How To Achieve The Perfect Blowout at Home

The key to a great blowout, Drybar advises, is to work in clean, small sections. (Photo: Walter Chin-TRUNK Archive)

Who doesn’t love gorgeous, perfectly blown out hair? However, with salon visits costing extra time and money, it is definitely worth it to learn how to do it yourself. Here’s how:

Before you begin: “Make sure you always start with super-clean hair: Use a shampoo that will remove dirt, residues and oils from your hair,” says Alli Web, founder of Drybar, the national chain of blowout-only salons. Oily hair doesn’t blow out well or last a long time, she said, adding that you should also know the style you want to achieve before you start so you have “a roadmap” of the look you want. This was news to me, since I just thought I wanted it straight and dry.

Also? Don’t start with sopping wet hair. Air or towel-dry—but not with an actual towel: a T-shirt produces less frizz, according to my curly hair salon stylist at Devachan (who would be sad to hear I’m straightening my hair so much.)

Choose the right products for your hair type: “Always use a heat protector before using any hot tools, and never use the highest heat setting,” says Tara Decoda, owner of Blow On The Go, an at-home coiffing service. Heat-damaged hair is hard to tame, she said. Webb says you should make sure to use the right product for your hair type: “The wrong product can really affect a great blowout,” she says, noting for very fine or straight hair to use a mousse and for curly hair like mine, to use a “smoothing” or “hydrating” cream.

Select the Right Equipment: There are hundreds of blow dryers on the market, which can cost a few hundred dollars as well. You should consider wattage, whether it’s ionic (that makes it faster), portability, or size (if your bathroom is tiny).

The nozzle is key:
Whatever blowdryer you choose, use the nozzle, says Giovanni Vaccaro, Creative Director of GlamSquad, the on-demand at-home professional blow-drying service. “To smooth hair, your blow dryer must have a nozzle attachment, which helps concentrate the air flow of the dryer.” Always point the nozzle down, following to hair shaft, he says, to prevent flyaways.

Get Some Arm Assistance
Even if you use a fast and light dryer, a blowout can be a workout. A Blo & Go is a device to free your hand: Attach it to your bathroom mirror with the suction grip, and insert your blow dryer. Now you’re free to start the job.

And…Blow!
Start from the front, and progress to the back, advises Glamsquad’s Vaccaro. “Focus on smoothing out the hairline, which tends to be the frizziest part.”

The key to a great blowout, Webb from Drybar advises, is to work in clean, small sections. (Ugh!) “You must perfect every 1-2 inch section before you move onto the next.”

Cool air is crucial

Here’s a trick I didn’t know: If you use the cool shot button, it will set the hair after it’s dried, the Glamsquad expert said. “The cool shot prevents frizzing up after a blowout—when the hair is warm or hot, the shaft is open, which exposes it to moisture. But with cool air all over the hair, it seals it and brings out the shine,” Vaccaro said. Pair oil (like argon) with a heat protectant to get a perfectly shiny, finished look.

Related:

10 Tips for a Salon-Worthy Blowout at Home

Make Your Blowdry Last 3 Extra Days

Meet the Woman Who Started a Drybar for Women With Natural Hair