How to create salon-perfect, shiny hair with a DIY blow-dry
There’s no doubt about it...a good blow-dry makes us feel great. And, while the professionals have it nailed, it seems with the right tools and advice it’s something we can achieve at home ourselves.
Joy La Rosa, technical education manager at Drybar, gives us her top tips for the perfect DIY blow-dry.
Blow-dry boost
“There are lots of benefits to blow-drying hair,” La Rosa said. “It dries hair evenly, whereas air-drying or natural drying can cause hair to dry in stages.
“When hair dries naturally, the ends dry first and the roots dry last. For some, that means air drying can cause flat roots and more texture or frizz towards the ends. Blowdrying circulates air and heat throughout the hair which adds movement and lift at the roots.
“The heat from blow-drying can enhance or change hair’s natural texture and add body and shine. Blow-drying helps the style last longer by adding lift at the roots, which helps prevent hair from getting oily as fast as natural drying.”
The prep step
La Rosa says prep is the foundation step.
“What is the overall look you are trying to achieve?” she said.“big and bouncy? Sleek and smooth? Enhanced natural waves and curls? Once the overall look is determined, you can choose the products and tools that best help achieve the look. A great blow-dry should always start with squeaky-clean locks to help create the perfect canvas so give your hair a good shampoo.
“Prior to blow-drying it is important to always treat before you heat! We recommend Prep Rally Prime and Prep Detangler to help detangle hair and protect from heat up to 232°.”
Most of us think more heat equals faster drying time, but a hairdryer with customised settings is best.
“Damaged, fine or fragile hair types should stick to low or medium heat settings, where-as thick-coarse hair types should use medium-high heat,” La Rosa advised.
“Be sure to work in clean, manageable sections. This will help save on dry time, and
ensure you evenly dry and smooth each section.”
Top tips
La Rosa says don’t dry hair completely, just until its about 80% dry.
“Hair takes the longest to dry at the roots, less time at the mid shaft and the least amount of time on the ends,” she says. “As you dry each section, focus on drying the roots first, then move down the hair shaft. To lock in your style, utilise the cool shot button.”
Using a dry shampoo between washes will help extend your blow-dry, La Rosa says, so invest in a good one to ensure amazing looking hair for longer!