There was a time when booking a blow-dry required very little explanation. Wash, dry, some volume, maybe a curl at the ends. Done.

That feels almost quaint now.

The blowout has developed its own vocabulary. There’s the big, brushed-out Supermodel Blowout. The polished Hollywood version. The very specific kind of bounce that requires rollers, patience and absolutely no plans to go straight home afterwards. Open Instagram or Pinterest before a salon appointment and chances are you already know exactly which one you’re asking for.

So before you save another reference picture to your camera roll, here’s the important question: what kind of blowout are you actually after?

THE CLASSIC BLOWOUT

This is the one that doesn’t need to try too hard.

Smooth hair, movement through the lengths and just enough volume to make it obvious that you did, in fact, have your hair done. The ends are usually softly shaped rather than dramatically curled, which makes it the easiest option if you want something that works for lunch, work, dinner and whatever happens after.

Think: your hair on an exceptionally cooperative day.

THE SUPERMODEL BLOWOUT

You know this one before you know its name.

Big at the roots. Big through the lengths. Face-framing pieces that seem physically incapable of lying flat.

The Supermodel Blowout is less interested in looking freshly blow-dried and more interested in looking expensive. It has that brushed-out, slightly undone volume associated with the bombshell hair of the ’90s except now it’s all over our saved folders again.

If your reference picture involves enormous rollers, this is probably what you meant.

THE HOLLYWOOD BLOWOUT

A little more glamour. A little less “I woke up like this.”

The Hollywood Blowout is about polished volume and those large, deliberate waves that sit beautifully around the face. It feels dressed up without crossing into formal-event hair.

This is the blowout for the dinner reservation you definitely made before the appointment.

Or immediately after seeing your hair.

THE BOUNCY BLOWOUT

This one is all about movement.

The roots are lifted, the ends have that satisfying flick and the whole thing should move when you do. It’s softer and less sculpted than Hollywood waves, but noticeably more done than your everyday blow-dry.

Basically, if the brief is “volume, but make it fun”, start here.

THE SLEEK BLOWOUT

Not everyone wants their hair competing for ceiling space.

The Sleek Blowout keeps the finish smooth, glossy and controlled, with movement concentrated towards the ends rather than maximum volume at the roots. It’s polished without being poker-straight and works particularly well when you want the shine to do most of the talking.

Sometimes good hair doesn’t need to be big.

It just needs to behave.

OKAY, WHERE ARE WE GETTING ONE?

Once you’ve figured out which blowout is going into the reference folder, there’s the slightly more important matter of who is actually doing it.

Here are 10 Mumbai salons to keep saved for your next very good hair day:

1. Florian Hurel Hair Couture — Multiple Locations
For when the brief is polished, bouncy and very much worth making plans after.

2. Jean-Claude Biguine — Multiple Locations
A reliable one to keep on speed dial when you want that fresh-from-the-salon finish without overthinking it.

3. Ivory Atelier — Juhu
One for the Juhu list when the reference picture involves soft movement, volume and hair that looks properly done.

4. Geetanjali Salon — Bandra West
For the days when “just a blow-dry” needs to do a little more than just dry your hair.

5. Dessange Paris — Multiple Locations
Keep this one saved for when sleek, polished and put-together is very much the mood.

6. Luca Piattelli — Bandra West
For the next time the blowout is less pre-event prep and more the event itself.

7. Jean-Claude Biguine Olivier — Bandra West
One for the Bandra rotation when you know exactly what you want — reference pictures already open.

8. TONI&GUY — Multiple Locations
An easy one to keep in mind when the hair appointment needs to happen with very little notice.

9. A’Kreations — Bandra West
For when you want the kind of bounce and movement that makes staying home afterwards feel like a waste.

10. BBLUNT — Multiple Locations
Another dependable name to save for the inevitable I need my hair done before tonight situation.