If there’s one hairstyle that’s truly stood the test of time, it’s the bouncy blowout. While nothing truly compares to leaving the salon with a fresh blowout, we’ve officially reached an era where we don’t need to run to our stylists every time we want one.
Recreating the frizz-free, bouncy look that salon professionals achieve with ease is all about mastering the technique and using the right products. We’re breaking down everything you need to know about how to blowout hair, plus we’re sharing the best blowout products to add to your routine. For extra measure, make sure to check out these tips for keeping your hair smooth, shiny, and healthy.
What is a hair blowout?
Hair blowouts are a precise method of drying your hair using only a blow dryer and a round brush to achieve smooth, polished strands. The process begins with shampoo and conditioner, followed by a styling product designed specifically for blowouts. These usually help ensure hair is not only protected from the heat, but that it dries sleek and shiny.
When should you consider getting a blowout?
There’s really no wrong time to give yourself a blowout, so there are no hard and fast rules here. If you’re feeling that sleek and shiny look, go for it. That said, a blowout often feels like a “special occasion” hair, making it perfect for events and parties, important virtual calls, photoshoots, interviews, or professional settings.
Hair blowouts might seem like salon luxury, but that doesn’t mean you need to hire a pro to try one for yourself. Below, Deanna Dattolo—a Cutler Salon artist and Redken brand ambassador—breaks down her step-by-step guide to achieving a bouncy hair blowout at home.
Tsuyu Sleek Blow Dry Oil
A sleek blow dry oil that lightly coats each strand
Dry Texture Finishing Spray
Texturizing spray for all hair types that adds soft texture and lightweight volume for effortless style.
How To Give Yourself A Blowout At Home
Beginning with freshly shampooed and conditioned hair, squeeze the hair with a towel to remove any excess water.
Before you begin blow drying, you’re going to need to prep your mane with a few salon-quality products. First, apply the Redken Pillow Proof Blow Dry Express Primer Spray and comb the product evenly throughout your mane. This blow dry primer and heat protection spray cuts blow dry time, protects from heat up to 450 degrees, helps reduce breakage, and provides 24-hour lasting volume without weighing hair down.
For additional body, bounce, and a natural luminous shine, apply a dime-size amount of the Redken Velvet Gelatine 07 Blow Dry Gel throughout your mane. If you have a lot of natural texture, ensure your curly hair blowout is successful by using a smoothing and straightening blowout product, such as Shu Uemura Art Of Hair Tsuyu Sleek Blow Dry Oil.
If you experience little to no frizz, use a blow dryer to rough dry your hair until it’s about 90 percent dry. For this step, skip the brush and use your fingers to create volume by lifting the hair around your root as you go. Those with frizz-prone manes need a bit more moisture to achieve a smooth blowout—so we recommend leaving your hair slightly damper.
Pick up a 2-inch section of hair down the center of your head and hold it in place with a hair clip.
Then, split the remaining hair evenly down the middle into two sections. Divide the hair on each side of your head into two smaller sections. Tie off one of the sections using a hair clip so that it’s out of the way for now.
To begin your blowout, start with a loose section of hair from either side that’s closest to the nape of your neck. Guide your blowout hair dryer from root to tip, rolling your round brush up and down as you go until the hair is completely dry. If you have long hair, wrap the entire section around the brush before you begin. Allow the section of hair to cool for one minute before moving on.
Release the other section from the clip and divide it into two. Be sure to brush out each section before applying heat to avoid tangles. Repeat the same technique you used on the previous section, rolling your brush up and down the hair as you blow dry.
Move to the other side of your head and repeat this same technique.
Take a two-inch segment of hair from the section at the center of your head. Blow dry the section up and forward using your round brush to give the hair extra lift and body. Repeat these steps with the remaining hair from this section.
For added movement in the front, wrap your brush around the strands framing your face and twist the brush towards the back of your head as you dry.
Complete your look by applying a few spritzes of the Redken Triple Dry 15 Dry Texture Finishing Spray through your roots and ends for an effortless look with an airy, touchable hold.
Now you have a salon-worthy blowout without ever having stepped foot in a salon!
Deep Clean Dry Shampoo
A high-performance dry shampoo that absorbs excess oil on up to day 4 hair.
How To Make A Blowout Last
Once you’ve invested all that effort into giving yourself a beautiful blowout, it makes sense to preserve it as long as you can. If you’re lucky, you can get your blowout to last for five to seven days. This ultimately depends on your hair type, but there are a few other tricks you can employ, too.
First, if you want your blowout to remain flawless a bit longer, use a small amount of dry shampoo like Redken Deep Clean Dry Shampoo at the roots to help absorb excess oil and refresh. You can use a comb or your fingers to work the product through your hair. How you sleep on your hair is also important. We recommend wrapping your hair before going to bed and/or sleeping on a silk pillowcase to keep it from tangling or snagging and to maintain shine.
Some other things you can do are to wear a shower cap when showering to prevent it from getting wet. Also, don’t be afraid to play with the texture as the days go by. Try a texturizing spray to reinvigorate and add body and go in with a curling iron at the ends for some nice waves.
