How to Get a Good Blow Dry

To get the perfect blow dry, you need to know some tricks of the trade. It will take practice and patience (and some arm strength!), but you can do it!

To begin, towel dry your hair. The more moisture you can get out of it before you start blow drying, the better! The fastest way to soak up moisture is to use paper towels. Take 3 or 4 sheets and wrap around your hair to get out excess wetness. If the paper towels come away soaked, do it again.

After your hair has been towel dried, you need to apply product to protect your hair from heat damage. You should select a product depending on your hair type and your desired style. I love the Paul Mitchell product Super Skinny and use it on everyone before I put in any other product or blow dry. It helps smooth out the hairs and cuts down on drying time. Plus, it smells fantastic! If you are going for a sleek, straight look, choose a product that aids in straightening. For curls, choose a sculpting mousse or gel. If you want volume, use a root lifting product or volumizing mousse… You get the idea. Use just a small amount of whatever product you choose and start at the ends. Work your way up the hair strands, then brush the product through to evenly distribute it throughout the strands.

Now that you are ready to start blow drying, clip your hair up leaving a section in the back on the bottom. Your hair should be mostly dry by now, just barely damp. If you are looking for sleek straight hair, use a large paddle brush with natural bristles. Hold the blow dryer at the top of your head and direct the air flow from the roots of the loose hair to the ends. Keep the hair in the brush while you slide it from top to bottom. You don’t want the hair just blowing around because it will tangle and look frizzy. After you have dried the hair using the medium setting, blast it with a quick shot of cold air. This will help give you more shine and lock in the straightness. If you are looking for a curly or wavy style, make sure to have a diffuser attachment for your blow dryer to help those natural curls look amazing. These help keep the curl in the right shape while drying without getting that frizzy look. After drying each section completely, move up the head. It’s easier to start at the bottom and work your way up because when you drop the hair down, you aren’t putting dry hair on top of wet. It’s also easier because you can see what you are doing more easily.

Note: If you want the full curls, use a large round brush with natural bristles. Make sure the hair is almost completely dry, then wrap the hair over the brush and twist as you slide the brush toward the ends. Be careful not to get your hair tangled. This takes a lot of practice, but if you can get it right you will have model hair! Once you have completed a curl, pin it in place with a clip at the base of the curl. Let it cool before you take it down for the most volume.

There are lots of little things that make a blow dry perfect. Start with quality products and tools, then practice, practice, practice!!!