How to Blowout Your Hair at Home in 5 Simple Steps

Thanks to social media, if you don’t know how to do a bouncy blowout, you can learn fairly quickly because it’s one of the hottest hairstyles at the moment. This is game-changer because it means having a silky, voluminous-looking blowout that you can flip from side to side no longer requires trekking to the salon or spending hours in the stylist’s chair. It can be done at home — all you need is a little practice, the right products and proper technique. 

If you’re ready to polish your hair skills, follow these five simple steps the next time you break out your blow dryer. Consider this your official guide to mastering an at-home blowout for professional grade results.  

Are Blowouts Bad for Your Hair?

Before we get to the steps, let’s address a legitimate concern that some folks may have. A blowout is the process of drying your hair with the help of a blow dryer and hair brush to achieve a smooth and sleek style that still has body and bounce. The overall idea is to get shiny and manageable strands without the help of other heat-styling tools, such as a flat iron or curling wand.

It’s easy to think that with high-temperature heat being used to style your strands, a blowout could be bad news for your hair. The truth is, it really depends on the health of your hair and how often you get blowouts. With most blowout sessions, stylists work with super hot temperatures that will help you achieve a great style but can damage your strands if done too frequently. 

If you’re not using heat protectant, you should because it's going to shield your hair from the hot temperatures of your hair tools that can lead to damage such as breakage, split ends and dryness. If you’re still worried about hair damage, save blowouts for special occasions, air dry your strands for daily wear, and use a heat protectant when you do break out your blow dryer.

How to Do a Blowout

Do you ever wonder why your blowout always looks amazing when you leave the salon, but when you attempt to blow dry your mane on your own you look like you have poofy, frizzy hair? It turns out there’s a technique to doing a blowout properly at home. Thankfully, it's one we're confident you can master by following the steps outlined below.

Step 1. Prime Your Hair

Since your hair is going to be styled with a blow dryer, you want to make sure that your strands are protected. Start by using L’Oréal Paris Everpure Sulfate-Free Weightless Blow Dry Primer, Heat Protectant to kick things off. Be sure to distribute evenly through clean, damp hair for maximum protection and smooth the hair while you dry.

Editor’s tip: If you have thin or fine hair that always appears to fall flat, use a system of volumizing shampoo and conditioner, like L’Oréal Paris Elvive Hyaluron + Plump Hydrating Shampoo, Paraben-Free and L’Oréal Paris Elvive Hyaluron + Plump Hydrating Conditioner, Paraben-Free, before you start your blowout. It contains hyaluronic acid to give dry, flat hair volume, shine and body for up to 72 hours. 

Step 2. Detangle Your Strands

Brush through your hair from root to tip to detangle it. This helps to ensure that your strands are nice and smooth, which is key for achieving the perfect blowout. Remember, when it comes to a quality blowout, the brush you use can make or break your look. The general rule of thumb: The bigger the brush you use, the smoother the finish you can expect to achieve. A smaller brush can still bring good results, but it will create tighter curls in your blowout. 

Try a boar or nylon bristle brush to distribute the natural oils from your roots to your ends to help tame flyaways as you blow dry. To help add volume or curl, pick up a round brush. If you want to create a straighter, sleeker look, a paddle brush can achieve that. 

Step 3. Section Your Hair

Now that your hair is detangled, it’s time to section off your strands. Start by parting your hair into two even sections and secure the top half with a hair clip. Next, split the bottom section into two even 

parts and allow each side to fall over your shoulders. The goal is to keep the sections that you’re not working on out of your way to make things more manageable.  

Step 4. Blow Dry

Starting with one of the bottom sections, rough dry your hair (use your fingers to brush through your hair as you dry it to remove excess moisture) until it’s about 80 percent dry. Repeat on the other side. Next, using a brush, focus your blow dryer near your roots, and work your way down to your ends. Be sure to use a controlled technique. Repeat on the other side. Release the top half of your hair and continue the drying process. Once complete, twist your hair and focus the blow dryer on your length.

Depending on what look you’re going for, you’ll switch up what you’re doing with the blow dryer and brush. For a pin-straight blowout, brush your hair forward toward your face while following with the dryer. After a few passes, brush it toward the back of your head. Finish up by drying your hair straight downward, directly angled to the floor for a super straight finish.

For a blowout with curly ends start by brushing your hair forward toward your face while following with the blow dryer. After one or two passes, blow dry down the length of your hair and as you reach the ends, twist the brush to create a curl. Continue the process for a few more passes to define your curly ends, and you’re all set. 

Editor’s tip: Remember that mysterious nozzle that came with your blow dryer when you first bought it? Known as an air concentrator, it helps with heat distribution to give your strands a smoother and sleeker finish. Be sure to use the lowest setting possible for your hair type so that you can prevent unnecessary damage. If you have thick hair, you might actually need a higher heat setting, but if you have thin hair, you may be able to get away with using less heat.

Step 5. Finish With Hairspray

Finish your look by adding some volume to it. Flip your head upside down and spray your hair with hairspray, like L’Oréal Paris Elnett Satin Extra Strong Hold Hair Spray - Unscented. This will give volume and height at the roots for a style with lots of body.

Next: 21 of the Best ‘80s Hairstyles That Are Still On-Trend Today

Photo Credit: IG@/cherub. sydney, Photo Design: Hannah Packer