In the past few seasons, there’s been a shift towards embracing natural hair texture patterns and undone styles. While we love this celebration of individuality and diversity, there has also been renewed interest in polished, salon-inspired looks like the classic blow dry — characterized by smooth, voluminous locks with a glossy finish. Whether you’re looking to add this look weekly or just for special occasions, here are our top tips to achieve the classic blow dry at home.
The Essentials: Tools and Techniques
Achieving a classic blow dry at home requires the right tools and techniques. Here's what you'll need:
- Quality Hair Dryer: Invest in a high-quality hair dryer with multiple heat and speed settings to cater to your hair type and texture. Look for features like tourmaline or ceramic technology, which help minimize heat damage and enhance shine.
- Round Brush: Choose a round brush with natural or synthetic bristles, depending on your hair type. Opt for a size that complements your desired level of volume and curl.
- Heat Protectant: Prioritize the health of your hair by applying a heat protectant spray or serum before blow drying to minimize damage and maximize shine.
- Sectioning Clips: Divide your hair into manageable sections using sectioning clips to ensure thorough drying and styling.
Shop The Tools:
Sam Villa Pro Light Ionic Blow Dryer
Sam Villa Signature Series Thermal Round Brush
Sam Villa Dry Sectioning Clips
Step-by-Step Guide
- Preparation: Start with clean, towel-dried hair. Apply a small amount of heat protectant evenly throughout your strands, focusing on the mid-lengths and ends. Depending on your hair type and texture, rough dry your hair with your nozzle attachment to remove excess moisture before using a round brush to smooth.
- Sectioning: Divide your hair into sections, clipping away the top layers to focus on the bottom section first.
- Blow Dry: Using a round brush, begin drying the bottom section of your hair, focusing on one small section at a time. Hold the brush underneath the hair and aim the dryer downward to smooth the cuticle and minimize frizz. Roll the brush from roots to ends, directing the airflow along the hair shaft to create volume and shape.
- Repeat: Continue working in sections until the bottom layer is completely dry and styled to your liking. Then, release the top layers and repeat the process, focusing on lifting the roots for added volume and dimension. To add volume or accentuate body and curl, consider using rollers or create pin curls with sectioning clips.
- Finish: Once your entire head is dry and cooled, gently brush through your hair to blend any sections and smooth out any remaining frizz. Then, finish with a lightweight hairspray or shine serum for added hold and gloss.
Whether you're attending a special event or simply want to elevate your everyday look, mastering the art of the classic blow dry is a great go-to to redefine or easily switch up your style.
Cover Image: @hairbytaytayy
