A blowout is one of the top performed hair services in salons around the globe. And for me, it’s my personal favorite. From the repetitive motions to the white noise, it somehow manages to soothe my brainwaves. I’m immediately transported to my zen zone.
Good blowouts, much like good hair days, can set a positive tone for the next few days or week ahead. It’ll lift your spirits and rebalance your mental state.
But what if you can’t make it to the salon? Whatever the reason is, you and your hair don’t need to worry. In this post I’m sharing how to blowout your hair like a pro in 8 easy steps.
How To Blowout Hair Like A Pro
Step #1: Shampoo Twice
The foundation to a great blowout starts in the shower. Yes, I’m referring to the way you wash your hair.
For your hair to be thoroughly cleansed, shampoo twice. Use a clarifying shampoo to remove dirt, oil, and product buildup from the scalp. Follow with a specific shampoo dedicated to your hair concern (more volume, moisture, strength, etc).
Next, use a conditioner or hair mask of your choice- apply only from the mid shafts to ends. Rinse thoroughly.
Step #2: Prep is Key
Step out of the shower and immediately into the hair prep stage.
Begin by blotting your hair dry with a towel. Don’t rub it aggressively, please. This will cause breakage and increase frizz in your blowout. If you don’t have a microfiber or soft cotton towel, a cotton T-shirt will do just fine.
First, apply a leave-in detangler to help lock in hydration and protect against damage.
Now, using either a wide toothed comb or wet brush, start at the ends of your hair and detangle upwards towards the roots. Move on to the next step, we’re going to add another layer of hair protection.
Step# 3: Use Heat Protectant
No matter how often you choose to blowout your hair, you can cause a lot of damage to your strands without the right protection. The smell and feel of burnt hair is not a fun time, I promise.
Fine to Medium Hair
For finer strands, use a lightweight heat protectant spray as to not weigh down your hair. Kenra’s Blow Dry Spray has a cult following for a reason. It’s lightweight and cuts blow dry time in half.
If you feel like your hair could get too weighed down by both a leave in and heat protectant spray- look for a product that combines to two like It’s a 10 Miracle Leave In.
Medium to Coarse Hair
For medium to coarse hair, a cream based heat protectant is my go-to. This will help lock in moisture to prevent frizz and keep your locks smooth and shiny along with the added protection.
Now that your strands are protected, let’s save you some more time in your blow dry routine. Read onto the next step to see how.
Step# 4: Don’t Forget The Rough Dry
You likely don’t want to be in front of your mirror trying to blowout your hair for hours on end. That’s what makes this step such a time and energy saver. You’ll likely cut your blow dry time in half as it’s meant to get rid of the excess moisture.
Use your blowdryer while running your fingers throughout your hair. You can use this step to support creating volume or a smooth, sleek look.
Rough drying doesn’t look the same for everyone- so here’s the general rule of thumb to follow:
- Dry straight/wavy hair around 80%
- Dry wavy/loose curls around 50%
- Dry very curly/ coils around 30%
You don’t want to over dry during this portion. Loss of too much moisture will create a frizzy end result. Additionally, be sure to direct air from the blowdryer down the hair shaft. For curls and coils, you can use a paddle brush to help stretch out the roots.
Step#5: Divide Hair Into Clean Sections
Having cleanly divided hair sections are the key to working quickly and efficiently. This prevents your hair from getting caught up in your round brush. This also helps the final result. You can focus on smoothing each section before unclipping the next one.
When doing a blowout at home, it’s my preference to start in the back at the nape of the neck. For reference, the height of your sections should be about equal to the circumference of your brush.
Depending on your hair density, start by sectioning off your hair in about 5-6 parts. From your crown to your nape, you should have two-three horizontal sections. And from your crown to your front hair line, you’ll have three- one down the center (stylists call this the mohawk) and two on the sides. Use either alligator clips or duck bill clips to keep each section secured.
Step #6: Choose Your Tools Wisely
For this one, you’re obviously going to need a round brush and a blow dryer. but choosing just any type of these hair tools can slow you down and make extra unnecessary work for you.
When choosing your round brush, shorter hair should use round brushes smaller in diameter, while longer hair would benefit from larger brushes.
As for your blowdryer, you don’t have to use the most expensive one on the market. Believe it or not, it’s not the Dyson.
But make sure it has the following:
- Concentrator nozzle attachment
- Multiple speed settings
- Multiple heat settings
- Cool shot button
The blowdryer and round brush option can put a lot of stress on your shoulders, arms, and wrists if you’re not used to holding these tools. An alternative option would be a blowdryer brush. Revlon’s One Step Volumizer is easy to use, less hassle, and offers smooth, salon-style results with its dual heating and cooling settings.
Step# 7: Blowout Your Hair
Go section by section, working from back to front, or front to back. Ultimately, that’s your choice. But here’s some tips for each section you work with.
Blowout hair using low heat, high speed. This helps to save your hair from further heat damage. Using high heat can pretty much cook your hair if you’re not careful. Because you’ve already rough dried, the low or medium heat setting will still help to smooth a
Utilize the Cool Shot Button. It’s such an underutilized function for the average consumer. But it makes a huge difference. Once the hair has been completely dried, the cool shot helps to seal in smoothness by closing the cuticle, and adding a beautiful shine.
Over direct roots of your hair upwards to get more volume. Your blowdryer should be on the underside of the hair section. Furthermore, if you’re looking to get more body in your hair, secure each dried section in a pinwheel or rollers. Let cool for about 10 to 15 minutes.
Use Tension. To get a sleek and smooth result, especially with wavy, curly, or coily hair, use tension to stretch and smooth the hair from roots to ends. You can get a firm handle by holding each section of hair in between your brush and your thumb.
Step #8: Perfect Your Blowout With Hair Finishers
Now that you’ve done the brunt of all the legwork, you can add some finishing touches to keep your blowout smooth, shiny, and bouncy for a while.
Use dry shampoo at your roots. Once your hair is cooled, this is the best preventative measure to absorb oil as your scalp produces it. Thus, your blowout will actually last you longer than if you were to spray it on day two or three.
Apply hair serum. You’ll lock in moisture, smooth fly-aways and any left over frizz for a more polished look.
Hot Tools are optional. If you’re going for a beach wave or want to add flips or curls, use a flat iron or curling wand to fine-tune the overall look.
Starting off with a clean hair canvas and having the correct tools and products are essential to creating a beautifully polished end result. As I have said before, you should always take into account your hair type when picking out what will work best for you. With the knowledge of these 8 simple steps, you’ll be able to blowout your hair like a pro anywhere you go, in no time at all! Here’s to happy, healthy, and long-lasting blowouts!