At the salon, your stylist often makes the final look seem effortless — yet when you try to recreate the style at home, it never comes out quite the same. You may think you need to buy expensive hair tools to get the best results, but the trick is actually in the technique.
“Proper heat, airflow, and sectioning are the keys to creating healthier, longer-lasting blow-dry styles,” says Nikki Gnatzig, hairstylist at LifeSpa at Life Time Paradise Valley in Phoenix. “I always say healthy blowouts come down to working smarter, not hotter.”
When you understand how temperature, technique, and the right products work together, you can protect your hair and create salon-worthy styles at home. We asked Gnatzig to share her tips for smooth, sleek blowouts.
1. Know how to use your tools properly.
If you’re not sure how to use your heated hair tools correctly, even the highest-quality ones won’t give you the desired results. Before you even begin, it’s best to do some research on your blow dryer, so you understand its settings and capabilities.
“The basics you will need for an at-home blowout are a blow dryer with a concentrator nozzle (which attaches to the end of the blow dryer) and a round brush,” Gnatzig says. “Many blow dryers come with a concentrator nozzle attachment, and it’s important because it gives you more control over the airflow and allows you to more easily direct the air down the hair shaft while you work.”
Using a round brush and blow dryer on your own hair takes some practice. “If you tend to struggle with a traditional round brush, another tool I highly recommend is a thermal round brush,” she says. “Once your hair is completely dry, you can use the thermal round brush to smooth any remaining frizz and create a soft, bouncy finish. Tools like the Dyson Airwrap or specific blowout brushes can be a great option as well, especially for someone who has a hard time coordinating a separate blow dryer and round brush. They can make styling your own hair much more manageable because you’re essentially combining steps and tools.”
When shopping for your blow dryer accessories, Gnatzig suggests opting for tools that offer multiple heat and airflow settings, as well as a “cool shot” option, rather than one that only operates at very high heat. “Having that control allows you to adjust the temperature based on your hair type and condition instead of using maximum heat every time.”
If you’re really looking to invest in your hair tools, Gnatzig personally recommends the GHD brand. “Their heat technology is designed to monitor and regulate the temperature as you’re styling, which helps maintain consistent, optimal heat rather than exposing the hair to unnecessarily high temperatures,” she says. “I think investing in quality heat technology is especially valuable if you style your hair frequently.”
At certain LifeSpa locations, you can bring your personal hair tools into your hairstyling appointment, and your stylist can offer tips for using them at home. Check with your stylist to see if this is something they offer.
2. Towel- and rough-dry your hair first.
Before you start to blow dry with a round brush, Gnatzig recommends towel-drying your hair first.
“Wrap your wet hair in a towel and gently squeeze it so the fabric absorbs excess water,” she explains. “Avoid rubbing your hair between the layers of the towel, as this can cause damage and potentially lead to breakage along the hair shaft. A microfiber towel is best as it’s softer and helps to absorb water quicker.
“The goal is to have your hair 70 to 80 percent dry before you use the round brush during your blow dry,” she says. “This helps to minimize unnecessary heat exposure that could cause damage or breakage. Once you towel dry, you can use your blow dryer to focus on getting excess moisture out of the hair before you begin the styling process with the blow dryer and round brush. This is called rough drying.”
3. Use the right products for your hair type.
Products play a huge role in protecting the hair, creating a desired outcome, and maintaining the style.
“I always recommend starting with a heat protectant before using any hot tools,” says Gnatzig. “Heat protectants have ingredients in them that help reduce damage from heat styling and keep the hair healthier over time.”
Apply the heat protectant evenly from the roots to the ends of towel-dried hair. Follow the directions on the packaging.
“I really like the Wella Ultimate Repair Protective Leave-In as it helps strengthen the hair and repair any current damage.” she says. “I also often recommend Kérastase Discipline Fluidissime Thermique Heat Protecting Spray for clients who struggle with frizz or humidity and want a smoother, longer-lasting blowout.”
Depending on your hair type and goals, you may want to then add a volumizing product, smoothing cream, or lightweight styling product to improve the final result of the blowout. “For example, if you’re looking to add volume, I recommend a volume spray like the AstroLift™ Reparative Volume Spray from K18,” she says. “For smoothness, I’d recommend a smoothing serum to helps nourish, control frizz, and add shine.”
