How to Give Yourself a Salon-Worthy Blowout at Home

Tired of spending a fortune at the salon every time you want that gorgeous, bouncy blowout? Well, guess what? You can now unleash your inner hairstylist and achieve that perfect salon-worthy blowout right from the comfort of your own home! 

In this blog, we're spilling all the secrets, tips, and tricks of the trade to help you master the art of DIY blowouts. So, no more fretting over bad hair days or longing for a professional touch – you've got this! 

We'll guide you through the step-by-step process, from choosing the right tools to sectioning your hair like a pro, and we'll even share some insider product recommendations to make your tresses shine. Say hello to voluminous, smooth locks that will make you feel like a million bucks! 

So, grab your hair dryer, put on your favorite tunes, and let's embark on this fabulous journey to give yourself a salon-worthy blowout that will leave you looking and feeling like a superstar!

Step 1: Start in the Shower

Before you even pick up your blow dryer, you’ll want to get a good start by shampooing and conditioning your hair. It’s important to choose a shampoo and conditioner specifically tailored to the needs of your own hair type and concerns (frizziness, volume, split ends or color-treated).

Step 2: Prep

Once you’ve hopped out of the shower, it’s time for two important sub-steps that will help prep your hair for heat styling. First remove excess moisture from your strands; you don’t want them soaking wet. This will minimize the amount of time your hair is exposed to heat, which can cause frizz and longterm damage. Plus, it means you’ll have a quicker blowout session with less fatigue on your arms and elbows. Let’s get styling!

Instead of using a regular cotton towel, twist your hair up in an ultra-absorbent option like Hicober Microfiber Hair Towel (great for all hair types) or Curly Girl Method Microfiber Towel (ideal for curly hair). This will help soak up more moisture without being too rough on your strands.

Hicober Microfiber Hair Towel $15.99 Shop Now

Curly Girl, Curly Hair, Microfiber Hair Towel $15.95 Shop Now

Once your hair is no longer wet, gently detangle it with either a wide-tooth comb or detangling brush. Start from the bottom and work through knots slowly — don't tug or pull too hard! Two products we recommend are The Wet Brush's Pro Detangler and The Tangle Teezer Original.

Step 3: Apply Heat Protectant

Once your hair is damp and detangled, it’s time to apply a heat protectant. Heat damage over time can cause breakage throughout and frayed, undesirable ends — sometimes to an extent that cannot be repaired. 

Heat protectants essentially work to seal off the hair's cuticle and thus help protect it against damage. Picture your hair as a single strand, with little stems of hair — which we call your cuticle — open in a 'V' shape from the root to the ends. Heat protectants shut down this 'V,' creating smoothness, shine, and a protective barrier to prevent breakage.

This step is important for everyone, regardless of your hair type, though it's particularly crucial for helping to maintain both the health and hue of color-treated hair. Just like with shampoo and conditioner, you'll want to seek out a heat protectant that's suited for your hair type. In simple terms, your hair texture and type will determine what type of protectant you use — cream, spray, or oil.

If you can't make it to your stylist, you can check out our top 13 heat protectants like: CHI 44  Iron Guard Thermal Protection Spray works for all hair types and is great for helping detangle hair while preventing heat damage Another great option for all hair types: HSI Professional Argan Oil Heat Protector, which is formulated to simultaneously heat-protect and smooth, detangle and help prevent breakage - it can even be used as a leave in conditioning serum. 

CHI 44 Iron Guard Thermal Protection Spray $12 Shop Now

HSI PROFESSIONAL Argan Oil Heat Protector $15.95 Shop Now

For thicker hair, try Ouai's Texturizing Hair Spray or Matrix Mega Sleek Blow Down Smoothing Leave-In Cream.

Step 4: Rough Dry

Before grabbing your brush and attachment nozzle (which, as we'll explain, you should absolutely not just toss out or disregard), the next step is to rough dry hair on medium heat until your hair is about 60 to 70 percent dry. This basically means using your fingers and a medium or low heat setting to give your hair an all-over dry before you begin to work in sections. This helps to cut down on the amount of time you'll need for a full blowout.

Jennifer Lopez

Step 5: Selecting the Appropriate Tools for Your Perfect Blowout

Once your hair is at least 70 percent dry, it's time to utilize the right tools to achieve a salon-quality blowout. Two essential tools to include in your arsenal are the barrel brush and the concentrator nozzle. The concentrator nozzle, often overlooked by DIY blow-dryers, is the key to achieving impeccable results. It helps to focus and direct the airflow precisely where you need it, especially in hard-to-reach areas. This concentrated airflow also contributes to a smoother and less frizzy appearance, as it helps flatten the hair cuticles.

Choosing the right hairbrush is equally important. While preferences may vary, boar bristle brushes are widely considered the best option. They excel at smoothing the hair compared to plastic or synthetic brushes, as Shaw explains. If you opt for a round brush, keep in mind that the size of the barrel impacts the outcome. A smaller barrel yields tighter waves or curls, while a larger barrel results in bigger waves and more volume.

Here are some fool-proof round brushes, which you can consider: Style & Treat's Professional Large Ceramic Round Brush, Moroccanoil Ceramic Round Brush, and Olivia Garden NanoThermic Ceramic + Ion Round Thermal Hair Brush.

Regarding the hair dryer, it's crucial to match the right type with your hair needs. Abergel recommends using an ionic dryer for blow-drying curly hair. On the other hand, if you have fine hair and require more volume, a traditional blow dryer (non-ionic) is the better choice. Here are a few all-time favorite blow dryers recommended by Bonnie editors: REVLON Infrared Hair Dryer, which offers both ionic and nonionic heat settings, Conair's Infiniti Pro 1875 Watt Salon Performance Dryer, an affordable option with ionic technology, and Dyson's Supersonic Hair Dryer, a high-end choice that never disappoints and works well with all hair types.

Step 6: Sectioning and Styling

We advise starting the blow-drying process at the front of the head. The hair should be parted into one-inch sections, and using clips can be helpful to keep the sections in place. Each section should be dried with the concentrator nozzle pointed downward to maintain a smooth hair cuticle.

@MARCMENA/INSTAGRAM 

When using a round brush it is important to keep the round brush in place until the section cools down before removing it. Repeat this process patiently, working section by section around the head until the entire head is blow-dried. 

Throughout the entire blow-drying process, avoid using the highest heat setting on the dryer. Using high heat can overstretch the hair, resulting in a lack of bounce. Instead, opt for medium to cool air, which helps seal the cuticle and allows for a more natural texture and movement.

Step 7: Applying Finishing Cream

Once the hair is beautifully blow-dried, it's time to apply a dime-sized amount of finishing cream to the lengths and ends. This step helps seal in moisture and prevent frizz. Some recommended favorites for this purpose are GK HAIR 100% Organic Argan Oil, OGX Extra Strength Argan Oil of Morocco, and SachaJuan’s Finish Cream.

Et voilà! Your DIY blowout is now complete. If you find the detailed guide intimidating, remember that practice and patience will lead to progress over time.