How to Do a Better Blowout at Home

7 Tips from our Hair Pros

Is there anything better than a salon blowout? You feel more gorgeous than you ever have until the first big gust of wind, or blast of humidity brings your locks limping back to reality.

To keep that salon look lasting longer – and for some coaching on how to recreate a great blowout at home, we went to our experts for their top 7 tips for a great blowout.

Preparation is key for a great blowout on yourself.

In a salon, all hairstyles begin at the shampoo bowl and that should be the case at home too. If your hair is damaged, BOND shampoo is where to start. COLOR shampoo or HELIO violet shampoo are great choices if you have color treated hair. But if you want your blowout to last longer, opt for a deep but gentle cleanser like VOLUME or CLARIFY shampoo. They will give you the most time between blowouts. Follow with your conditioner or mask treatment of choice, focusing product on mids to ends of hair so roots aren’t weighed down.

Next up is a foundation spray. Salon owner and educator Travis Clay opts for SEAL spray to close your hair’s cuticle and BOOST spray is a must from roots to ends if you are looking for a voluminous, big blowout.

Rough Dry Your Hair First

Master colorist Charlie Rose says “Blow dry your hair at least 80% dry if not a little more before taking a round brush to it.” This saves her arms from getting tired and helps maintain body. Travis agrees, and points out that you’ll need to apply your styling products before it gets to that 80-90% dry point. As a general rule, 50% dry is a good point to apply classic stylers like BLOWOUT butter (for medium-coarse hair looking for a silky finish), SHAPE gelee (when you need body, volume and some backbone to hold the curl of your blowout) and MOUSSE foam (a good option if you are looking for even more hold). When hair is slightly damp, the products will spread evenly through hair without getting watered down.

Charlie points out that for maximum volume when rough drying, “dry the roots of the hair the opposite of where you want it to lay.”

Here’s How to Choose a Hair Dryer.

SEVEN VP of Education, Monica Nguyen, says there are 5 important things to consider when picking the right blow dryer:

Cord Length – Most blow dryers come with a standard cord length of 9 ft, but depending on where your outlets are (and especially if you are tall) something longer will make your life easier
Buttons – Take a close look at where the controls are placed. Depending on your personal grip, you could make unwanted adjustments mid-blowout if the buttons aren’t in the right spot for you. Also, for locking a look in place, check to see if the dryers has a cool shot
Air speed – Stronger air speed allows for faster, lower heat drying time. Ideally, air speed clocks in around 90 mph
Weight – Lighter blow dryers tend to have less air speed, but unless you’ve got stylist-strong biceps, the benefits of a light blow dryer are clear
Warranty – Look for at least a year of protection from damage and breaks

Where to Start – Sectioning Your Hair for a Blowout at Home

Travis says, “When blow drying it’s typically easier to section the hair first, starting your blowout at the bottom or nape (back of head) and work up from there using clean sections.”

Charlie disagrees! “I like to start off with the front and top of my head first before I give it any time to naturally lie flat.”

Suffice it to say, you’ll want to find your own order of things. If your arms tend to get tired and you struggle for volume, do the front first. On the other hand, if you have tons of unruly hair, starting from the bottom can yield the smoothest, tamest look.

The Round Brush Blowout

It’s time to choose your round brush! Using a round brush to finish your blowout is helpful if not essential. The shape of the brush allows you to add shape and body, and as it warms it acts as a curling iron would.

Travis recommends a ceramic or metal barrel brush with nylon bristles. “Boar bristle brushes will smooth the hair better, but people tend to have a harder time because they are extra grippy and more likely to get caught or tangled in the hair.”

Whether you opt for nylon or boar bristle, you’ll want to make sure you keep a good amount of tension in the brush.

When choosing a size, Travis notes that the smaller the barrel, the tighter the bend or curls will be, so make your choice based on what you want the end result to be.

Volume Volume Volume – The Big Blowout

Charlie is all about giving herself a big blowout, so focuses on “over directing” the hair, or styling it in the opposite direction that the hair naturally falls. “When taking the round brush to the hair, the more you over direct the hair, the more body you will get.”

If your hair dryer has a cool shot button, the last moments of styling are when to use it. The cooler air will firm up the cuticle, holding hair in the position you’ve coaxed it into.

The Finish Line

Completing your look depends on your needs. Volume at the root? LOFT volumizer will give you a mega boost. Mist SWEPT texture spray from root to ends if you want more playful, lived in texture. A touch of DIAMOND serum will add all over sheen, POLISH balm will tame any stubborn flyaways, and WORKING hairspray will hold it all in place without sacrificing movement.

A Blowout that Lasts for Days

Now that you’ve put in the hard work, make sure that blowout lasts! Here’s how to get an extra day (or two or three) out of your look:

Start with a lightweight shampoo that removes most buildup or oils, use a lightweight conditioner on the ends
Don’t wait to use DRY SHAMPOO. Mist it at the root as soon as you finish styling. This will absorb oils as they happen rather than trying to cover up a dirty mess

A Game Changing Secret to a Great Blowout At Home

Using BOOST spray to revive your roots on the 2 or 3rd (or 4th?) day after you shampoo will change your hair game. Follow Salon Owner Tiffani Beste’s easy steps here.