9 Tips for Maximizing Your Blowout
I’ve been working for AGES to perfect the perfect blowout. My hair, you see, it is rather high maintenance. I KNOW you look at it and think it’s stick-straight, right? But it’s not. It’s frizzy and thinning and generally a pain in my neck.
The days you see my hair down are the days that I do the whole big round brush blow-dry routine like they do in the salons. It’s a pain, and I dread it and put it off sometimes for two or three days, but it’s the only way to style my hair. The rest of the time, it’s in a ponytail.
I used to have long hair that I would just flip over, blast with any old blow-dryer, and then go on with my day. But no more. This hairstyle requires some serious elbow grease. I have watched my hair dresser style it and asked questions and practiced until I pretty much mastered it. And it just wouldn’t feel right not to pass all this acquired wisdom on to you!
So here you go, my 9 tips for maximizing your blowout. (I started out with 5 and ended up with 9 . . . I did warn you that it’s a bit of a process.)
9 Tips for Maximizing Your Blowout
1. Invest in a good hairdryer. You probably saw that one coming. I’m always going to recommend investing in good tools, whether I’m in the kitchen, the office or the bathroom. I recently got the chance to test drive the Conair Infiniti Pro 3Q Brushless Motor dryer. This hair dryer significantly reduces drying time with lower temperature and faster airflow to minimize heat damage. Because the last thing you want to do is fry your hair while trying to get that perfect blowout. Plus the ionic technology helps reduce frizz.
2. Towel dry or air dry the hair halfway before using the blow dryer. You don’t want to apply the heat of the blow dryer any longer than necessary as that is drying and hard on the hair. So wait until it’s about half dry before starting. I usually do my makeup while my hair is air drying some. The professionals recommend using paper towels and blotting your hair dry. Rubbing your hair with typical bath towels create friction and cause split ends. (I use a regular towel; I just try not to be too rough with it.)
3. Use a heat protectant. Always, ALWAYS use a good product to protect your hair before blow drying or using a hot iron to prevent damage.
4. Blow dry hair in sections. I remember once asking my hair dresser if she did that at home, and I was incredulous when she said that she did. I thought pinning hair up and drying it in sections was only something they did at the salon. But once I started drying my hair this way, I realized how much more effective and efficient it is. I use a medium-sized round brush, and once again, you want to use a good quality product.
5. Always point your hairdryer down the hair shaft. If you blow the other direction, up the hair shaft, it will cause fly-aways and frizz. This takes some practice, but you’ll get the hang of it — and a workout in the process. Bonus!
6. Dry your hair roots to ends. Make sure the roots are dry before shaping the ends.
7. Pull your brush through your hair as you blow it dry. That may sound obvious, but it’s not as easy to do as it sounds. Use some tension, and keep pulling the brush through the hair, creating the shape you want. The more you pull with your brush as you dry, the longer your blowout will last.
8. Finish with shine serum or a light hairspray. Whenever I skip this step, I regret it. It really does help the shape last and keeps the hair smooth and frizz-free longer.
9. Hands off! Once you’re done, don’t touch it. I’m a hair twirler, so I know how hard it is to leave your hair alone, but the oils from your hands will make it fall. You’re better off not running your hands through your hair, at least until the shape is set.
So there you have it! You CAN have that professional blowout at home. A good hair dryer is DEFINITELY key. I’ve truly been impressed with the Infiniti Pro 3Q. I have a hair dryer with ionic technology that I paid a pretty penny for. At $119.99 this blow dryer is a great value. I believe it actually dries my hair faster than the one I own, and I can feel that the temperature is not as hot, which should definitely help protect the hair. Plus it is super quiet, which I love.
Infiniti Pro by Conair 3Q is the world’s first hair dryer featuring a brushless motor available at mass retail. The dryer’s name is derived from three of its key benefits, all of which begin with the letter “Q:” quick, quiet, quality.
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Conair. The opinions and text are all mine.
