How to Get A Salon-Worthy Blowout at Home

Here I am, world! In all my naturally wavy/frizzy/bird's nest hair glory. 

This is why I don't go anywhere without an umbrella, allow my hair to get wet in a pool, and avoid most activities that would result in my perspiring. THIS is what would happen.

Like so many frizzy-haired girls before me, I grew up wanting stick straight hair. When I was 11, I started chemically straightening my hair, but since I started coloring my hair at 15, I had to forgo the straightenings so I could, ya know, have hair. 

So, without a chemical means of getting it, I had to perfect alternate means of getting the smooth, straight hair I wasn't fortunate enough to be born with. And thus, an unbreakable bond with my hairdryer, flat iron, and curling iron was born. 

I've gotten really good at styling my hair. I mean, if I had a nickel for every time someone asked me how I do my hair, I'm fairly certain I'd have at least several, if not many, nickels. Which brings us to today's post: How to Get A Salon-Worthy Blowout at Home.

It's an ironic title, actually, since I've really NEVER gotten a good salon blowout (although I'm still totally excited about trying this out). From the first picture, it's pretty obvious my hair has a mind of its own. It doesn't work like most people's hair, straightening out from a paddle brush alone. It requires more technique and styling tools than most stylists are willing/trained to employ. Which is why I know that this tutorial will give you great results. At least, I hope it does. And hey, if it doesn't, at least you don't have to tip me!!

To get started, you must have the appropriate tools:

You should have most of these tools already: hair dryer, 1 1/2 inch barrel curling iron, flat iron, medium sized round brush, and a Chi ceramic straightening brush (great for getting even the kinkiest hair smooth). 

As for styling products, I keep it pretty simple. I know there's tons of products designed for helping straighten hair, but I opt only for Moroccan oil and light hold hairspray. For all you fine-haired ladies out there, this should help keep the grease-buildup to a minimum.

Beginning with damp hair (I allow mine to air dry for about 10 minutes), comb a dime-sized amount of Moroccan oil through your hair. Less if you're hair is shorter.

Oh, how did this very modelesque picture of me get in here??? 

Next, move on to drying your hair.

A.)   B.)

A.) You're going to dry your hair in sections. Yes, it's going to take some time, but looking sickening doesn't come easy, so get over yourself. Start with the bottom third of your hair. Pin up the rest of your hair to keep it out of the way.

B.) Take a two-inch section of hair and with the round brush perpendicular to your head, begin drying hair, gently rolling the brush under at the ends. (I use the hottest/highest setting on my hair dryer. I also hold the nozzle super close to the section as I dry. I don't care if it's not good for my hair.)

C.) D.)

C.) Because the round brush alone doesn't always get my hair straight, I'll repeat step B with the Chi straightening brush. 

D.) When you've finished the bottom section, let the side section above your ear down. Continue steps A-C until you get to the sides and top sections.

*And now, a note about drying the side sections of unruly hair.

My hairline is the most difficult part of my hair to dry because I have so many cowlicks and curls. I can only assume most stylists don't seem to have this problem, as they all do the same thing: dry the hair AWAY from my face, holding the brush parallel to my head. THIS DOES NOT WORK! So stop doing it. All it does it make a crease in the opposite direction. If you've got my same problem, then surely you already know it won't smooth out your waves or cowlicks. Here's a photo with an X through it to further illustrate the point.

Even if you were touched by an angel when you were born and don't have this problem, I promise you, styling your hair this way isn't doing you any favors. 

Instead, holding the brush perpendicular to your face, brush the hair in downward sections. This allows you to smooth out any of the mess around your hairline and also gives you nice lift around your face. It's like we say in Texas, "The bigger the hair, the closer to God."

Similar to the side sections, the front section, which might be bangs for you if you have them, is one of the most important elements of a good blow out. Again, where most stylists get it wrong is pulling the hair toward the back. Using the downward motion you use on the sides, pull the front section in the opposite direction you want it to lay. This will give it height and body in the direction it ends up laying.

For instance, I always pull my front section forward, in front of my face, which gives me lift in the back. 

For many of you, you might be satisfied with your hair at this point, in which case, be done and go forth with your fab-a-lus coif. In my case though, I'm just getting started.

When my hair is completely dried, I then go back and straighten any sections of hair that didn't get completely smoothed out from the blow dry. This generally includes, surprise, surprise, my hairline.

Again, for many of you, this may be enough, but I generally like to curl the ends of my hair. It gives the hair extra bounce and frankly, just looks amazeballs. But I'm not just talked curling the ends under. It's a more sophisticated technique than that.

1.) 2.)

1.) Grab a 2.5 inch section of hair and wrap the hair in your curling iron about half way up the section, leaving the ends out of the clamp.

2.) Then, wiggle the clamp just enough to allow you to move the rest of the hair down the curling iron, twisting the curling iron as you work your way down.

3.)   4.)

3.) Continue the wiggle and turn method through the ends of the section...

4.) ...Until you have a loose ringlet.

Do this all over your head, alternating the direction of the curl (i.e., toward your face, away from your face). You'll end up with a head of loose ringlets. You can stop here and finish with a light hold hairspray, or...

...for a more tousled look, you can shake the curls out with your hands like so:

 

Finish with a light hold hairspray at the ends and roots.

I just get so pensive when I use hairspray. I think about things like the deficit, ending hunger in third world countries, and what color I should paint my nails this week.

Because of my hair color, I only wash my hair twice a week, three times if I work out, which means this style generally lasts me several days, with only light touch ups in between, making the 45 minutes I spend on my hair totally worth it. 

Seriously, don't bitch about the time effort!!! Looking this good takes work y'all!

So dear readers, tell me, do you have naturally curly hair?? Do you like your salon blowouts?? What color are YOU going to paint your nails this week?? Tell me everything in the comments!