A trip to the salon will either make or break your day. Seeing your beautiful hair bounce off so effortlessly with that healthy sheen is one of the best feelings in the world- love it! But now remember that time you got that epic- to say the least- blowout only for your hair to fluff out a few days later, and it was gone forever? So here we are, you're probably just out of the shower and wondering how to do a blowout at home.
The right tools and best blowout technique will have you flipping your bouncy, voluminous mane in no time. What's more, you don't need that trip to the salon to get the perfect salon blowout that's frizz-free and kind to your scalp.
Simply put, a blowout may refer to one of 2 things:
a) The styling technique used to dry and style hair using a hairdryer, with no use of a curling or flat iron
or
b) A popular men's haircut that Pauly-D famously popularized on Jersey Shore
In this case, we'll take a deep dive into the former- buckle up.
Do Blowouts Damage Your Hair?
Before getting into the best blowout practices and steps, let's first address a legitimate concern that comes up a lot with the use of a hair dryer - whether blowouts damage hair. At home, blowout procedures should be carefully done to help you quickly and completely dry up wet hair for manageable hair. It's also a great quick style that doesn't need the use of other heat-styling tools, such as a flat iron or curling wand.
Understandably, it's easy to think that the high heat temperature associated with the blow-dryer could be bad news for your hair. But in truth, it really depends on the heat protection method, the health of your hair and how often you get the blowouts. Despite helping you achieve that killer look, if done a little too often, super hot temperatures can damage your hair strands. So, it might be best to save blowouts for once in a while or on special occasions. Alternatively, you can let your mane air-dry most of the time.
Tips For A Salon Quality Blowout
You don't need to go to a celebrity hairstylist for that sleek blowout. Here are a few things to keep in mind;
- Maintain super healthy hair from the roots, right to the tip
- Lift the hair from the roots for it to bounce effortlessly
- Fine hair is best dealt with using the wider-tooth attachment on your dryer, which gives more volume
- Thick and curly, will need the narrow attachment for it to really focus that air right where it's needed
- A clear brow gel will help you get rid of the flyaways on the top of your head at the end of a blow-dry
- Avoid using the highest temperature setting on your dryer for the entire blow-dry since this overstretches the hair, and you won't really get any bounce off it
- For a proper salon blowout, use medium to cool air to help keep the cuticles sealed. This also gives you a more natural texture and movement
- Work on your hair right after you step out of the shower or right after you wash it when it's a little damp, not dripping wet, to achieve the perfect blowout
Gather The Right Tools
To prevent damage, you'll need both the right procedure and tools. Here's a list of what you'll need;
- Hairdryer
- Alcohol/sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner
- Deep conditioning hair mask
- Conditioning spray or leave-in conditioner
- Thickening spray
- Texturizer or volumizing spray
- Round brush- the boar bristle brushes are a cult-favorite
- Finishing/smoothing cream/ styling product (optional)
Step 1: Prep Your Whole Head
After the wash, there are 2 important steps you'll need to do to prep your hair for heat styling after stepping out of the shower. These are:
a) Remove The Excess Moisture
You need your hair a little dampened, not dripping soaked, before using your dryer. This helps minimize the amount of time the hair is exposed to heat since too much exposure not only causes frizz but can also cause damage to your hair over time. Less blow-drying time also means a speedier blow-dry process. Instead of using the regular towel to twist your hair up, use a super-absorbent towel microfiber hair towel since it absorbs more moisture and is much gentler on your hair.
Pro tip: Put your hair in a loose bun, on top of your head, before going to bed and consider using a silk or satin pillowcase, which helps with the frizz as well.
b) Prime The Hair Using The Heat Protectant
Since you're going to style your hair using a blow dryer that has heat, you need to ensure that your strands are well protected. Essentially, protectants work by sealing off your hair cuticles, helping protect it against damage. The cuticle is open in a 'V' shape from its root to the ends, and these protectants seal off the 'V' while creating a shine and a smooth protective barrier that prevents breakage.
