A gorgeous blowout is like a work of fine art. The look appears effortless, but behind the smooth, shiny locks is a great deal of technique. If you’ve ever tried to give yourself a salon quality blowout at home only to stop midway through filled with fatigue and frustration, take heart. This seemingly elusive skill can be mastered. With a little patience and the right tips, you’ll be able to get a salon-quality blowout from the comfort of your own home, regardless of your hair type.

First, make sure you are using quality tools, starting with the hair dryer. Don’t feel like you have to go for the “usual” hairdryer either. We offer a range of hair dryers from ones that utilize Far Infrared light as a heat source, to handheld blow dryer brushes that are perfect for doing the double duties of drying and styling. If you’re using a regular hair dryer, your brush will be equally as important as the dryer. The right size round brush will depend on the length of your hair. The longer the hair, the bigger the round brush. For short hair, try a 1.5-2” brush; for medium: 1.5-3”; for long: 3-5”.

No matter which method you use, always be sure to use a Heat Protectant to shield your hair and prevent any damage.  Heat protectants have come a long way since the early ’00s. These won’t weigh your hair down or make it greasy—in fact, some of them, like our Heat Guard, even help with frizz, hold, and volume.

Secondly, you should pre-dry your hair to cut down on styling time and to help build up some body. Using your fingers, lift a section from the top of your head and pull it taught. If you have thick or coarse hair, use the hottest setting on your drying. If your hair texture is medium or fine, use the medium heat setting. Using the full-speed heat option (if you have one on your dryer), direct the heat towards your roots, where you want the most volume. Repeat until your hair is between 30-70% dry (those with curlier textures will want less pre-drying while those with straighter textures can get away with more).

Once your hair is about 70% dry separate it into four sections, One at the crown, one on each side, and one in the back. Sections may be subdivided or customized depending on the length and thickness of your hair. From each section, take a 1½” portion of hair and pull it taught with a round brush using 1/4″ turns of the brush. Gently pull the hair up as you dry; avoid pulling hair down. (This builds volume). Use the hottest setting on your dryer if you have very thick or coarse hair. Use the medium heat setting otherwise.

The dryer may be switched to its lower speed setting if that option is available. Be sure to keep the airflow parallel to the section being dried. (Use the dryer nozzle attachment to avoid roughing up the hair cuticle and creating additional frizz.) Repeat drying steps with each portion of hair until completely dry. Then, set each dry portion with a blast of cool air.

Finally, apply a light layer of flexible setting spray, like our Blow Out Spray, after completing your blowout.

Some Mistakes To Avoid:

  • Over-twisting the brush. Avoid completely twisting the brush near your scalp. This can create unfortunate tangles. To catch your hair on the brush, do a small quarter-inch turn. Holding your hair taught with the brush, bring the brush down to the mid-lengths of the hair and then begin turning.
  • Holding the dryer too close. Hold the dryer at least one inch above the hair. Pressing the dryer nozzle against hair can cause dryness and damage.
  • Going too fast. Patience is key! For a sleek, no-frizz blowout, hair must by completely dry. Furthermore, being slow and methodical will allow you more control over the final outcome of the style.
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