There’s one thing everyone who frequently hits the salon can agree on: Professional stylists have a magic touch when it comes to blow drying hair. As someone who has wavy, frizzy hair that even the best frizz-fighting serum can’t seem to tame, there’s nothing like walking out of the salon with a fresh blowout. While I love my natural texture, there’s something special about that signature, bouncy blowout only a stylist can give you—but that hasn’t stopped me from trying. Over the years, I’ve followed several tutorial videos (and used a ton of blowout products) to try to recreate the perfect blowout at home.
If you, like me, want to figure out how to blow dry hair based on your hair type, you’ve come to the right place! Read on for all of the tips, tricks, and products you need to know about to achieve the best blowout possible every time you pick up your blow dryer.
What are the benefits of blow drying hair?
As much as I love air-dried hair, the problem is, I'm never actually sure what my hair is going to look like from one day to another. Sometimes, my natural waves are beachy and textured, and other times they fall flat. One of the major benefits of blow drying hair is that when you do it right, you can ensure that you get a smooth, frizz-free blowout every time. Not only that, but it can help to get your mane ready for any hairstyle you want to create.
Deep Clean Dry Shampoo
A high-performance dry shampoo that absorbs excess oil on up to day 4 hair.
Is it ok to blow dry your hair everyday?
Much like enjoying your favorite sweets, heat styling should be done in moderation. Even if you’re using a heat protectant every time you blow dry, hitting your mane with heat seven days a week can leave your hair looking and feeling a bit damaged and dry. That’s why we recommend air drying your strands and giving them a break from heat styling as much as possible throughout the week.
While you shouldn’t turn up the heat everyday, you can make your blowout last longer with a dry shampoo like Redken Deep Clean Dry Shampoo. This formula delivers maximum oil absorption to refresh your look—even after four days without shampooing.
Good hair day by @gorjesshair_.
Is it better to blow dry wet or dry hair?
This is a trick question! You shouldn’t blow dry your hair when it’s sopping wet or bone dry. It’s best to wait until your hair is damp before you begin blow drying. Blow drying your hair when its too wet or too dry can lead to damage, frizz, and dullness. Waiting until your hair is damp (or 65 percent dry) will limit the time your hair is exposed to heat and prevent excessive damage.
Total Results Miracle Creator Nourishing Strengthening Mask
A nourishing, strengthening hair mask that delivers instant results.
25 Miracle Milk Leave-In Conditioner
A lightweight leave-in conditioner with heat protection that detangles, calms frizz, and treats damage and dryness.
How do I blowdry my hair without it getting frizzy?
Have you ever blow dried your hair and your strands ended up looking more messy,bedhead than smooth and sleek? Hair becomes frizzy due to lack of moisture, so the key to frizz-free strands is learning how to blow dry hair while keeping your r strands hydrated. If your locks are dry, be sure to use a weekly hair mask like Matrix Miracle Creator Mask to nourish and strengthen your strands. You can also use a leave-in conditioner like Mizani 25 Miracle Milk for long-lasting moisture before you blow dry hair.
You may be setting your blow dry up for failure before you even break out your round brush. Post-blowdry frizz can also be caused by drying your hair with a cotton towel. This material can cause friction, making your hair more prone to frizz. Instead, gently towel dry your mane with a towel made out of microfiber. If you don’t have a microfiber towel on hand, try using an old t-shirt to remove excess water before you begin blow drying.
Frizz Dismiss Instant Deflate Hair Oil
A hair oil-in serum that prevents frizz, puffiness and excess volume.
Forceful 23 Anti-Frizz Super Strength Hairspray
An anti-frizz, strong-hold hair finishing spray.
How do I fix frizzy hair after blow drying?
Sometimes, all the hydration in the world can’t stop frizz from ruining your blow dry. If you’re dealing with unruly frizz after blow drying your hair, there are a couple of things you can do to tame it.
Try applying an anti-frizz hair oil like Redken Frizz Dismiss Instant Deflate Hair Oil to your mane. This formula helps control the effects of humidity on strands and prevents excess volume and puffiness while leaving hair more manageable. If frizz pops up around your hairline throughout the day, grab a clean toothbrush and a hairspray like Redken Forceful 23 Anti-Frizz Super Strength Hairspray. Apply a few spritzes of hairspray to your toothbrush and gently smooth it over the frizzy strands around your crown. If you’re on the go, throw the toothbrush in your purse and use this trick to control unruly strands throughout the day.
