Some tasks appear simple until you finish them. Many people, for example, do not know how to blow dry their hair so that it resembles the work of a professional stylist, which is understandable. You may not realize it, but there’s a lot more to blow drying your hair than just grabbing a dryer, pointing it at your head, and blasting it with heat. In fact, getting a beautiful at-home blowout requires the use of the right products, maintaining your hair’s health, and a little practice.
How to blow dry hair at home:
If you can, invest in a good blow dryer.
If you have the budget, you might want to consider investing in a tool that has functions to reduce hair damage and drying time. Multiple heat settings, a cool shot to close hair cuticles, and ionic air technology, for example, can be found in many dryers.
Begin by air drying or towel-drying your hair.
Dry ends can be avoided by keeping your hair healthy, resulting in shinier blowouts. According to Shilpi Khetarpal, M.D., a dermatologist at the Cleveland Clinic, one of the best ways to do this is to reduce the amount of heat you apply to your hair. To remove as much moisture as possible, she recommends towel drying or air drying your hair. Dr. Khetarpal says that the dryer your hair is, the less heat you’ll need to use.
Use the proper towel to dry your hair.
Dr. Khetarpal explains that using a heavy, bulky bath towel puts a lot of weight and tension on our hair, making it more likely to break or shed. She suggests using a small microfiber towel to dry your hair, which not only reduces tension but also friction. What’s the end result? She claims you’ll have fewer flyaways and less frizz.
Avoid brushing wet hair with a brush.
Dr. Khetarpal advises against using the round brush when your hair is wet. Using a brush to tug on wet hair increases the risk of damaging it. Instead, try this suggestion from Dr. Khetarpal: When your hair is still wet, use a wide-tooth comb to detangle it quickly. If you skip this step, your brush is more likely to get caught in knots, ripping out more hair—even if it’s already dry. Dr. Khetarpal says, “That’s just unnecessary stress on the hair.”
People with long hair should hold it in their hands and lightly comb the ends before moving up toward the roots, according to Dr. Khetarpal. This is kinder to your roots and may prevent hair breakage.
Want to read more about hair care? See how to create a hair care routine that is right for you.
Choose a brush that is appropriate for your hair type.
According to Giovanni Vaccaro, creative director of Glasmsquad, you should choose a brush based on the results you want and your hair type. To achieve a voluminous, bouncy look, stylists typically use a round brush. After that, you must choose the bristle material. Vaccaro recommends ceramic brushes to his clients with straight hair because they retain heat and provide more volume. On people with coarse hair, he prefers to use boar-bristle brushes because the material provides the right amount of tension to smooth their strands.
Use a heat protectant at all times.
Yes, heat protectants work, and you should use them as religiously as you do your SPF, according to Dr. Khetarpal. She explains, “Think of it as sunscreen for your hair.” You can use a variety of products on wet or dry hair, so read the bottle to figure out how to apply them. If you’re going to use a spray before blow drying your hair, for example, make sure it’s designed to be used on wet hair, according to Dr. Khetarpal. (On already-dried hair, some products are meant to be used with other hot tools, such as a curling iron.)
Don’t forget to distribute styling products evenly throughout your hair.
“Some people only spray the top of their hair with a serum for frizzy hair or a thickening spray for volume, rather than all over,” Yepez says. “Every now and then, you just forget about the back of your hair.”
She recommends parting your hair, sectioning it, and applying the product from the mid-shaft to the ends. According to Yepez, you can use your fingers or a comb to apply the product.
Make use of your hair dryer’s attachments.
Do you have a flat, nozzle-like attachment on the end of your hair dryer? Don’t dismiss it. According to Dr. Khetarpal, blow drying with the diffuser on is less damaging to your hair.
“A nozzle is a must for a smooth finish!” says Vaccaro. The nozzle concentrates the airflow; otherwise, the hot air disperses, causing frizz.”