The Best Way to Achieve a Salon Quality Blowout

Learn how to get shiny and voluminous hair with a blow dryer and round brush

Co-authored by Gina Almona and Aly Rusciano

Last Updated: November 28, 2022 References Approved

Prep

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Drying

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Styling

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Expert Q&A

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Tips

You stride out of the salon looking and feeling like a million bucks. Your hair is gorgeous, bouncing to and fro over your shoulders. But then you stop, realizing that the next time you wash your hair, the volume will be gone! What if we told you that you could achieve a salon-quality blowout at home? With our help, you can combat frizz and get lasting shine with after each wash, so every day feels like you're walking on a runway.

Things You Should Know

Spritz your hair with a heat protectant spray before you start blow drying to prevent damage.
Twist your hair around a round brush using upward strokes while blow drying for maximum volume.
Smooth your hair with a hair oil or serum to add some extra shine to your voluminous locks after blow drying.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Prep

1
Wash your hair with to prepare it for styling. Make sure your hair is clean before giving yourself a glamorous blowout. Use a shampoo and conditioner that’s sulfate and alcohol free to avoid frizz and dry ends. Now, how often you wash your hair all depends on your hair type and lifestyle.^{[1]
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Cleveland Clinic
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- If you have fine hair, aim to wash it every 2 to 3 days.^{[2]
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- If you have textured or curly hair, try to wash it every 5 to 7 days.
- If you have colored hair, wash it every other day or every 3 days.
- If you don’t feel like giving your hair a sudsy scrub, stick your head under the shower for a few minutes for a good rinse.^{[3]
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2
Squeeze the excess moisture out of your hair with a towel. To achieve the perfect blowout look, your hair should be between 50% and 80% dry. Wrap your hair up in a 100% cotton towel, or gently scrunch it with a microfiber towel.^{[4]
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Research source} If towel drying isn’t your thing, do a few chores or watch a movie while your hair air dries.
- When drying your hair with a towel, avoid rubbing it together, as this can cause friction, damage, and frizz.
- Always opt for microfiber or pure cotton material when it comes to towels, as these are the most gentle on hair.
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3
Detangle your damp hair with a wide tooth comb. Your hair may be a bit tangled after you’ve dried it with a towel. Use a wide tooth comb or wet brush to make sure everything’s nice and smooth.^{[5]
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- Avoid using a regular bristle brush on wet hair, as this could cause spilt ends.
- Consider adding a few squirts of leave-in conditioner or detangling spray to make combing away tangles that much easier.
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Apply a heat protectant before using heat on your hair. Heat can damage hair follicles and cause brittleness and dryness. To prevent this, always use a heat protectant spray to protect your hair and minimize damage.^{[6]
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Trustworthy Source
PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
Go to source} Simply follow the instructions on the back of the product—you won’t even realize it’s on your hair!
- Leave-in conditioners can also protect your hair, especially the ends, but they shouldn’t be used alone. If you have dry or split ends, consider combing this product through your hair before spritzing it with a heat protectant.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Drying

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Separate your hair into 2 sections using hair clips. To get that voluminous salon look, work on your hair in parts. Use a comb to divide your hair into 2 sections, running it along the top of your ears and around your head. Clip up the top section, so it’s separated from the rest. Now, you can focus on drying the bottom layer first.^{[7]
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2
Grab a piece of hair from the bottom section that’s no wider than your round brush. Use your fingers to pull away a small section of hair from the front of your head. Brush through the hair a few times to make sure there are no tangles.
- Always start at the front of your head and move backwards for most volume.
- For extra shine, use a metal round brush specifically designed for blow drying. The air from the blow dryer will heat up the metal to help your hair hold it’s blown-out shape.
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Curl your round brush under the section of hair at the roots. Pull on the brush to keep your hair taut while simultaneously spinning the bristles around. This creates volume and prevents frizziness.^{[8]
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- Move your brush in the direction you want your hair to fall.
4
Start at the roots and sweep the brush down to the ends of your hair. Set your blow dryer on low heat if you have thin hair and medium heat if you have thick hair. Aim the air down at the segment of hair on your brush. Slowly work the brush and blow dryer down your hair to the ends, curling the brush away from your face. Pull the hair up and down to get even more volume.^{[9]
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- Use the nozzle attachment of your blow dryer (if it came with one) to concentrate and control the direction of air.
- Try to avoid setting your blow dryer on the highest heat setting, as higher heats can cause more damage and make your hair frizzy.
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Let your hair cool on the brush before releasing it. Once your hair is dry, set down your blow dryer and hold the brush on the roots. Slowly curl the brush to wrap the hair around the bristles. Wait a couple of seconds, then gently pull the brush away from the hair.
- This adds extra shine to your hair for a sleek look.^{[10]
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Finish drying the bottom layer of hair and work your way up. Work from back to front on either side of your head until the bottom layer is completely blown out. Then, remove your hair clip and divide the top layer into 2 sections (as before). Continue blow drying small section, moving the round brush up at the roots and down towards the ends, until all of your hair is dry.^{[11]
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- If you have thin hair, you may be able to blow dry your entire head with only 2 sections.
- If you have thick hair, you may need 3 or more sections to fully dry your hair.
- If you have bangs, dry them last, using backward motions to achieve a voluminous look.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Styling

