Blow Dry Hair Straight

Do you want a salon-caliber blowout without having to spend a lot of money to have it done? If you have wavy or curly hair and want to blow it out straight, it's important to use the right technique so it doesn't end up frizzy or puffy. If you prep your hair correctly and blow it out with care, your hair will stay straight, sleek and shiny for several days.

Steps

Prepping Your Hair

  1. Get the right tools. The most basic tool you need to blow out your hair is a good hair dryer with a nozzle that will direct the heat in a concentrated stream. This will result in a smoother blowout than one done without a nozzle. Most hair dryers come with a nozzle attachment, but if yours didn't, you can purchase one separately from a beauty supply store. In addition to a hair dryer, you'll need the following:[1]
    • Wide-toothed comb
    • Large round brush
    • Heat protectant product
    • Hair oil or anti-frizz serum
  2. Wash your hair. Shampoo and condition your hair in the shower as normal. Since you're planning to blow it out straight, consider using a straightening shampoo and conditioner to reduce the volume before you even start your blowout.
  3. Blot it dry. As soon as you step out of the shower, use a towel to gently blot the excess water from your hair. Don't squeeze it, rub it, or twist it up, since this could make it frizzy. Just use the towel to absorb the water that's dripping from your hair.
  4. Comb it out. Use a wide-toothed comb to comb your hair smooth and remove any tangles before you start your blowout. It's much better to start your blowout with tangle-free hair, since the brush you'll be using could damage your hair if it catches on tangles.
  5. Apply heat protectant product. This is an important step to take to protect your hair from heat damage. Heat protectant products contain polymers that bind to your hair and keep it from getting fried by the hair dryer. Squirt a nickel-sized amount into your palm, rub your hands together, and smooth the product into your hair from roots to tips.
    • If you don't have a heat protectant product, apply leave-in conditioner or anti-frizz serum. It's better than drying your hair with no product at all.
    • Avoid using too much product, since it could leave your hair looking limp and even greasy instead of shiny and sleek.
  6. Move to the bedroom. Humidity causes curly hair to frizz up, so blow drying your hair in the bathroom just after you've taken a hot shower is not ideal. To get the best out of your blowout, blow dry your hair in the bedroom or a different room with a good mirror and no humidity.

Blowing it Out

  1. Rough dry your hair. Instead of jumping straight to drying it out straight, start by using the dryer without a brush to get your hair about eighty percent dry. Hold the hair dryer several inches from your head and dry your hair all over, using your other hand to comb through your hair and tousle it to help all the layers dry evenly. Stop when your hair is still damp, but no longer wet.
    • Rough drying protects your hair from getting too damaged by your hairbrush and dryer. If you go straight to using the brush, it will take twice as many passes to get each section of hair straight. It's better to get most of the way there without a brush.
  2. Pin up the top layers. Gather the top layers of your hair and pin or ponytail them at the top of your head. You'll start by drying the bottom layers, and unpin more layers as you to until your hair is fully dry. This way you'll be able to ensure that all of your hair is evenly dried and straightened.
  3. Drape a small section of hair around your brush. Choose a section to start with and drape it over your brush close to the roots. The brush should be touching your head, with the hair draped over it and hanging toward the ground. This will enable you to pull the section of hair taut as it dries, which is the key to getting it straight.
  4. Turn on the hair dryer and position it two to three inches from the brush. In most cases you want to use a medium heat setting to reduce damage to your hair. However, if your hair is extremely curly, use the hottest setting to ensure it dries straight.
  5. Angle the dryer down as you pull the brush from roots to tips. Pull your hair taut with the brush and run it through your hair from roots to tips. At the same time, angle your hair dryer down and move it down the length of your hair. The brush and hair dryer should move in sync.
    • If your hair lacks volume, you should brush your hair up. If you want it to lie flat, brush it toward the ground.
    • Either way, keep the hair dryer angled down, so that the stream of air moves from the roots toward the tips. This helps the hair shaft lie flat and prevents frizzing.
  6. Repeat several times until the section is dry. One pass isn't usually enough to dry a section of hair. Keep drying the same section until it's completely dry and straight. Remember to brush from roots to tips, holding the hair taut. Angle the dryer downward.[2]
  7. Continue section by section. Keep going until the entire bottom layer is dry, then unpin the next layer of hair and repeat. Continue until your hair is completely dry from top to bottom.

Finishing the Look

  1. Blast your hair with cold air. Turn your dryer to the cool setting and finish off the top layer by blasting your hair with cold air from the roots down toward the tips. This helps the hair shaft lie flat and prevents frizzing throughout the day.
  2. Apply serum to keep your hair sleek. Use an anti-frizz serum or argan oil to keep your hair shiny and straight. Rub a little through your fingers and comb it through your hair, focusing on the tips, which tend to dry out sooner than the rest of the hair.
  3. Use a straightening iron if necessary. Curly or wavy hair can be difficult to completely straighten with a hair dryer alone. You hair should be sleek, but it might not be bone-straight. If you want it to be perfectly straight, use a straightening iron on each section of hair.



Tips

  • Always point the dryer down as you blow-dry hair; blowing hair upward can cause frizz.
  • Tame flyaway hair with an anti frizz serum or pomade. Place a few drops in your hand, rub gently to distribute it, then apply it your hair according to the product instructions.
  • Use the blowdryer on cool to lock in style.
  • After you finish blow-drying your hair, use a finishing brush to tame fly-aways and achieve a more sleek look.
  • Avoid humid spaces. Your hair will curl back up if you get it wet, so try to keep it dry and away from humidity. Wear a hat if it's drizzly outside.
  1. Freshen it up with dry shampoo. A good blowout takes a lot of time and effort, but you can make it last for several days if you take good care not to get your hair wet. After a few days your roots may need freshening up. Sprinkle some dry shampoo or baby powder around your roots, let it sit for five minutes to absorb the oil, then comb it out of your hair.
  • To achieve flat hair, finish styling with a ceramic flat-iron designed for hair after following the steps above. Choose the heat setting for your hair type, and allow flat-iron to warm before using.

Warnings

  • As with all electrical devices, be cautious when using blow-dryers and flat-irons around water and/or children. Unplug blow-dryer and flat-iron after use, and keep the flat-iron out of reach until cooled to prevent burns.

Things You'll Need

  • Hair dryer
  • Heat protectant
  • Round brush
  • Clips
  • Serum

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/beauty/hair/styles/blowout-hairstyles/?page=2
  2. ↑ http://www.marieclaire.com/hair-beauty/how-to/best-hair-blowout-tips#slide-5
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