Just like you would with shampoo or conditioner, you'll want a formulation that's also suited for your particular hair type. Additionally, you'll also need to consider your hair texture to help determine what type of protectant you'll need to use — whether cream, oil or spray. You'll need to consider:
- Thick hair can use a thicker protectant, such as a cream or oil protect
- Curly hair types would really benefit from a protectant that comes with smoothening qualities. If your strands are particularly damaged or dry, then use a product that's both hair treatment and heat protectant
- Thin or fine hair that's always falling flat will need you to use a volumizing shampoo and conditioner before starting
This step is crucial, regardless of what hair type you may have, especially if you need to maintain both the color-treated hair and the health of your hair. In addition to causing split-ends, direct heat to hair with no protectants will cause the color in your hair to fade and turn brassy. Be sure to distribute the protectant evenly through your clean and damp hair for maximum protection and to help tame the frizz and static while you dry your hair.
Step 2: Detangle Your Hair Strands
After using your hair protectant and the hair is no longer as wet, take your hair down and then comb through it using a wide-tooth comb. Brush through it from the roots to the tip to detangle your hair strands. Ultimately, this helps to ensure that your hair strands are nicer, more smooth, and adds shine.
Remember, the brush you use determines everything. The general rule of thumb is the bigger the brush used, the smoother the finish you can expect. A boar or nylon bristle brush helps distribute the natural oils from the roots to the ends to help tame flyaways as you blow-dry. To help add volume or curls, use a round brush. However, if you want to create a straighter sleek look, a paddle brush will help a lot with that.
Step 3: Rough Dry
Before grabbing your tools, the next step is rough drying your hair at medium temperature. Blow-dry until your hair is roughly 60-70% dry. Basically, this step involves using your fingers and the medium-low temperature setting to give your hair a dry before you begin to work on each section of hair.
Once the hair is at least 70% dry, it's time to grab your tools and get to work. Though often left off by many DIYers, the concentrator nozzle is often left out but, in a real sense, the real key to achieving a salon blowout. This tool concentrates the air and helps direct the airflow exactly to the section of hair you need it to go.
This set is literally one of the most crucial accessories that you'll use as you are blow-drying your own hair, especially as you're trying to work on those hard-to-reach areas. The concentrated airflow also helps make your hair cuticle lay flat for a shinier and less frizzy overall look.
Ultimately, the choice comes down to what's your personal preference but generally, it's also important to note that
- For straight hair, the boar bristle brushes are generally considered as the gold standard of brushes since they smooth out hair more than a synthetic or plastic brush would
- The size of the barrel of your round brush will affect your overall results. Because the smaller the barrel, the tighter waves or curls and the larger the round brush, the larger the waves and more volume you can get off your
- In terms of the hair dryer you use, when blow-drying curly hair, its best to use an ionic dryer
- If you want a more voluminous look for relatively finer hair, the traditional blow dryer is the best. Additionally, it works great on all hair types
Step 4: Section Hair and Style
If you're doing your own hair, it'd be great to start the blow-dry from the front of your head. First, part the hair into one-inch sections and clip each. Then, work with the nozzle pointed down on each section of hair to help the hair cuticles achieve that smoothness.
If you choose to use a round brush, roll the section of hair around your brush, then apply heat. Keep your round brush in for a while. Wait to remove the roll when it cools down. Repeat the process section by section until your head is fully done- easier said than done, yeah, we know!
Step 5: Apply The Finishing Cream
Once all your hair is fully done, apply a dime-size amount of finishing cream on the mid-lengths and ends. This helps seal in the moisture to ward off any of that frizz. Et voilà!
Frequently Asked Questions On How To Do A Blowout
1. How long should blowouts last?
Blowouts are designed to last and hold their shape for 3-5 days, depending on the thickness and texture of your hair. If you decide to start doing it yourself, your hair may adapt to the shape and style that you use every time, which helps it last a bit longer every time. Also, consider tips, such as using dry shampoo to help absorb oils.
2. When is it best to get a blowout?
Whenever works fine, depending on hair texture – especially for thick, curly, frizzy or coarse hair types.
