Nothing feels better than that moment you step out of your hair appointment, put on your sunglasses and feel like a rock star as you head off to take on the world. A good professional blowout can last anywhere from one to five days (maybe even more for the lucky few).
If you have the money you can get a blow out one time every week and arrive looking fabulous no matter the occasion. If not you can achieve the look at home, but let’s face it, we all aren’t professional hair stylists, so here are five Blow Dry Bar tips to help you achieve a professional blow dry when you just don’t have the time or the money.
1. Always Use Product!
First off, always, always, always use product to protect your hair. The biggest mistake we see our customers make is blow drying or styling their hair with hot tools and not properly prepping their tresses. When you style your hair without the use of products you are damaging your hair the minute you start styling.
Start off by applying a good leave in conditioner to your hair like the UNITE 7 Seconds Condition Spray. This will instantly detangle your hair and protect it from thermal and UV damage. The nice thing about this product is it will also help to repair and strengthen your hair from prior damage. Comb this through and follow with additional styling products that will meet your desired needs.
Depending on the look you want will influence which products you use. If you want volume the size of Texas then you would use a root lifter or a volumizing mousse. UNITE has a variety of products to help create volume like the Expanda Volume Root Energizer, Elevate Mousse or Expanda Dust. If you want a straight and smooth look that’s as sleek as NYC, you would use a relaxing fluid like UNITE’s Lazer Straight that can straighten even the most difficult hair and control frizz. If you want to look like you just got off the beach in Miami then use the Unite Beach Day Spray and Texturizing Spray to add a little more, you know, texture! The nice thing about the UNITE brand is that they have products that fit the needs of every person and every look you want to achieve.
Finish it off with a hair spray that meets your desired hold. Not all hairsprays are created equal and not everyone wants their hair to be stiff like they’re in a dance recital so pay attention to the strength of the hairspray’s hold when you make a purchase.
2. Natural Dry vs Blow Dry
Before you begin styling let your hair dry 60-65% naturally or towel dry. The less time you spend using the tools the better. Blow drying your hair dry from it being soaking wet is not going to help you style and it also will prevent the products you used from achieving the full and optimal results.
3. Proper Brush Choices
Use the proper brushes for your hair. Not all hair is to be treated the same, so using the wrong brush could actually prevent you from getting the look you want. If you have thin and fine hair and you are looking for some height get yourself a large round brush that has a metal base and synthetic bristles. If you have thick, coarse hair the same brush would work, but you should find one that has natural boar’s hair.
4. Section, Section, Section!
Trying to blow dry your entire head all at once is just silly. The smaller the sections you make the more likely you are to get your hair to lay just the way you want. Plan to section your hair off into at least four chunks. We recommend starting with sections in the front and at the top of the hair so that it doesn’t fall flat by the time you finish.
5. Time out your Shampoos
Don’t wash your hair every day! Now we don’t mean you shouldn’t take a shower every day, which could get very awkward no matter how good your hair looks. However, washing your hair everyday can actually dry your hair out and eliminate the natural oils that your body already produces. Make your blowout last with a good dry shampoo like the UNITE 7 Seconds Refresher. If you spray this on the perimeter of your hairline and on your part prior to sleep or going to the gym you will see a drastic difference in the appearance of your hair.
How about you?
What are your tips to get a professional blow dry look from home? Those are some of our tips for getting the professional look at home, but if you still have questions or are feeling like getting runway worthy treatment stop by The Hairports Wash & Blow Dry Bar of Hamilton NJ and we’ll have you flying off in style.