To blowdry long hair, use a round brush and medium heat to create volume and shine by directing the airflow down the hair shaft while pulling the hair away from your face.
Here's a more detailed guide to achieving a salon-worthy blowdry at home:
Preparation is Key:
- Wash and Condition: Start with freshly washed and conditioned hair. This helps to remove product buildup and create a smooth base.
- Towel Dry Gently: Gently squeeze excess water from your hair with a microfiber towel. Avoid rubbing, which can cause frizz.
- Apply Heat Protectant: This is crucial! Apply a heat protectant spray or serum to shield your hair from damage.
- Detangle: Use a wide-tooth comb or detangling brush to remove any knots or tangles, working from the ends up to the roots.
The Blowdrying Process:
- Rough Dry (Optional): Before using a round brush, you can rough dry your hair with the blow dryer on medium heat until it's about 70-80% dry. This speeds up the styling process. Focus on drying the roots.
- Section Your Hair: Divide your hair into manageable sections using clips. This will ensure that each section is thoroughly dried and styled. The number of sections will depend on the thickness of your hair.
- Round Brush Technique:
- Section Size: Take a section of hair that's about the same width as your round brush.
- Placement: Place the round brush under the section of hair near the roots.
- Direct Airflow: Hold the concentrator nozzle of your blow dryer directly over the hair near the roots, pointing downwards. The concentrator nozzle helps to focus the airflow for a smoother finish.
- Brush Rotation and Tension: As you apply heat, slowly rotate the brush outward and away from your face, while gently pulling the brush down the hair shaft. Maintain light, constant tension. This tension is key to adding shine and smoothness.
- Repeat: Repeat this process until the section is completely dry.
- Focus on the Roots: For extra volume, pay special attention to drying the roots. Lift the hair at the roots with the round brush while directing the heat upwards.
- Cool Shot (Optional): Once each section is dry, use the cool shot button on your blow dryer to set the style. This helps to lock in the shape and add extra shine.
- Finishing Touches: After blowdrying all sections, you can use a small amount of hair serum or oil to smooth any flyaways and add extra shine.
Tips for Success:
- Use the Right Brush: Choose a round brush with boar bristles or a combination of boar and nylon bristles. Boar bristles help to distribute natural oils and add shine. The size of the brush will depend on the length and thickness of your hair, and the desired style.
- Control the Heat: Use a medium heat setting to avoid damaging your hair. If you have fine or delicate hair, use a lower heat setting.
- Move the Dryer: Keep the blow dryer moving to prevent overheating any one spot.
- Practice Makes Perfect: Don't get discouraged if your first attempt isn't perfect. It takes practice to master the round brush technique.
By following these steps, you can achieve a beautiful, bouncy, and shiny blowdry at home.
