Say Hello To Flawless Hair With Our Blowout Guide

Recommended tools

A great at-home blowout relies on the right styling tools. 

• Hair dryer. A good hair dryer is the difference between a blowout that takes forever and damages hair and one that’s quick while leaving hair feeling better than ever.

• Hair clips. These will make dividing your hair into manageable sections easy — we recommend Paul Mitchell Sectioning Hair Clips. 
• Round brush. To create a salon-worthy blowout, you must have a round brush that’s designed to handle heat for example Osensia Ceramic Ionic Infused Blowout Brush. This brush style handles hair better and allows you to easily twist the hair, giving that blown-out wave you’re after. 

Hair care products

While none of these products are mandatory, we recommend using them for smooth, frizz-free results.

• Leave-in conditioner. A leave-in treatment like Restore Repair Leave-In by Living proof keeps strands tangle-free and moisturized even after styling. 

• Anti-frizz sprays. If you’re constantly battling frizz, use an anti-frizz spray after your blowout. We recommend IGK’s Smoothing Serum because it’s weightless and non-greasy.

• Heat protectant. A heat protectant spray ensures you enjoy a damage-free blowout — Living Proof’s Heat Styling Spray is one of our favorites because it makes hair seriously smooth. 

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How to blow out your own hair in 8 simple steps

Here’s a step-by-step guide for the perfect blowout.

1. Wash your hair with your favorite shampoo and conditioner. While your products will depend on your hair type, we love Olaplex's No.4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo for strong strands and Luseta’s Biotin B Complex Conditioner for weightless volume.
2. If using, apply leave-in conditioner and heat protectant generously to damp hair.
3. Dry your hair as you normally would until it’s just slightly damp.
4. Divide your hair into even sections that fit comfortably around your round brush.
5. It’s time to get that round brush out. Start with the hair near your face and wrap the hair around the brush. Blow-dry the wrapped hair, holding the section until your hair is dry.
6. To get more of a wave, spin your wrist, twirling the hair as it unravels from the brush. 
7. Repeat until every section is done. 
8. Apply anti-frizz serum and a small dose of hairspray to keep your blowout smooth and long-lasting. 

While volume may subside after a few days, the shine, wave, and softness of an at-home blowout should last until your next hair wash. 

To make your blowout last longer, cover your hair with a shower cap when you shower and avoid extended periods in the sun. At night, a satin or silk pillowcase works wonders to keep your blowout looking fresh by morning.

Final tips

Here’s some advice to help you succeed at your first blowout.

1. Let your hair cool. Once your hair feels dry, hold it in the brush until it has cooled. This helps it keep the curled shape when you remove the brush.
2. Dry from root to end. Start brushing and drying at the roots of your hair out to your ends.
3. Lift away from your face. When drying the roots, lift your hair away from your face to get a voluminous blowout.
4. Maintain distance. Keep the blow-dryer several inches from your hair to avoid damage.
5. Use a nozzle. Many hair dryers come with a nozzle attachment that directs the air stream more precisely, making the drying process faster.

People also ask 

Is it better to do a blowout on wet or dry hair?

We recommend having slightly damp hair when doing your blowout. Dripping wet hair takes much longer to dry and is heavier, making it less manageable — and it’s difficult to adjust the shape and volume of dry hair. You can still use a round brush and blow-dryer on dry hair, but the results might be less dramatic.

What kind of round brush is best for a blowout?

The size of the brush barrel you choose depends on the curls you want — a small barrel makes tighter curls, while a large barrel results in bigger waves. It also depends on the length and thickness of your hair. Use a smaller brush for shorter hair to ensure your hair fits around it. A long hair blowout will benefit from a larger, longer brush. 

There are also different bristle types: natural or synthetic. Natural bristles are gentle and soft, but synthetic bristles are often more affordable. Either kind will deliver excellent results, but natural bristles may damage hair a little less. 

Does a blowout damage your hair?

Any heat-based styling tools can cause hair damage, but blowouts are typically gentler than other hot tools like straighteners and curling wands because the heat isn’t applied directly to the hair. To mitigate damage, use a heat protectant spray and blow-dry your hair on medium-to-low heat. 

For already damaged locks, use the coldest setting of your blow-dryer and incorporate a nourishing, repairing mask into your hair-care routine. 

Learning how to give yourself a blowout might seem complicated, but with some practice, you’ll be styling in your sleep. To learn more tips and tricks for blowout success, browse product reviews on Flip. Our community’s tutorials will help you get perfect, salon-worthy hair in no time.