How do I prepare my hair for a blowout?
Start by prepping your hair with a salon-quality shampoo and conditioner (preferably a system made for your hair type). This will create a foundation that will lead to better blow dry results. Before you begin styling, apply a heat-protecting blow dry primer to your hair before you begin your blowout.
Good hair day by @camileghorayebhairdoctor.
What do you put in your hair before you blowdry it?
The blowdry primer you should choose depends entirely on your hair type and what benefits you need from the formula. If you have fine hair that struggles to hold volume, opt for a volumizing blowdry primer with heat protection. For thicker hair types, choose a product that helps speed up your blow dry time. If you have curly or textured hair, you’ll want a humidity-resistant blow dry primer that prevents frizz and keeps your hair smooth.
Not sure what blowdry primer to add to your routine? We’ll get to that in a moment!
Good hair day by @thefaithfulblonde.
How do you blowdry your hair properly?
Every hair type requires specific blow dry methods to achieve the best results. There are, however, a few essential tips and tricks everyone should follow to get the best blow dry possible.
Choose the right tools.
Not all hair dryers are created equal. Using a quality hair dryer (and the best one for your hair type) is essential for keeping your hair healthy and looking its best. Searching for the best hair dryer for your hair type and concerns? Click here for our guide.
When it comes to blow drying your hair, there’s one more tool that’s almost as important as your hair dryer: Your hair brush. You should choose a brush depending on the results you want and your hair type. If you’re trying to speed up the blow dry process, opt for a vented brush. If you want a bouncy salon-like blowout, pick up a round brush. Click here to find out which brush is right for you.
Don’t forget the attachments.
You know that flat, nozzle attachment that came with your blow dryer? While you may have to dig it out of your drawer, it’s actually important to attach it to your hair dryer every time you blow dry. Not only does the attachment help you achieve smoother, sleeker hair, but it also helps to concentrate the air coming from your dryer, which helps protect your strands from excess heat and damage.
Always use a heat protectant.
No matter your hair type, you should always prep your mane with a heat protectant. Once you’ve applied the heat protectant throughout your strands, use a wide-tooth comb to detangle your hair and make sure the product is evenly distributed.
Complete your blowdry with cool air
You know that cool shot button on your blow dryer? It’s time to stop ignoring it. Not only does completing your blow dry with a quick shot of cold air lock in your look and make your blowout last longer, but it also helps seal your hair cuticles to manage frizz and add shine.
Wondering how to blow dry hair specifically for your hair type? Below, we’re breaking down tips, tricks, and steps each hair type should follow when blow drying their hair. This is a step every hair type can benefit from.
If You Have Thick Hair:
Towel and air dry your hair first.
When you have thick hair, it can sometimes take hours to dry your mane completely. It can take so long that it seems like an all-day affair, leading to arm cramps and frequent breaks. Cut down on some of your drying time and give your arms a much-needed break by toweling off your hair and then letting it air dry a bit. Pro tip: Gently squeeze out any excess water with your hands before drying with a microfiber towel. This step will also help speed up the drying process.
Have some chores you need to finish before heading out of the house? Allow your hair to further air dry while completing your household tasks. By the time you’re done, your hair will be ready for you to give it a quick and easy blowout.
Quick Blowout Heat Protecting Blowdry Spray
A lightweight spray that helps reduce blow drying time
Use a blow dry primer that helps speed up your blow dry.
Want to reduce blow dry time? There are blow dry primers that can help you do just that. Redken’s Quick Blowout Heat Protecting Blow Dry Spray is a lightweight primer that helps you achieve an effortless blowout in lightning speed. The flash drying formula is packed with rich oils to control frizz and nourish strands as you style and protects strands from heat damage.
Pro tip: This formula is bi-phase (meaning it’s made with oil and water) so you’ll need to shake it up before spraying it throughout your hair.
Blow dry your mane in sections.
When it’s time to blow dry, prepping your strands can mean the difference between a sleek blowout and a tangled disaster. Instead of yanking a brush through your plentiful strands, use large hair clips to section your hair into four to six segments. Working with one section at a time will ensure a tangle-free and flawless blowout.
