Party Season Prep

Prep, Style and Set Your Hair for Party Season

Good party hair rarely comes down to the night itself. It starts a few days earlier with some prep, then a blow-dry that gives your style something to hold onto.

This edit covers everything from the first spray of heat protection to the last mist of hairspray, with brands including ghd and KEVIN.MURPHY. You'll also find clutch-sized minis for touch-ups once you're out.

10% off when you purchase one product, 15% when you purchase two and 20% when you purchase 3 or more. No minimum spend.

Filter 250 products
Moroccanoil Perfect DefenseMoroccanoil Perfect Defense Hair Spray 225ml
Moroccanoil Perfect Defense Hair Spray 225ml

£26.84
Color Wow Insta-WOW Advanced Dry Shampoo 200mlColor Wow Insta-WOW Advanced Dry Shampoo 200ml
Color Wow Insta-WOW Advanced Dry Shampoo 200ml

£26.50
Innersense I Create VolumeInnersense I Create Volume Lotion
Innersense I Create Volume Lotion

£26.00
Color Wow Extra Shine Mistical Spray 162ml
Color Wow Extra Shine Mistical Spray 162ml

£26.00
KMS Hair Play styling gel tube on a white backgroundKMS HairPlay Styling Gel 200ml
KMS HairPlay Styling Gel 200ml

£21.60
Innersense I Create Curl Memory 295ml bottleInnersense I Create Curl Memory
Innersense I Create Curl Memory

From £10.00
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K18 Molecular Repair Hair Oil 30mlK18 Molecular Repair Hair Oil 30ml
K18 Molecular Repair Hair Oil 30ml

£65.00
Moroccanoil Curl Control MousseMoroccanoil Curl Control Mousse
Moroccanoil Curl Control Mousse

£15.84
Nine Yards Easy Side - Salt Water SprayNine Yards Easy Side - Salt Water Spray
Nine Yards Easy Side - Salt Water Spray

This Salt Water spray creates a natural beachy wave for hair full of textured volume.

£20.95
Nine Yards On the go - Dry ShampooNine Yards On the go - Dry Shampoo
Nine Yards On the go - Dry Shampoo

This dry shampoo, ideal for finer hair types, is designed to clean and add texture to your locks.

£20.95
Maria Nila Invisidry Dry Shampoo 100ml
Maria Nila Invisidry Dry Shampoo 100ml

£13.50
Maria Nila Style & Finish Finishing Spray 100ml
Maria Nila Style & Finish Finishing Spray 100ml

£13.50
Moroccanoil Smoothing LotionMoroccanoil Smoothing Lotion
Moroccanoil Smoothing Lotion

£29.94
Amika Frizz-Me-Not Hydrating Anti Frizz TreatmentAmika Frizz-Me-Not Hydrating Anti Frizz Treatment 200ml
Amika Frizz-Me-Not Hydrating Anti Frizz Treatment 200ml

£28.00
Amika Superfruit Star Lightweight Hair Styling Oil​ 50mlAmika Superfruit Star Lightweight Hair Styling Oil 50ml
Amika Superfruit Star Lightweight Hair Styling Oil 50ml

£29.60
Kerasilk Taming Balm 75ml
Kerasilk Taming Balm 75ml

£27.00
Moroccanoil Curl Define CreamMoroccanoil Curl Define Cream 250ml
Moroccanoil Curl Define Cream 250ml

£26.84
R+Co Turn Table Curl Defining CreamR+Co Turn Table Curl Defining Cream
R+Co Turn Table Curl Defining Cream

Nourish and shape your curls without weighing them down with R+Co Turn Table Curl Defining Cream, rich in Rice Protein and Flax Seed Extract, this curl creame nourishes and shapes without weighing the hair down...

£26.50
Innersense Quiet Calm Curl ControlInnersense Quiet Calm Curl Control Styling Cream
Innersense Quiet Calm Curl Control Styling Cream

£26.00
Nine Yards Never Dull - Repair TreatmentNine Yards Never Dull - Repair Treatment
Nine Yards Never Dull - Repair Treatment

This intensive treatment is designed to provide a renconstructing and strengthening effect for damaged hair and is ideal for dry, damaged or chemically treated locks.

£24.50
GHD ghd Bodyguard Heat Protect Spray 120ml For Coloured Hair ghd Bodyguard Heat Protect Spray 120ml For Coloured Hair
ghd Bodyguard Heat Protect Spray 120ml For Coloured Hair

£25.00
Milk_Shake Lifestyling Eco Strong Hairspray 250ml
Milk_Shake Lifestyling Eco Strong Hairspray 250ml

£24.95
Milk_Shake Natural Care Active Yogurt Mask 250ml
Milk_Shake Natural Care Active Yogurt Mask 250ml

£24.95
Color Wow Speed Dry Blow Dry Spray 150ml
Color Wow Speed Dry Blow Dry Spray 150ml

£21.50
Amika Fluxus Touchable Hairspray 236ml
Amika Fluxus Touchable Hairspray 270ml