To fight frizz and humidity, one of Gnatzig’s favorite products is Kérastase Nutritive Nectar Thermique. “It’s an anti-frizz blow-dry milk that helps strengthen the hair, smooth the hair, and protect against heat up to 450°F. It’s a great option to apply before blow drying when you’re looking for a smoother, softer finish and additional frizz control.”
After your blow-dry is complete, applying a lightweight finishing oil can add shine, smooth flyaways, and help keep your hair looking polished without feeling heavy.
“Overall, I always tell clients that products are there to support good technique,” she notes. “When you combine the right products with proper blow-drying habits, you’ll get healthier hair and a blowout that looks better and lasts longer.”
4. Pay attention to airflow and temperature.
Once your hair is prepped and 70 to 80 percent dry, you can begin using your blow dryer and round brush to dry the hair in your desired style. While holding the blow dryer, always point the nozzle downward from the roots to the ends. This helps smooth the hair cuticles, reduce frizz, and create more shine.
“During this time, it’s important to use moderate heat with consistent airflow instead of blasting the hair with the highest heat setting,” says Gnatzig. “This helps to protect the hair and minimize heat damage.”
Use the lowest effective heat setting for your individual hair type rather than automatically using the highest heat. “Fine, fragile, or damaged hair generally needs less heat, while thicker or coarser hair may need a little more heat,” she explains. “You want enough heat to effectively smooth and shape the hair without exposing it to more heat than necessary. Start with low heat and go from there.”
Heat and airflow are also two different things, she adds. “You can still use a stronger airflow to help dry the hair efficiently without necessarily using the highest temperature setting.”
The polished result comes from the combination of controlled heat, consistent airflow, tension from your brush, and airflow directed down the hair shaft from roots to ends. This helps smooth the cuticle, reduce frizz, and create shine. Less heat exposure helps preserve the integrity of the hair by minimizing heat damage and preventing unnecessary disruption to the cuticle, which is the outermost protective layer of the hair.
“When the cuticle becomes damaged or raised, the hair can appear rough, dull, and frizzy,” says Gnatzig. “Keeping the cuticle smooth allows light to reflect more evenly off the surface, creating a smoother, shinier, more polished result.”
She also recommends finishing each section by using the “cool shot” feature on your blow dryer. “Cooling the hair helps set the style, adds shine, and can help the blowout last longer.”
5. Work in layers and one section at a time.
Instead of trying to dry all the hair at once, work in sections to dry each piece of hair evenly, which helps create a smoother finish. It also reduces the amount of time your hair spends under heat.
“I recommend starting with the bottom layer of hair and working your way up,” Gnatzig explains. “Clip most of your hair up and out of the way, leaving out a horizontal section at the nape of your neck. Once that layer is dry, continue taking horizontal sections down and working your way up toward the top of the head.”
The size of these sections is really important, she notes. “Each section should be no wider than the width of your round brush and not so thick that the airflow can’t effectively reach all the hair. Smaller, manageable sections will give you more control and make it easier to get the hair completely dry and smooth.”
- Round brush technique: Once you begin round-brushing, place the brush underneath the section at the root and create tension with the brush while directing the airflow down the hair shaft. “I like to focus on getting the root area completely dry and smooth first, then slowly work the round brush and blow dryer together through the mid-lengths and ends.”
- Blow dryer positioning: Keep the nozzle of the dryer pointed down the hair shaft in the same direction the hair is laying rather than blowing the air upward toward the root. “This helps keep the cuticle smooth, which reduces frizz and creates more shine.”
- Creating your desired shape: Once each section is completely dry, you can use your round brush to create the shape you want. “For more volume, elevate the hair up and away from the scalp while drying the root. For more bend and bounce through the ends, wrap the ends around the round brush, apply heat, and then finish with the cool shot to help set the shape. Then repeat the same process, continuing to work your way up the head one section at a time.”
6. Make sure the hair is completely dry.
Don’t move on to the next section until the one you’re working on is completely dry. “If there’s still moisture left in the hair, the style will not hold as well and may become frizzy much faster,” says Gnatzig. “Hair needs to be completely dry for the blowout to fully set. While the hair is wet, the temporary bonds within the hair are still being reshaped. As the hair dries during the blow out, those bonds reform and help hold the shape you created with your round brush. This is also why I like using the cool shot once a section is completely dry. After you’ve used heat and tension to create the shape, cooling the hair helps set and hold that finished result.”
