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How Do I Make My Curls Last? Ouai’s Jen Atkin Has the Answer + the One Hot Tool She Says Everyone Needs

Jen Atkin shared expert tips on how to achieve long-lasting holiday hairstyles and how she's giving the gift of amazing hair this holiday season.

By Alexa Vazquez Dec 10, 2025 2:00 AM
| Updated Dec 10, 2025 7:16 PM
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jenatkin hero image.jpgCourtesy of Daniel Seung Lee

No one can provide better advice when it comes to hair care and styling than celebrity hair stylist and brand founder Jen Atkin.

The brains of Ouai and Mane, Jen is the only person you need to listen to for holiday hairstyling tips. She spilled her pro hair secrets exclusively to E! while in Miami Art Week for her partnership with Capital One Venture X Business.

If you want to make your hairstyle last, Jen has pro advice: "The best thing is to start with clean dry hair. If your hair is oily, get some dry shampoo in there before you curl it. And I love to spray a light veil of hairspray over the hair, brush through with a boar bristle brush and then take your hot tool." 

Don't want to bother with hot tools? Jen is also a fan of adding a blingy hair accessory to a half-up style or keeping it simple with an easy and always chic sleek bun or pony. "The wintertime is always so stressful so don’t be ashamed of doing a sleek bun," she says.

Naturally, the celebrity hairstylist is giving the gift of flawless locks this holiday season. She opts for anything "that kind of helps you to glam on the go." Ouai and Mane's gift sets— whether you opt for a body care kit or hair care bundle— are both Jen-approved options that she says she's also gifting this year.

Jen likes to keep her gifting approach simple and straightforward. "I’m really crazy organized. I have so many documents. And because I have so many people to shop for, I selfishly know that I’m earning good benefits when I use the Capital One Venture X Business card," she explains. "It’s kind of like guilt-free holiday shopping."

See what Jen Atkin is gifting this year and shop the one hot tool she says can do it all (spoiler: it's the Mane hot round brush).

Kenra Professional Volume Hairspray

The secret to making tour holiday hairstyle last? "I love to spray a light veil of hairspray over the hair, brush through with a boar bristle brush and then take your hot tool," says Jen. This Kenra one provides a 72-hour hold, delivers added volume, and has 36,000+ 5-star ratings.

BESTOOL Boar & Nylon Bristle Brush

After hairspray and before going in with a hot tool, Jen suggests brushing through your strands with a boar bristle brush. This affordable option boasts a mix of smoothing boar bristles, detangling nylon pins, and has 21,000+ 5-star ratings. 

Body + Bounce Kit - Medium (38mm) Hot Round Brush

If there's one product Jen recommends for achieve any hairstyle, it's the Mane hot round brush. Its coated ceramic barrel and anti-tangle bristles seals hair cuticles to maintain moisture and shine. The result is a voluminous blowout or bouncy curls; the choice is yours. This one comes with hair clips and a mini brush.

More from Jen: "We have seen so many people just rave about it because they’ve been able to do their hair on their own. So that’s something that I’ve noticed people can use to get hairstyles really quickly. You can get either a loose wave or a bend and get your hair really smooth."

The Full-Body Kit - Large (45MM) Hot Round Brush

If you're a fan of round brushes with bigger barrels, you can opt for this hot tool instead. It comes with Mane's dry texturizing spray and four crease-free clips.

More from Jen: "The hot round brush is universal voltage so you can take it anywhere around the world."

Frenchies French Twist Hair Pin

"One of my assistants told me about these amazing felt French bobby pins that are amazing for doing up-dos if you have thick hair. So I’d recommend getting that, too." The bobby pins come in several colors so you can find the one that best matches your hair.

Kitsch Rhinestone Hair Cuff

When here hair isn't cooperating, Jen has a go-to hairstyle: "I love a quick half up half down." You can make it holiday-worthy by adding this pontyail holder with a gold rhinestone hair cuff.

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Wecoe Rhinestone Headband

"I love a blingy hair accessory during the holidays," raves Jen. This sparkly rhinestone headband makes for a low-effort hairstyle that still brings that wow factor.

The Three Way Multi-Use Flat Iron

How do you know if you need a new hair straightener? Jen says, "If it's steaming, it's time to let go." Upgrade your old one with this easy-glide ceramic flat iron, with which you can achieve smooth glossy locks, beachy waves, and classic curls.

Ready or Knot Mini Detangling Hair Brush

"I really love to give things that are travel friendly beauty tools," Jen admits, and this mini detangling brush is simply too cute not to gift.

Wanna Get A-Ouai Kit

Jen called out this limited edition gift set as the perfect stocking stuffer. It includes travel size body cleanser, a hydrating body lotion, and a hair and body mist in Ouai's fan-favorite St. Barts tropical scent.

Super Dry Shampoo Cape Town Kit

Need a stocking stuffer? Jen says, "I definitely would do a travel Ouai dry shampoo that’s really fun." This duo packs double the punch since it comes with a full size and travel size version of this delicious-smelling dry shampoo. 

Shop must-have holiday beauty gifts loved by celebs: Vanessa Hudgens, Rylee Arnold and more.

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