Use a vented paddle brush.
Round boar bristle brushes have become synonymous with blowouts because they’re great at creating lots of volume. However, volume is all but guaranteed when you have thick hair. Use a vented paddle brush to help speed up the drying process and give you a sleek blowout in no time.
Good hair day by @taylorhardeehair.
If You Have Fine Hair:
Big Blowout Heat Protecting Jelly Serum
A heat protecting gel serum that provides volume and body
Invest in volumizing hair products.
When you have fine strands, making them appear as voluminous as possible is the goal. One of the best ways to do that is to invest in volumizing hair products. A volumizing shampoo, conditioner, and styling product can help you achieve a bouncy, full blowout. For shampoo and conditioner, we recommend trying Redken Volume Injection Shampoo and Conditioner. This system, made with the brand’s bodifying complex with filloxane, helps provide instant volume to fine, flat, or processed hair.
Once you’re out of the shower, apply a volumizing blow dry primer like Redken Big Blowout Heat Protecting Jelly Serum. The heat-protecting blowout gel provides instant volume and 24 hours of body and bounce. It also gives hair a smooth, silky finish with no crunch and anti-humidity control.
Blow dry your hair with an upward motion.
Your volumizing hair products won’t be able to live up to their full potential without a little help. When you’re ready to blow dry your hair, use a round boar bristle brush in an upward motion to create some much-needed volume at your roots.
Set your hair with rollers.
Whether or not you allow your hair to cool down properly can often determine if your bouncy blow out will last the night. Instead of letting it hang down your back, wrap the still-warm sections of hair around foam or velcro rollers to help set your mane with body and volume.
Good hair day by @tiarrapearson.
If You Have Textured Hair:
Set your hair in rollers first.
When blow drying textured hair, it’s best to use a two-step method. First, set your freshly washed, damp hair in rollers and allow your hair to completely dry underneath a hooded dryer. This step will stretch your strands and allow you to use less tension when it comes time for your blow out.
Steampod Hair Straightener + Curling Iron
A flat iron for fast, smooth styling on all hair types.
Follow your blowout with a flat iron.
If you’re hoping to achieve super straight, sleek strands, you may not be able to pull it off with your blow dryer alone. Give your hair dryer a break and finish your style with your flat iron, gently passing it over dried locks to give your strands a shiny finish. Be sure to re-apply your heat protectant product before flat ironing your hair.
Searching for a flat iron to add to your collection? Try L'Oréal Professionnel’s Steampod. This innovative steam-powered flat iron can straighten or wave any hair type two times faster and two times smoother* with 91 percent less breakage over time**.
*Compared to Steampod without steam and comb (heating plates only) **After 15 uses with steam and integrated comb vs. Steampod heating plates alone.
Humidity Resistant Mist Hairspray
A humidity-resistant anti-frizz spray delivering light hold.
Set your look with a humidity-resistant mist.
Textured hair can revert to its natural state faster than any other hair type. Help your blowout last as long as possible by setting your look with a humidity-resistant formula. Mizani’s Humidity Resistant Mist Hairspray provides a lightweight, flexible hold to styles while helping to shield the hair from moisture caused by high humidity situations.
Searching for more blow dry tips? Use our salon locator to book an appointment with a pro stylist near you.
Quick Blowout Heat Protecting Blowdry Spray
A lightweight spray that helps reduce blow drying time
Big Blowout Heat Protecting Jelly Serum
A heat protecting gel serum that provides volume and body
Deep Clean Dry Shampoo
A high-performance dry shampoo that absorbs excess oil on up to day 4 hair.
Total Results Miracle Creator Nourishing Strengthening Mask
A nourishing, strengthening hair mask that delivers instant results.
25 Miracle Milk Leave-In Conditioner
A lightweight leave-in conditioner with heat protection that detangles, calms frizz, and treats damage and dryness.
Frizz Dismiss Instant Deflate Hair Oil
A hair oil-in serum that prevents frizz, puffiness and excess volume.
Forceful 23 Anti-Frizz Super Strength Hairspray
An anti-frizz, strong-hold hair finishing spray.
Steampod Hair Straightener + Curling Iron
A flat iron for fast, smooth styling on all hair types.
Humidity Resistant Mist Hairspray
A humidity-resistant anti-frizz spray delivering light hold.
