2 Ways to Hack a Blowout Without Picking Up a Blow Dryer

It’s hard to beat the bounce, volume and shine of hair that has just been blown out. This simple yet glamorous hair style is a classic for any occasion like going to work or out for a night on the town. As good as blowouts look, they require lots of work and time to achieve their bouncy and smooth style, plus, using heat on your hair too often can lead to damaged strands. 

Lucky for you, it’s easy to fake bouncy, voluminous strands without picking up a blow dryer. Below, check out our step-by-step guide to learn how to fake a blowout without heat and with a curling iron.

How to Get the Look of a Blowout Without Heat

Getting the look of a blowout sans heat is totally possible with the right styling products.  The right styling products will help to manage frizz, add volume and enhance shine — all must-haves for blown-out looking hair, but especially if you don’t plan to pick up a blow dryer. Follow these steps instead.

1. Wash Your Hair

The first thing you want to do when trying to get the look of blown-out hair is to create a full and bouncy base. Start by washing hair with the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Hyaluron Plump Hydrating Shampoo, Paraben-Free and conditioning with the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Hyaluron Plump Hydrating Conditioner, Paraben-Free. This hydrating duo is formulated with hyaluronic acid to help to make hair fuller, shinier and bouncier with each use.

If you have thin hair, you may want to opt for a thickening shampoo and conditioner to help your hair appear fuller. The L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Volume Shampoo and the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Volume Conditioner will help to give your strands body and long-lasting shine without weighing them down.

2. Add Some Volume

After washing your hair, it’s time to apply some volume-boosting products that will give your strands an extra lift without reaching for a blow dryer. Towel dry your strands and apply a volumizing hair mousse like the L’Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle BOOST IT Volume Inject Mousse to give your hair volume and bounce that’ll last all day long.

3. Smooth it Out

Now that your hair is full, bouncy and voluminous, the next step to faking a blowout is to tame any frizz and flyaways. Use an anti-frizz serum like the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Dream Lengths Frizz Killer Serum Leave-In to smooth your strands, banish frizz and add shine. This lightweight, non-greasy serum also doubles as a heat protectant if needed.

4. Create Space Buns

If you want your faux blowout to have some bounce, try space buns to add some movement and volume to your hair without heat. Section your hair into two parts, like you’re creating pigtails and create a loose bun on each side, twisting your hair away from your face and securing with a loose hair tie or scrunchie. You can try this style overnight for tighter waves or as you get ready to give your strands some loose movement and added body.

5. Brush Your Hair

Once it’s time to take out your space buns, quickly brush through your hair or fingercomb to smooth out any flyaways. If your ends are a little unruly, you can use a pump of the Elvive Dream Lengths Frizz Killer Serum Leave-In to help smooth your strands and add shine to finish off the look.

How to Get the Look of a Blowout With a Curling Iron

If your hair needs a little more attention, using a curling iron and velcro rollers to hack a blowout is an excellent, time-saving method. The results are sure to give bouncy, voluminous strands that rival a blowout in half the time with less heat styling.

1. Start with Dry Hair

Make sure your hair is fully dry and primed with a heat protectant like the aforementioned Elvive Dream Lengths Frizz Killer Serum Leave-In.

Editor’s tip: If you need a refresh, reach for a tinted dry shampoo like the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Tinted Dry Shampoo for Blonde Hair or the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Tinted Dry Shampoo for Brown Hair to banish oily roots and add volume.

2. Curl the Ends

A larger curling iron like one with a one-and-a-half-inch barrel works best to create this blow dry-inspired style. Take your curling iron and curl your hair, mid-length to the ends, away from your face. After each curl, grab a velcro roller and wrap your curls starting at the ends of your hair and rolling up. Clip your roller in place and continue the process until you’re finished. When you get to the front of your hair, curl larger sections away from your face, adding the velcro rollers after each curl to create face-framing layers. Bonus: this method works really well if you have curtain bangs. 

3. Wait for the Curls to Cool

You want to give your hair around ten minutes (or longer) to set in the velcro rollers so use this time to do your makeup routine. Ideally, you want your hair to be completely cooled when you start to take the rollers out.

4. Take Out the Rollers and Set

When it’s time to take the rollers out, unclip your hair and unroll, pulling the roller down to remove. Do this process until all the rollers are out and smooth your hair with your fingers. The ends should look big and bouncy, giving your hair movement that rivals a fresh blowout. Set your hair with a light spritz of hairspray like the L’Oréal Paris Elnett Satin Extra Strong Hold, Light Hairspray Unscented and enjoy your voluminous, blown-out-looking strands.

Next: 3 Chic Ways To Style Your Hair With A Claw Clip

Written and photo credit by: Reece Andavolgyi