£24.00
Amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo 189ml Amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo 189ml
Amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo 189ml

£25.00
NAK Hair Signature Fixation Finishing Spray 400gNAK Hair Signature Fixation Finishing Spray 400g
NAK Hair Signature Fixation Finishing Spray 400g

£23.00
Kerasilk hair product bottle on a white backgroundKerasilk Multi-Benefit Hair Oil 50ml
Kerasilk Multi-Benefit Hair Oil 50ml

£27.00
Amika Top Gloss Shine Spray 150mlAmika Top Gloss Shine Spray 200ml
Amika Top Gloss Shine Spray 200ml

£26.00
Nine Yards Easy Life Heat Protection Spray
Nine Yards Easy Life Heat Protection Spray

£20.95
Nine Yards Peace Out Spray Balm
Nine Yards Peace Out Spray Balm

£20.95
Innersense I Create ShineInnersense I Create Shine Hair Serum
Innersense I Create Shine Hair Serum

£40.00
Moroccanoil Volumising MousseMoroccanoil Volumising Mousse
Moroccanoil Volumising Mousse

£19.94
Moroccanoil Intense Smoothing SerumMoroccanoil Intense Smoothing Serum
Moroccanoil Intense Smoothing Serum

£18.45
Moroccanoil Treatment Light bottleMoroccanoil Treatment Light Hair Oil 100ml
Moroccanoil Treatment Light Hair Oil 100ml

£34.85
GHD ghd The Comb Out Detangling Comb ghd The Comb Out Detangling Comb
ghd The Comb Out Detangling Comb

£11.50
GHD ghd Curve Creative Curl Wand Gift Set

About Party Season Prep

How to Choose Your Party Hair Products

Start with whatever lets your hair down by the end of the night. If it drops flat by nine o'clock, it needs help at the root. If it frizzes the second you step outside, smooth it before you style rather than trying to fix it afterwards. Most people only need a couple of well chosen products, not a whole new routine.

If you're styling with heat more than usual, add a heat protector. A hairdryer and round brush still put a lot of heat through your hair, so it's worth protecting even when the straighteners stay in the drawer. Use the filters above the products to narrow things down by brand, product type or price.

Prepping in the Week Before

The night goes more smoothly when your hair has had a head start. A repair treatment does its best work with a few days to settle in, so use one about a week ahead. A gloss mask adds shine a few days out, but leave a gap before you style, because hair that's just been masked can be too slippery to hold a shape. If you need a trim, book it a week or two beforehand so the ends have time to settle.

Whether to wash on the day depends on the style. Clean hair suits a sleek blow-dry. For an up-do, day-old hair is easier, because pins grip it better.

Personalised Advice From Our Team

Not sure where to start? Our team knows these brands well and can point you towards what suits your hair. You can contact us for tailored recommendations, or read our Haircare Journal for more party hair guides.

Expert Tip for Party Season Hair

"Most party hair problems start long before the night itself. Get your trim booked a week or two ahead, so the ends have settled by the time you're styling. If you're wearing it up, work with day-old hair, because freshly washed hair is often too slippery for pins to grip. And heat protect every time, even for a quick touch-up with the straighteners."

- Kimberley, Clinic and Customer Experience Manager.

Your Party Hair Routine, Decoded

The days before matter more than the hour before. A repair treatment early in the week and a gloss mask closer to the night give your blow-dry a smoother base to work from. Your last spray then decides how your hair looks at midnight, so match the hold to the style.

Your 7-Day Party Hair Plan

Leave everything to the night and you're relying on luck. Spread it across the week and the night itself gets a lot easier.

7 days to go: Start with a repair treatment. It does its best work with a few days' head start. K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask 15ml.

3 days to go: Add a gloss mask for shine, early enough that your hair isn't too slippery to style on the night. Moroccanoil High Shine Gloss Mask 200ml.

The day before: Wash, smooth and blow-dry. Day-old hair often holds a style better than freshly washed. Color Wow Extra Strength Dream Coat Anti Frizz Treatment 200ml.

On the day: Heat protect, style, and let it cool and set fully before the hairspray goes on. ghd Bodyguard Heat Protect Spray 120ml, KEVIN.MURPHY SESSION.SPRAY 400ml.

On the night: A flyaway wand and a mini dry shampoo in your bag. That's your touch-up kit sorted. Kerasilk Flyaway Wand, Davines More Inside This Is An Invisible Dry Shampoo 100ml.

The Secret to a Salon-Worthy Blow-Dry

A good blow-dry is mostly about what goes on before the dryer. A primer or blow-dry spray helps the shape hold once it's set, and some of these speed up drying too, which helps when you're getting ready against the clock. The right round brush does the rest.

Read the blow-dry guide

How to Build Volume That Lasts

Flat by nine o'clock? Volume gets built at the root while your hair is still damp. A root lift spray or a light mousse does that job, and a pinch of texture powder brings it back mid-evening.

