How To Blow Out Your Hair At Home Like A Pro

If there’s one thing the past couple of years have taught us it’s how to make the most out of idle time. For beauty lovers, it was about learning to do all the things we typically go to professionals for — including styling our hair. We learned to perfect our twist outs, how to do knotless box braids and even some of the more basic processes, like how to blow dry our hair for style. Having a bouncy, 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.

And for those who didn’t quite add this to their list of hairstyling skills in 2020 or 2021, we’re here to give you a crash course in blowouts. Ready to get schooled? Follow our steps the next time you break out your blow dryer in hopes of creating the appearance of smooth, shiny hair with just the right amount of curl at the ends. Consider this your official tutorial on how to do a blowout at home 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. The overall idea is to get shiny and manageable locks 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. And in some cases, the right heat protectant is not used, which also works against maintaining a healthy mane. So if you’re worried about hair damage, save blowouts for special occasions — air-drying your hair most of the time — 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 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 the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Dream Lengths Frizz Killer Serum Leave-In to kick things off. Be sure to distribute evenly through clean, damp hair for maximum protection and to help tame frizz and static 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 the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Volume Shampoo and L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Volume Conditioner, before you start your blowout.

Step 2: Detangle Your Strands

Brush through your hair from root to tip to detangle your strands. This helps to ensure that your strands are nice and smooth, which is key for achieving the perfect blowout. And 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. 

Try a boar or nylon bristle brush to help 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 help with 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 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 you’ll love. And that’s how to blow dry hair straight like a pro.

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? It helps with heat distribution to give your strands a smoother and sleeker finish. Be sure to use as low of a setting as your hair type allows so that you can prevent any unnecessary damage. If you have thick hair, you could 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 It Off

Finish your look by adding some volume to it. Spray through your hair with your go-to lift spray for a full-bodied, blown-out look. And voilà!

Next: 9 Hair Care Resolutions To Make For 2022

Edited by: Shalwah Evans, Photo Credit: iStock