How To Get A Salon-Quality Blowout At Home

The tips, tricks, and products to help you achieve your best DIY blowout ever.

For anyone who's ever gotten an in-salon hair service, you’re likely familiar with a blow out. Whether you’re visiting your stylist for a new haircut or a fresh head of blonde highlights, a bouncy, voluminous blowout service is often the cherry on top of every appointment.

If you’re not a frequent salon goer and you’re wondering “What is a blowout?”, let us break it down for you. Simply put, a hair blowout is the art of creating a smooth, bouncy look using only a blow dryer and a round brush (otherwise known as a blowout brush). While nothing beats an in-salon blowout, we’re always sharing techniques, tips, and products to make recreating the look at home easier.

Searching for tips to blowout hair the right way? We’re talking all things blowouts for hair below. Read on for everything you need to know about getting the best hair blowouts at home, including tips to enhance your blowouts hair style and must-have styling products.

How do you give yourself a blowout for beginners?

If you can teach yourself how to work your hair, then every day you can be fabulous without the hands of a professional. To show us just how to do that, we visited Dop Dop Salon in New York City where L'Oréal Professionnel artist and Hair.com Ambassador Madison Sullivan shared trade secrets.

Before even picking up a blow dryer or a brush, Sullivan started her blowout explainer at the sink. You always wash your hair before blowing it out, so it only makes sense that the shampoo, conditioner, and any treatment you choose becomes the foundation of your blowout. “Look for words like ‘moisturizing,’ ‘color vobrancy,’ ‘anti-frizz,’ ‘volume,’ etc. when choosing products and pick one that suits your needs,” she says.

If you’re asking yourself to blow dry on wet or dry hair? The answer is neither! It’s actually best to start with damp hair. “This is the biggest mistake people make,” Sullivan warns. Damp hair is the easiest to shape and the best way to achieve the style you want with minimal damage. You haven’t picked up a brush yet, instead, Sullivan instructs you to use your fingers to comb hair upwards and aim the blower at the roots for lift. “You want your roots to be 100 percent dry,” she adds as the only exception. Using the nozzle attachment, make sure you direct heat at the brush and not elsewhere on your head to ensure a smooth finish.

And when it comes time for the brush, the right one matters just as much as the right products. Not all round brushes are created the same so be mindful of your choices when thinking of your desired blowout style. The bigger the brush, the more volume; small round brushes can be used for adding a curling effect; and a mix of boar and ion bristles are preferred for shiny, healthy-looking locks. Keep scrolling for more pro tips and to see one of our Hair.com editor’s master the art of the blowout with Sullivan’s help.