You probably adore the polished finish of blowout hairstyles, but let’s be honest: it’s a bit of an inconvenience. If you don’t want to spend a lot of money on a salon service, then you have to do it yourself — which can take up too much time to maintain. But it doesn’t have to be time-consuming if you receive guidance from an expert. Here’s how to achieve stunning blowout hairstyles in under 10 (!!) minutes according to one of the quickest stylists in New York City, Christopher Marrero.
Below, Marrero’s time-saving tips and techniques to achieve salon-quality blowout hairstyles, even on a busy weekday.
Step 1: Dry Gently All Over
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Your key to achieving amazing hair in a hurry is using an excellent blow-dryer. Choose a model labeled as “professional” to ensure that it has a high-performance motor (which will dry hair faster) and operates at a wattage of no more than 1,800 watts (to minimize damage). It might be more expensive, but your tresses will thank you with good hair days. Marrero’s secret weapon: the Turbo Power TwinTurbo 2600 Professional Hair Dryer (Buy It, $116, amazon.com).
Begin your blowout hairstyle by gently drying your hair (meaning, without using a brush). According to Marrero, one of the biggest mistakes is using a round brush on soaking wet hair. It’s a waste of time because your hair won’t hold its shape when saturated with water. Instead, try this: after washing, wrap a towel around your hair (preferably a microfiber hair towel) and twist it to remove excess water. Then, apply a fast-drying spray — which helps moisture evaporate quickly so you won’t damage your locks — from mid-length to ends. Dry your hair by moving the dryer (without the concentrator nozzle) from side to side while combing your fingers through the strands and lifting at the roots. This method should get your hair 80 percent dry.
Step 2: Divide and Conquer
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Next, divide your hair into four sections to complete the blowout hairstyle in more manageable parts: one at the top, one on each side, and one at the back.
Twist each into a coil and fasten with a clamp. Connect the concentrator nozzle to the dryer and grab a circular brush with mixed boar and nylon bristles, such as Marrero’s choice: the Marilyn Brush Tuxedo Pro Round Brush (Purchase It, $16, amazon.com). The longer your hair, the larger the brush diameter should be. Utilize your dominant hand to hold the brush and your non-dominant hand to hold the dryer. (Still struggling to grasp it? These hair dryer brushes make the process even more convenient.)
Starting with the coronet section, unclip the hair and position the brush behind it. Utilize the brush to pull the hair upwards as you direct the airflow downward towards the roots. As the brush approaches the ends, allow them to encircle it, and roll the brush back down towards your head as you dry. Eliminate the brush and repeat until the section is completely dried.
To prevent your hair from tangling in the bristles (experienced that before), delicately extract the brush from the coil of hair horizontally, rotating your wrist in small circles to aid in liberating strands. Once the section is dry, wrap your hair around four fingers to form a substantial curl and secure it in place with a clip. Repeat the entire process on the two lateral sections, rolling the hair away from your face to generate a flattering style that will frame your visage.
If you encounter difficulties in mastering this stage of the blowout hairstyle, section and dry your hair, then employ a large-barrel styling iron such as the T3 BodyWaver Professional Styling Iron (Purchase It, $170, sephora.com) instead of a round brush to attain the same voluminous outcomes.
Step 3: Conquer the Rear
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The anterior and upper sections of your hair are what you (and others!) perceive, so you’ll want to concentrate the majority of your time on those sections. Save time on the posterior section by running a paddle brush through your hair to control it as you dry. The hair from the coronet section will cascade over the rear, concealing most of it when you’ve finished styling, so there’s no necessity to achieve perfection.
Step 4: Establish a Frizz-Free Finish
Diana King
Seal in your blowout hairstyle by transitioning the dryer to the cool setting and directing cold air at your hair to close the cuticles; this will enhance shine. Then, remove the clips to release each section, and gently comb through the strands with your fingers to loosen the curls. After dividing your hair, massage a small amount of smoothing cream onto your fingertips. Apply it lightly to your ends and around your part to tame flyaways. (Wish to take it a step further? Try a hair shine spray.)
