How To Give Yourself the Perfect Silky Blowout When You Can't Visit the Salon

If you like getting regular blowouts, you know just how much money it can cost. But have you ever wondered how to achieve a salon-worthy blowout by yourself? Well, I'm here to help you learn how to blowout hair! Keep scrolling to read tricks, tips, and our how to ahead!

How Do I Prep My Natural Hair for a Silky Blow Out?

I don't know about you, but I want my hair to feel light and have lots of bounce, which means I need to get rid of any and all buildup prior to styling. Without a proper wash, your strands can end up feeling tacky once they're dry, which is super frustrating after you've put in all that time.

So as much as I love co-washing, I usually go for a moisturizing shampoo or use an apple cider vinegar rinse on my hair to ensure my hair and scalp are thoroughly cleansed. "If you are prone to dandruff or have other buildup on your hair and scalp, an apple cider vinegar rinse is a great natural remedy with tons of scientifically proven benefits," like adding shine and getting rid of fungus on the scalp, says Elissa Atchley, artistic educator at HairClub. "If you are regularly blow drying your curls straight, you could alternate between a good co-wash and moisturizing shampoo to maintain moisture balance in your hair," she adds.

One of my go-to shampoos is Pantene's Gold Series Moisture Boost Shampoo. When I need an ACV rinse, I grab Bragg's Raw Organic Apple Cider Vinegar with The Mother, pour some in a bottle, and heavily dilute the mixture with water.

If you have extra-thick hair like mine, get a tool like Colorproof's Scalp Cleansing Brush to make sure you are getting the product right down to the roots.

What Do I Do Once My Hair Has Been Thoroughly Cleansed?

The styling process will go a lot smoother if your hair has already been prepped, and detangling is a huge part of that. 'Cause when you start blow drying your hair, you don't want to have to stop every five seconds to yank your tangled hair out of the brush.

That said, while you're in the shower, make sure your hair is fully saturated with water, then add some of your favorite conditioner from roots to ends to create a good amount of slip. I typically opt for Aussie's Miracle Moist Conditioner, but you can use whatever you prefer. Next, grab a wide-tooth detangling comb and start at the ends of the hair, working your way up to your roots to decrease any tugging and breakage.

Afterwards, I typically put my hair up into a clip and let the conditioner sit in my hair for a little while as I wash my body and shave. Once I'm done, I rinse everything out.

VIDEO: The 8 Best Heat Protectants For Those With Natural Hair Who Love the Occasional Blowout

Do I Need to Use Any Treatment Products?

I truly believe that deep conditioning your hair on a weekly basis is the most major of keys if you want soft, bouncy, healthy hair, and I am prepared to die on this hill. Just make sure to towel dry your hair as much as possible before applying it to your strands to ensure your hair is actually able to absorb the product.

If you don't already have a go-to treatment, OGX's Pracaxi Oil Recovery Mask is a great option for anyone with curly hair. It provides deep moisture and you don't have to leave it on for a long time for it to work its magic. Depending on how much time I have, I usually keep it in for anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours. I also make sure to put a shower cap over my hair and put my Hot Head heat cap on top, or go under a steamer for the duration of the treatment to help the conditioner penetrate the hair shaft.

When you're done, make sure to thoroughly rinse out the conditioner, or else you'll be left with clammy, stiff hair in the end. "No one wants to go through the effort of a blowout to see flakes on their scalp or that the hair is already looking oily," Atchley says.

What Do I Need to Keep in Mind As I Start Blow Drying?

If you have the physical strength to manage using a separate brush and blow dryer on your own hair, more power to you. But my spaghetti-like arms simply cannot, so I go for the two-in-one option.

No lies, Gold 'N Hot's Professional One Step Ionic Volumizer Dryer & Styler — which was specially crafted for textured hair — is a game-changer. Not only is it super light and incredibly easy to use, but it will get your hair straight and sleek enough to the point where you only have to do one pass with the flat iron, if you even need to use one.

It comes with three settings: cool, low, and high for optimized styling, and its soft bristles won't tug and break off your coily hair in the process, like many traditional round brushes can do.

Before I get started, I make sure to apply some heat protectant throughout my hair in order to keep my curls in tact. I love Oribe's Invisible Defense Universal Protection Spray because although it's light, it still ​​shields the hair from any damage up to 450 degrees, while protecting against UV rays, and settling frizz.

Next, I start at the nape of my neck — blowing out medium-size sections at a time, and holding it for a few seconds at the roots — then work my way up to the top of my head.

I have a lot of hair, but with this particular dryer brush, it typically only takes me about 30 minutes or so to finish. The bonus? My arms don't feel like I just completed a 60 minute workout at the end. It's a serious lifesaver.

Any Tips for Using a Flat Iron?

Whether or not you flat iron your hair after a blowout is up to you. I personally prefer finishing off with this step to customize my style. Ion's Titanium Multi-Styler has been my go-to for years, since it not only gives me a salon-quality finish, but also allows me to both straighten and add some curls at the ends in a single pass. I am also a huge fan of ghd's Platinum+ Styler for those who want to use less heat.

Starting again at the nape, and working my way from root to tip, I flat iron my hair in small sections, twisting the tool as I get to my ends to create some bouncy curls. Pro tip: I always make sure to direct the curls at the front away from my face.

Once I'm done, I flip my head upside down and finger comb my mane to break up the curls, lightly tousle my hair, and add extra volume.

How Do I Maintain My Blowout?

If you want to keep your blowout looking fresh for at least a week, you want to make sure to avoid friction and humidity, which in turn can create frizz. But the heat protectant should help with the latter.

When my hair's not out I typically twist my hair into a mid-level ponytail, then use a large clip to keep it up. I avoid using hair elastics to prevent friction and tension on the hair shaft. Once I'm ready to go to bed, I tie a silk wrap around the perimeter of my hair and sleep on a silk pillowcase. You can also use a silk or satin bonnet, just be mindful that the covering can make your roots sweat out at night.

When I take my hair down, I usually just flip my head over and lightly finger comb my strands to give it new life. But you can also add in a few flexirods and leave them in overnight if you want to refresh the loose curls at the ends, without having to add any more heat to your hair.

And that, my friends, is the real-deal secret to DIY blowout success.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How long does an at-home blowout last?

  An at-home blowout lasts approximately three to five days — the same amount of time that a professional blowout typically lasts. If you have thick, natural hair, you might be able to stretch it to a week to 10 days.

• Can you do a blowout on wet, natural hair?

  You should make sure your hair is at least 50-70 percent dry before using the blowdryer. This will help avoid hair damage, as well as help your hair get as straight as possible using the blow dryer.

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