The number one thing I hear from almost all of my clients is, “Can’t you just come to my house and do my hair like this every day?!” Believe me, I would if I could, but there are so many more of you than there are of me! After reading this article, I promise that you’ll feel confident enough to create blowout hairstyles on your own with these proper tools and tips. You got this!
You’ve heard it a million times, but here it comes again, salon bought shampoo > drugstore shampoo. Here’s the skinny: store-bought products are OK when you’re in a pinch, but just like with your skin, healthy skin starts with a quality face wash, and so healthy hair starts with a quality shampoo. Shampoo/Conditioner should always be sulfate- and paraben-free, have low amounts of water and high concentrations of quality ingredients, such as panthenol (vitamin b5) and citric acid, which are usually lacking in drugstore brands. Pretty polished hair starts from the inside out, so ditch the Pantene and try something new. My current favorites for blowout hairstyles are NOU NOU by Davines, an Italian line that responsibly sources all ingredients and is available for purchase via Amazon, as well as Normal Persons by evo, an Australian line that performs like it says it will and is always serving up laughs.
Instagram / @polishedbypaigey
Most of us have experienced that ever-so-angry section of hair that hangs down our back and winds up in a big mess of dreadlock-like tangles by the end of the day. Then, those tangles turn into a cry-worthy mess when it’s time to comb, once out of the shower.
Using a proper leave-in conditioner before brushing your hair is a MUST. My absolute favorite (and I’ve tried them all) is Unite 7 Seconds Leave-in. It detangles, balances moisture/proteins, as well as acts as a UV- and heat-protectant; it’s everything all in one. You need it.
Instagram / @bridgetandleo
Your tools matter! Unlike a common opinion, brushing your hair is good for you! It’s important because it not only detangles your tresses, but it also stimulates the hair follicles on your scalp to promote blood flow and new hair growth; think of it as exfoliation for the scalp.
I use the Wet Brush on my and my clients’ hair, starting at the ends and working my way through the tangles. This brush is nice because its bristles are more flexible than traditional paddle brushes, bending when tangles are too tight rather than raking through them and causing breakage.
Now to the good stuff — round brushing .. the secret to a sleek and shiny blowout hairstyle. Practice with a big, fat round brush to get your motor skills in working order before reaching for a small round brush that can get you tangled and flustered. A good starter brush is the Olivia Garden 3.5 inch ceramic ion option, this will result in a sleek, frizz-free style. Once you’ve mastered the handling skills of a big brush, move on to the holy grail, the Ibiza B5. This brush is the best for coarse, frizzy/fine textures as it has nylon bristles that won’t overheat/damage hair while using. It also features a lightweight, cork handle for easy, tangle-free styling.
With your hair brushed, tangle-free and prepped with 7 Seconds as your heat protectant, start blow-drying your hair with just your fingers, wrapping your hair around your head as you blow-dry. Make sure you’re using an airflow concentrator or nozzle to direct the air down each section of hair. If you don’t have a nozzle on your blow-dryer, you’re causing the cuticle of your hair to be blown every which way, resulting in frizz and lack of shine.
Once your hair is 80% dry, start working with your round brush. Direct the air at the base of your roots to give a little oomph/volume, and then softly stretching each section over your brush, all the way to the ends to smooth your blowout hairstyle.
Round brush too much for now? Use a paddle brush, instead, to get a sleek finish. A couple of my go-to, affordable blow-dryers are: BabylissPRO Nano Titanium and Ionic Anti-Static by Hot Tools.
Beach waves are always in, whether you live on the coast or not. For the best, seamless curl pattern, Babyliss Pro Ceramic 1 1/4 inch curling iron is my favorite.
Now that your hair is smooth and dry, clip up half your hair to tackle the bottom section first. Starting around your face and, taking about 2-inch vertical panels (sections), curl your hair away from your face, leaving the bottom inch or so out of the iron for the undone look. Continue this around your head, always curling away from the face, all the way to the middle back of your head. Then drop down the top layer of hair and repeat, alternating the direction of the curl to give a more textured look. You can watch my Beach Waves tutorial here if you need a visual!
You do not need to use hot tools at the highest temperature; a medium heat will result in the same style/wear time as high heat. Let’s not damage our hair with heat when we don’t have to!
There you have it, the steps and secrets of how to achieve a salon-like blowout hairstyle from the comfort of your own home! And remember, it’s easier for professionals only because we do it every day, all day, so practice, practice, practice. Happy hair styling!
Featured Image via Instagram
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