Thanks to Hilary Duff and her natural waves, I've just found my new favorite leave-in conditioner.

      As a longtime fan of Hilary Duff, I'm thrilled that she's back in the limelight. I've been supporting Duff since her Lizzie McGuire days and was eagerly anticipating her new album, Luck… or Something. (Spoiler: It’s fantastic.) However, what I was most excited about was curling up and listening to her recent interview on Call Her Daddy with Alex Cooper, expecting it to be top-notch. To my surprise, I also learned about some new haircare favorites through Duff’s hairstylist, Barb Thompson. Thompson used a brand I wasn't familiar with called Surface Hair to achieve Duff's effortless waves for the interview, and I’m so glad she shared this information. I got the full scoop on Duff's look, which included the brand's All-In Leave In Conditioner ($36). I decided to try it since it didn’t have any harmful ingredients for my hair (like silicones or coconut oil), and it exceeded my expectations. It makes my hair soft, hydrated, and free of tangles almost immediately. For all the details on this miraculous product and a few others that helped create Duff's stylish waves, keep reading.

      

      **SURFACE All-in Leave In Conditioner**

      To kick off Duff's hairstyle, Thompson misted this leave-in throughout her damp hair to set the foundation. "It's fantastic for shine, heat protection, and detangling," she explains. "Once the hair was about three-quarters dry, I paired it with the Surface Hair Blowout Primer, a lightweight pre-styling spray designed to enhance volume and lock in style memory. I then used a 2.5-inch round brush to sculpt a smooth, airy base that still had movement. Achieving a blow-dry like this is also essential for creating the perfect base for curling iron work." Honestly, I don’t generally try products that seem suited for straighter hair types, as I have thick, low-porosity 4a curls that are quite particular. Kudos to Surface for not including coconut oil—many brands do, and it can be extremely drying for low-porosity hair. My routine needed something light (yet hydrating) that helps with tangles, and this leave-in is perfect for that. My hair tends to get very knotted, making it a chore to detangle after showering, but this product simplifies that process. My hair becomes smoother, more hydrated, and tangle-free without becoming weighed down or developing buildup. My entire haircare routine is about achieving a delicate balance. My curls require substantial hydration, but it must be light enough for daily use without leading to buildup. In the past, I struggled to find an appropriate leave-in. Many provided great hydration but resulted in excess buildup for me. This leave-in strikes the ideal balance and fits perfectly into my regimen.

      

      **SURFACE Blowout Hair Spray**

      If you want to achieve Duff's waves, this is another essential product you'll need. Thompson used this for added heat protection and shine before using a pair of large-barreled irons. "First, I worked a 1.25-inch curling iron through the back and continued upward, finishing with a 1.5-inch iron on the top sections," she says. "For the technique, I made sure to curl all the pieces away from the face, taking sections no larger than the iron I was using at the moment. It’s also crucial to let each section cool completely before touching it, which helps the style last longer!"

      

      **SURFACE Blowout Texture Spray**

      The aim here was to create that effortless, model-off-duty vibe we all admire. "I wanted an easy, cool-girl, relaxed wave with soft curves and a bouncy bend," Thompson shares. "To finish, I had Hilary flip her hair over, and I used my fingers to run through the curls from the iron to achieve a smooth but airy effect. To boost volume and further break up the loose waves, I misted the Surface Hair Blowout Texture Spray from the roots to the mid-shafts, and then I had her flip her hair back. To help separate the ends, I used Surface Hair’s Blowout Dry Shampoo Foam for a chic texture. In addition to prolonging your style, dry shampoo foam offers lightweight lift and body. Once we were satisfied with the entire look, I sealed it in with Surface Hair’s Awaken Finishing Spray to maintain the wave structure and ensure long-lasting hold while keeping the hair touchable."

      

      **SURFACE Curls Moisturizing Shampoo**

      I haven't tried the brand’s curl-specific line yet, but it's certainly next on my list. This sulfate-free shampoo provides a subtle (yet luxurious) lather that doesn’t strip hair or leave it dry. It contains excellent hydrators, such as cocoa butter and babassu seed oil, to nourish drier textures like mine.

      

      **SURFACE Curls Moisturizing Conditioner**

      I'm very