Drying your hair might seem straightforward, but it can be frustrating if you struggle to get that same salon-quality look at home. Whether your goal is voluminous, silky-smooth, or perfectly styled hair, achieving a professional blow dry doesn't have to be complicated.
In this step-by-step guide, we’ll take you through the best tips and tricks to help you achieve silky-looking professional hair from the comfort of your own home, no matter your hair type or length.
Step one: Prep your hair
Before you even reach for your hair dryer, you need to prep your hair properly to ensure a long-lasting result.
Start with clean, damp hair - Freshly washed hair that has been towel-dried helps make the finished style last longer, reducing excess moisture to save time.
Use a heat protector - Never skip this crucial step! Spraying heat protection reduces damage caused by excessive temperatures, keeping your hair looking shiny and healthy.
Step two: Choose the Right Hair Dryer
The right hair dryer can make all the difference in achieving your desired style. Here's what to look for:
H3: Ceramic Hair Dryer
Ceramic blow-dryers distribute heat more evenly and help prevent hot spots that can cause damage. This feature is especially beneficial for dry or damaged hair. Ceramic dryers also help retain moisture, leaving your hair feeling smoother and shinier after each use.
Bellissima Italia Ceramic Hair Dryer
H3: Heated Brushes
Heated brushes combine the benefits of a hair dryer and a styling brush, all in one tool.
They allow you to straighten, add volume or body and eliminate frizz. Many heated brushes come with adjustable heat settings too, so you can manage the temperature to your specific hair type.
Bellissima Italia 6 In 1 Ceramic Hot Air Styler
Temperature Controls
Look for a hair dryer that includes variable power and temperature settings. This allows you to customise your look and prevent heat damage for fine or thin hair.
Bellissima Italia Gemini Lightweight Hairdryer with Digital Motor
H3: Wattage
A higher-wattage hair dryer (1800-2000 watts) ensures faster drying, suitable for thick or long hair. For shorter hair, a lower-wattage blow-dryer is best. Hair dryers with variable wattage can help give you full control.
Step three: Dry Hair Based on your Hair Type
Knowing your hair type is essential to achieving the best blow out.
Fine or thin hair
Fine or thin hair tends to feel limp or flat, lacking in volume and definition. It’s more delicate and prone to heat damage, often breaking, causing split ends and can be slow to grow.
It's essential to use lightweight products and lower heat settings if you have fine hair.
Look for mousses, root-lifting sprays, and lightweight serums designed to boost volume without feeling too heavy.
For added volume, use a large round brush from root to tip, working in sections to cover the whole head.
For thick or coarse hair
Thick or coarse hair tends to be dense, strong and takes longer to wash and dry.
This makes it more resistant to heat and styling tools, which needs some taming to avoid frizz. For this type of hair, you can use a higher heat setting to reduce time, brushing through as you dry to avoid matting.
For curly or frizzy hair
Curly or frizzy hair requires extra attention to help maintain its natural waves while reducing unwanted volume or frizz. The goal here is to enhance curls or waves while keeping the hair smooth and frizz-free.
You can achieve this through using medium heat to reduce damage and to avoid breaking down the curl pattern. Consider using curl-enhancing creams or leave-in conditioners for healthy-looking hair.
A diffuser attachment is crucial when drying curly hair, as it disperses heat evenly and encourages natural curl formation, creating gorgeous ringlets and distinct waves. Choose a blow-dryer with ionic or ceramic technology to reduce frizz and enhance shine.
Straight hair
If your hair is naturally straight, but you want that smooth and glossy finish, drying hair using a flat paddle-brush can guide the hair down from root to tip.
Use serums, light oils or a leave-in conditioner for added shine. A blow-dryer with a concentrator nozzle is ideal for straight hair. It allows you to direct the heat precisely, ensuring smoothness and shine while minimising any flyaways.
Step four: Using Attachments
Attachments are an absolute game-changer for achieving professional-level blow drys.
Concentrator Nozzle
The concentrator nozzle is a narrow attachment that directs the airflow exactly where needed. It helps to create added volume at the roots while smoothing the hair as you dry it. An ultra-narrow precision nozzle can target styling, particularly for straight, sleek looks, without disturbing the overall texture.
Diffuser Attachments
If you have curly or textured hair, a diffuser can help evenly distribute the airflow without disrupting your natural curl pattern. A diffuser also helps minimise frizz, creating bouncy, shiny and defined curls for healthy-looking hair.
Bellissima Italia Diffon Ceramic
Step five: Finishing touches
Cool air to finish
Once your hair is almost dry, you can switch to the cool setting. This helps set the style and closes the hair cuticle, making the hair appear shiny, and more polished while locking in the finished look.
Hairspray
Using hairspray can also help keep everything in place. A light coverage can help to avoid weighing hair down while creating a long-lasting style. Use mainly on the roots for added volume.
Hair oil or serum
For extra shine, using hair oil or serum after drying will leave hair looking glossy and smooth without feeling greasy.
Achieving a professional standard blow dry doesn’t require salon visits each time. By following these tips, using the right tools and understanding your hair type correctly, you’ll be able to achieve a beautiful style that lasts all day.
Practice your hair-drying routine, and you’ll have salon-quality hair all year round!
Hair Drying Tips FAQs
Can I blow dry my hair every day?
While blow-drying hair daily might not be ideal for every hair type, for example, fine, thin or damaged hair, it can be perfectly fine if you use the right products and tools. Consider using a lower heat setting with heat protectant, or drying your hair every other wash to minimise damage.
What's the benefit of ceramic hair dryers?
Ceramic hair dryers evenly distribute heat while maintaining a constant temperature, especially when compared to standard ionic hair dryers. Depending on your needs, ceramic hairdryers are great for smoother results with more volume.
