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Blow Dry 101

Blowdry 101: An Easy Guide to a Killer Blowout

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 Here’s a quick guide to getting a killer blowout with the least amount of effort and time. 

This works best for medium - long hair, average - thick density and will work on most hair types. I will be doing a tutorial for fine hair and short hair in the upcoming week - so look out for that.

Ingredients:

  • Blow Dryer **
  • 4 clips or scrunchies
  • Heat Protectant
  • Styling product
  • Comb for parting
  • Vented brush (round for wave and body)
  • Hairspray (don’t dent your ‘do, Little Lady)

** This can be put into an entirely different article, however, for this blowout, I’d recommend a model with a directional attachment. [The flat-looking piece that connects to the end of your blow-drier.]

Step One:

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First things first, protect your hair! You need a good heat protectant. I recommend Pureology Colour Fanatic Hair Treatment Spray. However, any heat protectant that is made for damp hair will work. 

You’ll also want to add any type of styling product you prefer. For example: a mousse or cream-based product with a light degree of hold. I like  Paul Mitchell Extra-Body Sculpting Foam This will keep your hair cooperative and static-free plus it adds volume. 

Once applied to your hair, make sure to comb through so that it’s evenly distributed.

Step Two:

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Stylists typically call this a “rough dry” which means you’re going to dry your hair until it’s ALMOST dry (about 90%.) 

(Hint: Try and focus on keeping your dryer pointed down your hair, as opposed to up which may cause frizz. Those with super curly or kinky curls can use a dryer with a comb attachment for this step, which will help to stretch curls with a bit more control.)

Step Three: Section

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After your hair is mostly dry, you can section it into four. Hairfinder.com  provides a great visual of a 4 section parting Here.

Step Four: Weapon of Choice

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You have TONS of options for brushes. Different brushes will give you different effects. For our quick styled dry, I recommend a round brush or vent brush. You can also check out  this list from Byride, which briefly explains a few different types of brushes.

Step Five: Dry the "Top"

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Starting in the back pull down a parting about the width of the brush you’re using. You’ll want to put your brush underneath this parting of the hair and your dryer will be pointing down on top of the hair. Using the directional attachment try to keep the dryer a safe distance, so as not to burn the hair. 

Use a pulling motion all the way from the root of the hair to the ends. You can twirl your brush to start forming a loose beach wave.

Step Six: Dry Underneath

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Now you will take that same parting and instead of re-drying in the same manner over and over, you’ll now put the brush on top of the hair and the dryer underneath the hair and blowing underneath all the way to the ends, rolling the brush as you go. 

(Stylist Hint: ** If you want some wave in your hair, you’re really going to want to use a round brush. The bigger the brush the less wave you will get. As you come to the ends of the hair, you’ll want to start spinning your brush in your hand, this will create the wave you’re looking for.)

Essentially, you’re drying the top of the parting, and underneath that same parting of the hair. In this way, you’re sure to get the hair 100% dry. Do not move on to the next section until the hair is completely dry. 

(Hint: Leaving any dampness in the hair will result in either greasy looking locks or major frizz problems.)

Step Seven: Complete Drying

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Do this for all 4 sections until the whole head is completed.

Step Eight: Finishing

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Once finished, spray with hairspray (liberally) I l like to use Sebastian's Shaper Plus and let hair cool before running your fingers or a brush through it.

** (If your hair never holds a wave, spray again with hairspray after the initial tussle.)

And guess what? That’s it. 

Phew. It’s hot, go stand in front of the freezer for a bit. 😉

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Have you ever fucked up? I have!

So, once upon a time, I went to Beauty School. I was 16 years old and looking for a good way to leave High School early every day. My best friend wanted to be a “hairstylist to the stars” and told me I should do this whole beauty school thing with her.

I wasn’t very interested in hair or the beauty industry at that point. However, once I entered Beauty School a whole new world opened up to me. Not only was I amongst an older group of (mostly) women who ranged in age from 16 to mid-40s. I was also introduced to the art form and creativity that comes with being a hairstylist.

I feel I have witnessed everything good and bad about being a hairstylist.

Have you ever fucked up someone’s long, beautiful hair?

I have.

I was 17, and somewhat close to graduating from the cosmetology program. By this point, of course, I think I’m tough shit and know everything. I’m overly confident, with next to no real-world experience.

In walks a total beach babe. She was thin, young, beautiful and seemed extremely kind. This girl had hair nearly to her waist and it was thick and luscious.

She sat down in my chair, and we talked about what she wanted. A haircut. Not much off of the length, but she was really feeling brave and wanted to add face-framing layers starting like a fringe from the temple, and blending all the way to the end of her length.

I remembered a lecture given, a technique I’d seen used but never tried myself. I told myself I could do it. I told myself, I could fake it since her hair was so long, and there was so much to work with.

I was wrong. I started chopping into her hairline, trying to get it to connect to the bottom of her hair. It was like I was trying to do a particularly difficult geometry assignment. Connecting two points that really have no business connecting.

I realize (as I’m removing HUGE hunks of hair) that I’m seeing more of her ear than I’d anticipated. And for some horrible reason, her hair was shrinking as it dried.

I stopped in a panic.

I looked into her face, she looked back into mine. I think a bead of sweat formed on my upper lip, I’m sure my face paled like I was about to vomit. I said, as I’d been dutifully taught when I needed help, “I’ll be right back. I need a second opinion.”

I tracked down the only teacher in the whole beauty school and told her what happened. She seemed confident as her black high heels clacked quickly over to my station. I guess I didn’t explain it well because she audibly gasped when she saw my once beautiful client.

That’s when this adorable, sweet girl began to realize shit had hit the fan. She looked in the mirror and began to pull desperately at what was left of her hair. She began to cry. I was mortified, shattered. My instructor tried to soften the blow of the chunky, crooked, gashes I’d made in her hair with a straight razor. (A great technique, however, there wasn’t much that could be done at that point.)

I didn’t make eye contact as this woman left the school. I was mortified, and about to be unleashed onto the general public as an actual hairstylist. This was the first time I questioned my career choices, and definitely not the last.

It’s one of those hard lessons you have to learn. Just when you think you know everything, something new comes to challenge you. And, if you’re anything like me, you fail. And maybe you try again… And fail again. And, that’s okay, right? It’s okay to be humbled by life.