Frizz, Flyaways and Static: Your Party Hair SOS

Central heating and a damp walk home are hard work for smooth hair. Anti-frizz treatments go on before you style. On the night, a flyaway wand or a drop of serum sorts out the odd stray strand without flattening everything else.

Sleek & Slicked Back

A sleek look is all about control, and it starts with smooth, completely dry hair. Straighten first if you need to, then comb a gel or pomade back from the hairline. A pomade stick keeps baby hairs in place, and a mist of shine spray finishes it off.

Shop the sleek edit

Curls That Last

When curls drop early, it's usually because hair was too soft to hold the shape or the curl never had time to cool. Prep with a texturising spray, then let each section cool in your hand before you let it go. It sounds fussy. It's also the step most people skip.

Heat Protection 101

If you're styling with heat more than usual this month, this is the step to keep. Spray it through damp hair before the dryer goes on, rather than only before the straighteners. ghd Bodyguard comes in versions for fine and coloured hair, so you can match it to yours.

The Stylist's Edit

If you only pick up a few things this month, our stylists have narrowed it down. These are the products that earn a permanent place in a working kit, and why.

Party-Ready Gift Sets

Buying for someone with a busy December? These sets cover a styling routine in one box, and several are worth more than you pay, including our own Smooth, Set, Jet Goody Bag.
Smooth, Set, Jet Goody Bag (Worth £85)Luxurious Look Exclusive Smooth, Set, Jet Goody Bag (Worth £85)
Luxurious Look Exclusive Smooth, Set, Jet Goody Bag (Worth £85)

£68.00 £85.00 20% offsaving
Bumble and Bumble Thickening Volume Goody Bag (Worth £48)Bumble and Bumble Thickening Volume Goody Bag (Worth £48)
Bumble and Bumble Thickening Volume Goody Bag (Worth £48)

£38.39 £48.00 20% offsaving
KEVIN.MURPHY VA-VA-VOLUME Gift SetKEVIN.MURPHY VA-VA-VOLUME Gift Set
KEVIN.MURPHY VA-VA-VOLUME Gift Set

£88.00
KEVIN.MURPHY ETERNAL CURLS Gift SetKEVIN.MURPHY ETERNAL CURLS Gift Set
KEVIN.MURPHY ETERNAL CURLS Gift Set

£99.00
Moroccanoil Good-To-Glow Duo Light (Worth £71.50)Moroccanoil Good-To-Glow Duo Light (Worth £71.50)
Moroccanoil Good-To-Glow Duo Light (Worth £71.50)

£47.00 £71.50 34% offsaving
Moroccanoil Discovery Kit, Extra VolumeMoroccanoil Discovery Kit, Extra Volume (Worth £41.35)
Moroccanoil Discovery Kit, Extra Volume (Worth £41.35)

£34.50
R+Co Cassette Curl Trio
R+Co Cassette Curl Trio

£72.44 £80.50 10% offsaving
Innersense Holiday Kit-Sleek StylersInnersense Holiday Kit-Sleek Stylers
Innersense Holiday Kit-Sleek Stylers

£37.00
Maria Nila Pure Volume Shampoo and Conditioner Mini Duo
Maria Nila Pure Volume Mini Duo

£18.69 £22.00 15% offsaving
ghd Gold Professional Curling Iron set with a black hairbrush, black travel case, and black retail box on a white background.ghd Gold Hair Straightener Festive Gift Set in Black (worth £261)
ghd Gold Hair Straightener Festive Gift Set in Black (worth £261)

£209.00 £261.00 20% offsaving

Frequently Asked Questions

How far ahead should I start prepping my hair for a party?

A week is plenty. Use a repair treatment around seven days before and a gloss mask a few days out. If you need a trim, book it a week or two ahead so the ends have time to settle.

Should I wash my hair on the day of the party?

It depends on the style. A sleek blow-dry works well on freshly washed hair. For an up-do, day-old hair is usually easier, because clean hair can be too slippery for pins to grip.

Do I need a heat protector if I'm only using a hairdryer?

Yes. A hairdryer and round brush still put a lot of heat through your hair, especially if you're going over the same section several times. Apply it to damp hair before you start.

How do I stop my curls dropping?

Prep with a texturising spray rather than working on silky, just-washed hair. Let each curl cool before you release it, then finish with a flexible hairspray.

What's the quickest fix for flyaways on the night?

A flyaway wand smooths stray hairs without flattening the rest. A tiny drop of serum rubbed between your palms works too, as long as you keep it away from the roots.

How do I keep volume going all evening?

Build it at the roots while your hair is damp, using a root lift spray or mousse. If it starts to drop, a little texture powder at the crown brings it back.

How do I get a slicked-back look that stays put?

Start with completely dry, smooth hair, and straighten it first if it has any kink. Work a gel or pomade back from the hairline a section at a time, then use a pomade stick along the hairline for baby hairs. Finish with a mist of hairspray.

What should I keep in my bag for touch-ups?

A mini dry shampoo and a flyaway wand cover most things. Add a small hairspray if you're wearing your hair up.