Exciting news: I’m now a contributing hair expert over at bethenny.com, offering readers my tips and tricks for gorgeous hair. On the site recently I shared some of my secrets to blow-drying hair like a pro. Fans of Bethenny’s shows know that I am all about creating styles that are easy to keep looking super sexy. Anybody can achieve a professional look — all it takes is a little product, a round brush, and a blow dryer. So for all you brides out there, here is my easy five-step system for blow-drying your hair at home so it looks like you just came from a salon…
1. Prep: Use the right products
If you need volume, use a volumizer shampoo. If your hair tends to be greasy, use a shampoo for oily hair. This gives you a great head start. Before blow-drying, apply only what you need, and nothing too heavy. Too much product can weigh hair down. For frizzy hair, use a gloss or relaxing balm. To increase volume, use a mousse or volume spray. Always use a gloss or heat protectant on the hair shaft.
2. Dry: Remove 75% of the water
Now that there is product in the hair for control, remove moisture before grabbing for the brush. Use your fingers and allow them to act like a brush by holding hair taut and pulling hair straight while getting water out. You can then use the blow dryer and tousle the hair dry to get extra water out. You want hair significantly dry before moving on to the next step.
3. Technique: Section hair
Separate hair into sections so you can have control over your hair and manage the blow dry. Separate hair into 4 sections using a ponytail holder for thick hair or a clip for fine hair. Each section will then be cut into horizontal, 1-inch sections starting at the bottom and moving up.
4. Tools: Move on to Blow Dryer and Round Brush
Pull the brush through the hair as you blow dry, pointing the nozzle downward onto the hair. The nozzle is important because it directs the heat so that it hits the whole brush and not just the center of the brush. Start at the root and work down mid-shaft while twirling the brush. Once dry, move from the mid-shaft to the ends. Hair ends dry fast, so don’t over-dry them; save those for last as they usually only need a little heat.
See how many times it takes you to dry one section, and then repeat this the same number of times on each section of the hair. This way you are not over-drying, and you create a system.
5. The Finishing Touch
Once hair is fully dry, you can do a last round for a truly professional look. First, apply a light serum or gloss if you still see frizz.
Take your round brush, grab 3-inch sections, and smooth hair again once or twice. Hold hair high toward ceiling and hairspray the root area, wrapping hair around brush to the root. Heat hair up for a few seconds and get hair hot, then lock in the style with the cool button and hold for 10 seconds. Going from hot to cold allows hair to set in a nice smooth shape. You can even replace the dryer with a 2-inch-barrel curling iron and clip each section to cool.