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Curl the ends of your hair under for a retro look. Divide your hair into 2 parts over your shoulders. Use your round brush to scoop up the ends of 1 section. Hold your blow dryer against the bristles and curl the brush toward your face. This will create a super cute and classic curl that screams 90s.
- For a more 60s style, curl the brush away from your face, so the ends curl away from the rest of your hair.^{[12]
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2
Set your hair in place using cool air. Hair bends and morphs with heat, so once you’re happy with your blown-out look, let it cool so it stays fabulous all day long. Simply change the heat setting on your blow dryer to cool and quickly run it through your hair.^{[13]
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- To keep your volume, use your round brush to brush your hair up (like you did while drying it) in larger sections until it’s cool.
3
Run an oil or shine serum through your hair for a glossy look. These products add an extra layer of shine to your locks. If your hair isn’t as bright or sleek as you’d like, rub a bit of oil or serum between your palms and gently comb your fingers through your hair’s ends.
- Work from the bottom of your hair up when using smoothening or shine products, as you don’t want to add extra oils to the scalp.^{[14]
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4
Tame flyaways with a styling cream or hair gel. Cowlicks and baby hairs can certainly get in the way of a perfect look! Luckily, there’s a quick solution. Tame cowlicks or flyways by dabbing your finger in a small amount of hair cream or gel. Pat the product onto the stubborn hair so it doesn’t stick up again.
- If your flyaways or baby hairs are fine, try using hairspray instead. Simply spritz a clean spooly or toothbrush with product and run it over the hairs in the direction you want them to sit.

Expert Q&A
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Question

How do I get more volume when I blow dry my hair?

Gina Almona
Professional Hair Stylist
Gina Almona is the Owner of Blo It Out, a New York City-based hair salon. With over 20 years of beauty training experience, Gina's work has been featured in People Magazine, Time Out New York, and Queens Scene. She has been able to keep a fresh perspective in the industry by demonstrating and participating in trade shows and workshops like the International Beauty Show. She received her cosmetology training from the Long Island Beauty School, Astoria.

Gina Almona

Professional Hair Stylist

Expert Answer

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Start by applying a volumizing spray onto your hair and roots. Then, flip your head over and use the blowdryer. When you flip your head back up, you'll have added volume. Another option is putting in a few pin curl clips at your roots and then using the blowdryer on a low setting.
Question

If I blow dry my hair on a cooler setting, will it take longer?

Ashley Adams
Professional Hair Stylist
Ashley Adams is a Licensed Cosmetologist and Hair Stylist in Illinois. She completed her Cosmetology education at John Amico School of Hair Design in 2016.

Ashley Adams

Professional Hair Stylist

Expert Answer

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It will take a couple extra minutes to dry your hair and follow up with a cool shot. Your hair should be completely dry before using the cool setting. The cool setting is used to set your hair.
Question

Should I apply anything before using a hair dryer (for men)?

Ashley Adams
Professional Hair Stylist
Ashley Adams is a Licensed Cosmetologist and Hair Stylist in Illinois. She completed her Cosmetology education at John Amico School of Hair Design in 2016.

Ashley Adams

Professional Hair Stylist

Expert Answer

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You could use leave-in conditioner, shine cream, or even a pomade if you’re planning to style your hair while drying it. A leave-in will protect your hair, a shine cream will give you a glossy finish, and a pomade will give you a wet finish.