cooled, lightly brush through the remaining curls for a perfect bounce and shine.

Create Peter’s signature bombshell blowout at home.

(Image: Instagram)

To celebrate Mother’s Day, Dyson has released a gorgeous new colourway into their styling range, with the brand-new Vinca Blue and Rosé combo available on the Dyson Airwrap multi-styler, Supersonic hair dryer, and Corrale straightener.

Looking for the perfect last minute gift? You’re in luck! Dyson is offering free express shipping and a bonus free styling set to help you treat mum to the gift of gorgeous hair this Mother’s Day.

For more information on the Dyson hair care range, visit dyson.com.au

Profile Gracie Boyle