Like folding a fitted sheet or roasting the perfect chicken, the DIY blowout is one of the skills many of us want to master. But there’s usually quite the gulf between post-blowout style we get at home and the coveted bouncy, smooth look we step out of a salon with. So we enlisted top hairstylists known for their flawless blowouts on both celebrities and earthlings like me to help us bridge the gap and bring our blowouts up (or as close as possible) to professional level. Read on for their key tools, techniques, and tricks for every hair type, from straight to textured.

The Tools

“The right tools help create the tension and control needed for a smooth, polished finish,” says Lacy Redway, a celebrity hairstylist and Dove Partner. For best results, pro hairstylists suggest having these essentials on hand before you get started:

✔️ A heat protectant product like a spray, serum, or cream to shield hair from heat damage
✔️ A hair dryer with a concentrator nozzle to direct the airflow, Redway recommends
✔️ A round hair brush, either ceramic or boar bristle, advises Stephanie Angelone, master celebrity stylist at RPZL Hair Extension & Blowout Bar in New York City
✔️ Hair sectioning clips to divide and hold hair in place as you blow it dry

The Steps

We all want to save time, but “don't rush the drying process,” Redway says. Here’s the technique that pros use:

  1. Prep hair. “After cleansing and conditioning, gently detangle hair while it’s damp and apply your preferred heat protectant,” Redway says.
  2. Rough dry your hair first using the hair dryer and your hands until it’s about 80% dry, Angelone advises. “Rough drying removes excess moisture before you start styling with a brush, which speeds up the blowout process and makes smoothing each section easier,” Redway explains. “Move the dryer around your head as you lift the hair.”
  3. Section strands. “Sectioning hair makes blow-drying more manageable and ensures all of your hair gets evenly dried and smoothed,” Redway says. It also helps ensure your blowout will last, as “any moisture left in your hair will end up making it frizzy,” Angelone adds. Divide hair into about eight equal sections using hair sectioning clips, including the front middle section, the two sides, and five sections toward the back, Angelone suggests. “For most textured hair types, I recommend working in one- to two-inch sections,” Redway says. “Smaller sections provide better control and allow heat and tension to be distributed more evenly, resulting in a smoother finish.”
  4. Start with back sections. Begin blow-drying a section of hair at the back bottom of your head near the nape of your neck, then work your way up to the top back sections. “Once the back is complete, move to the sides and finish with the front sections,” Redway advises.
  5. Dry sections from top to bottom. “Start drying each section at the roots, since they’re typically the slowest area to dry,” Redway explains. “Once the roots are smooth and dry, work the brush and dryer down through the mid-lengths and ends of hair.”
  6. Master the movement. Hairstylists make the hair dryer-brush dance look so effortless in the salon. Here’s what to do at home depending on the look you want: For a sleek style, “place the brush at the roots, position the dryer nozzle above the section, and slowly glide the brush and dryer down the hair shaft together,” Redway says. “The dryer should follow the brush the entire time, directing airflow downward to help smooth the cuticle and enhance shine.” When drying the front sections, roll the brush away from the face, she adds. For a voluminous brush curl blowout, wrap each section of hair away from your face by slowly pulling the brush through hair using a twisting motion with your wrist, Angelone advises, unraveling the hair from the brush when you reach the ends.
  7. Repeat as necessary. Depending on the size of the section and hair’s density and texture, it could take anywhere from two to four passes of the hair dryer up to 10 or 12 to dry, pros say. “Make sure the section is completely dry before moving on to the next,” Redway says.
  8. Finish with stylers. “Finishing products are key for a professional look,” Angelone says. “Rake a light serum through hair with your fingers, then spritz a strong hold hairspray all over to lock in the shape.”

Bonus Blowout Tips

Make your style shine—and last—with Redway’s smart tricks.

  • For maximum longevity and body, loosely pin or clip each section up while it cools. “Allowing hair to cool in this shape helps set the blowout and can create a more polished, salon-like finish,” she says.
  • Wait until hair is fully cool once it’s dry before touching it or continuing to style it to keep it smooth and set the shape.
  • To give hair a polished look, spritz it with a lightweight oil mist as a last step.
  • Protect your style overnight by wrapping hair in a silk scarf or bonnet.

Why trust Good Housekeeping?

GH Senior Beauty & Style Director April Franzino has 20 years of experience researching, writing, and editing hair content. To write this article, she interviewed top professional hair stylists for their advice on how to do the best at-home blowout.