Best Blowout Products
To help you get a nice head start on your blow dry (pun intended), add these blowout products to your styling tool belt.
Redken Pillow Proof Blow Dry Express Primer Spray
Before your blowout, prepare your hair with this priming spray from Redken, then comb it to evenly disperse. Not only does it reduce your blow dry time, it also protects your hair from heat up to 450 degrees, helps reduce breakage, and provides 24-hour lasting volume without the weight.
Total Results High Amplify Volumizing Conditioner
A silicone-free volumizing conditioner for fine hair and limp hair.
Matrix Total Results High Amplify Volumizing Shampoo
If you have fine hair, you’ll need extra help achieving a blowout with tons of volume. That’s why we recommend starting with your shampoo and conditioner routine. Add a volumizing shampoo like Matrix Total Results High Amplify Shampoo to your routine. When used with Matrix Total Results High Amplify Volumizing Conditioner, this system cleanses and conditions to help boost the structure of fine, limp hair.
Couture Styling L'incroyable Blowdry Hair Lotion
A heat-activated styling lotion for maximum reshapability and thermal protection.
Kérastase L'incroyable Blowdry Hair Lotion
In need of a miracle? We have a miracle reshapable heat lotion for you. Kérastase’s L’incroyable Blowdry Hair Lotion helps redefine heat styling with long wear hold and repositionable shape control. As an added bonus, the formula helps control the look of frizz for 96 hours in 80 percent humidity.
Thermasmooth Smoothguard Serum
An anti-frizz, hair smoothing serum.
Mizani Thermasmooth Smoothguard Serum
Curly hair needs extra love before a blowout, so make sure you’re using a formula that’s designed to specifically support your mane’s needs. Mizani’s Thermasmooth Smoothguard Serum repels humidity and combats frizz for a smoother, shiner blowout.
Shu Uemura Art Of Hair Wonder Worker Multi-Benefit Hair Treatment
If you’re looking for a pre-blowout product that does it all, opt for Shu Uemura Art Of Hair’s Wonder Worker Multi-Benefit Hair Treatment. This multi-tasking hair primer provides seven instant benefits including hydrating, detangling, smoothing, conditioning, and taming frizz.
Redken Velvet Gelatine 07 Blow Dry Gel
This cushioning blow dry hair gel delivers some serious bounce.True to the title, it also helps make hair look and feel soft, shiny, and with a velvety finish. To use, apply a dime-sized amount to damp hair and then blow dry per usual.
Tsuyu Sleek Blow Dry Oil
A sleek blow dry oil that lightly coats each strand
Shu Uemura Art Of Hair Tsuyu Sleek Blow Dry Oil
If you prefer an oil over gel, try this sleek blow dry oil from Shu Umera. It lightly coats each strand to speed up your total blow dry time by up to half. It also adds incredible shine and leaves you with a sleek, healthy-looking blowout.
Pillow Proof Blow Dry Express Primer Two Day Extender Dry Shampoo
A dry shampoo that absorbs oils and adds grip to hairstyles.
Redken Pillow Proof Blow Dry Express Primer Two Day Extender Dry Shampoo
If you spend an hour blowing out your hair, you'll likely want it to last for more than one day. Refresh your style with a dry shampoo like Redken Pillow Proof Blow Dry Express Primer Two Day Extender Dry Shampoo. This formula instantly refreshes hair and absorbs oil to extend the life of your blowdry by two days.
Total Results High Amplify Wonder Boost Root Lifter
A root lifter with a targeted applicator, ideal for fine hair.
Matrix Total Results High Amplify Wonder Boost Root Lifter
Struggling to get volume at the root? Invest in a root-lifting product like Matrix Total Results High Amplify Wonder Boost Root Lifter. This product features a targeted applicator for extreme lift at the root area or all-over volume.
Dry Texture Finishing Spray
Texturizing spray for all hair types that adds soft texture and lightweight volume for effortless style.
Redken Triple Dry 15 Dry Texture Finishing Spray
Another way to help give your blowout a longer life is to add a bit of texture after a few days have passed. This adds volume and dimension, without leaving you with a greasy, stiff, or weighed-down finish. It's perfect for that comfortably lived-in look.
Interested in more expert styling tips? Use our salon locator to book an appointment at a salon near you.
Tsuyu Sleek Blow Dry Oil
A sleek blow dry oil that lightly coats each strand
Dry Texture Finishing Spray
Texturizing spray for all hair types that adds soft texture and lightweight volume for effortless style.
Deep Clean Dry Shampoo
A high-performance dry shampoo that absorbs excess oil on up to day 4 hair.
Total Results High Amplify Volumizing Conditioner
A silicone-free volumizing conditioner for fine hair and limp hair.
Couture Styling L'incroyable Blowdry Hair Lotion
A heat-activated styling lotion for maximum reshapability and thermal protection.
Thermasmooth Smoothguard Serum
An anti-frizz, hair smoothing serum.
Pillow Proof Blow Dry Express Primer Two Day Extender Dry Shampoo
A dry shampoo that absorbs oils and adds grip to hairstyles.
Total Results High Amplify Wonder Boost Root Lifter
A root lifter with a targeted applicator, ideal for fine hair.
