Nothing beats walking out of the salon with a fresh blowout—it's almost a guarantee for a great day or night ahead. But why is it so hard to create such a look at home? It's not that it is impossible to get such a style on your own, you just have to know the right tricks. We chatted with hairstylist Frank Rizzieri about some common blowdrying bad habits that might be making your locks look less than perfect.
Not getting rid of excess moisture. After you wash your hair, you want to make sure to towel dry it has much as you possibly can. Getting the excess moisture out of your hair will help you get the maximum effect out of the products you are using and make sure they go through your entire head of hair.
Using too much product. More is not always better—if you are using quality products, a little can go a long way. If you are overdoing it, your hair can get weighed down and greasy. If you rub the product in your hands first, it will ensure you use less than if you just put it straight in your hair from your hand in a glob.
Choosing a brush. If you have long or curly hair, a brush might not get through all the tangles causing you to pull and yank and possibly causing damage. When your hair is still wet, you should first go through it with a comb—leaving the brush for in-between maintenance.
Not dividing. You should never blow dry all your hair at once. Depending on its density, always divide your head into two (if thinner) or three sections. Make a part from the corner of your brow across the crown of your head in a semi circle. If you need another section go from ear to ear below it.
Making sections that are too big. The smaller the section the more you can blow out and straighten your hair; the bigger the section the less control you have.
Not combining the sections. After you finish drying each section, combine it with the still damp section above it and blow dry them together. When you blend the hair together it creates a much more fluid and natural shape.
Applying products all at once. You should not apply your products to the whole head of hair, but to each section as you blow dry it.
Not spraying top and bottom. Be sure to spray your product on the top of the section, then flip it over and spray the bottom so it gets evenly spread out.
Not starting at the right place. First blow dry the bottom sections, then when you reach the top section start from the flat part of the crown of your head and work your way up to your hair line.
Not using a nozzle. Always have a nozzle or a diffuser on your blowdryer. It allows you to control the direction you want your hair to go in, and prevents any burning or damaging.