This weekend I took on a brand new media platform: video (Here’s the Eye For Elegance YouTube channel that I’ll be publishing to)! What you see below are the fruits of my labors (I would love to have your feedback) in demonstrating my technique for giving yourself a hair salon-quality blowout at home. It requires about 10-15 minutes of your time and get ready to work those upper arms (great substitute for the gym 😉 ), but the results will be worth it!
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opNyceZoFoY&rel=0]
To break it down, here’s details about the products I used at each step, and some additional styling tips.
I used this Infiniti Pro Conair hair dryer regularly at a gym I went to, and loved its efficiency, lower-volume sound, and detachable nozzle options. So, I bought the same model to use at home. You’ll want a hair dryer that has heat (low, medium, high) and speed (low, medium, high) options. The blue ‘Cold’ button is used for finishing up a blow dry with a blast of cool hair to close the hair follicles that may have opened up from the heat styling. When I got my current hair cut and color by the fun and talented Nikko at the Carmichael Salon in downtown San Francisco, I discovered this lovely Olivia Garden NanoThermic brush. Its wide metallic barrel holds heat for creating a gentle body wave, the diamond barrel grid allows warm hair to flow through the brush and hair, and the nifty pick at the end of the handle is great for parting and separating your hair. It’s now my favorite styling brush!
The products I used, in order from left to right, are a Redken Align straightening lotion to protect your hair from becoming damaged from the styling heat, a Big Sexy Hair root booster to give your hairstyle more body (option for heavy/thick hair), a Redken Outshine anti-frizz lotion, and a .
Pump a nickel-to-quarter-sized dollop of straightening (heat protecting) lotion into your hands and massage into your damp hair, making sure to cover the ends and bottom portion of your strands.
Shake the root booster aerosol and spritz 2-4 times on either side of your head around the crown. Lightly massage to distribute.
Using the before-mentioned nifty pick (seriously, it’s super-convenient), part your hair and isolate the bottom portion of your hair to be dried first.
Use the brush in conjunction with the hairdryer with attached nozzle to dry your hair. Portion off a small segment and brush/dry 2-3 times until completely dry, before moving on to the next segment. Dry on a medium-to-high heat, and at a low speed (medium for the initial run-through, and then low). When you’re done with the bottom of your hair, release the top part and dry that in the same manner. Then repeat those two steps on the other side of your head.
Brush out your hair once it’s all dried, then pump a dime-to-nickel-sized dollop (be conservative; you don’t want to weigh down your hair with too much product) of the anti-frizz lotion into your hands and lightly smooth onto the surface of your hair. You may wish to use the brush to help distribute the lotion.
Spritz your hair lightly with the hairspray to set, fluff out one final time, and you’re done! Admire, and flip your hair like a hair model. Enjoy! 🙂 xoxo,
Nothing beats a good blowout.. especially if it’s a free one! I still haven’t perfected mine, but it’ll get there =)
{ Teffys Perks Blog } X
Agreed! Good luck with your techniques (it took me a while to figure it all out 🙂 ). I’d be happy to keep in touch – I just followed you on Bloglovin; if you’d like to do the same, this is my blog. (p.s. your blogloving URL on your about page is mis-formatted a bit; it points back to your website)
great tutorial!♥ I’d like to try the BigSexyHair hairspray as I’ve read so many good reviews about it!:)
http://www.lorietta.cz
Thanks! Yes, the BigSexyHair products definitely do what a great job at providing no-nonsense control of your hair style. They’re not the most unobtrusive (like some lighter, flexible options), but they’re long lasting. 🙂
Hi Laurie! This is very very helpful! the root pump definitely works!! Thanks for your comment on my blog, I’m following you! <3
xoxo, Mango ❤www.mangorabbitrabbit.blogspot.com
Mango, glad you enjoyed! <3 I just followed you (on G+) as well~ 🙂
This was fantastic. I’m rubbish at doing my hair 🙂 Thank you for visiting my blog. Am glad you liked the clothing company I featured…the peacock dress is stunning, I agree 🙂 Have a lovely day xx
The Dainty Dolls House
Thanks, glad it was useful for you! 🙂 Would be happy to keep in touch; I just added you on bloglovin~ If you’re interested, mine is here. Happy holidays!
Awesome tutorial!
I’m really curious about that bigsexyhair root lifter. I have super thick/long/heavy hair (looks to be quite similar to yours, actually) and any effective volumizing products would be very welcome in my hair arsenal.
Thanks for sharing!
Xo,
Elise
http://www.w-t-fab.com
Thanks Elise!
Yep, from your profile pic, it looks like we have similar hair (mine used to be longer, but I cut it shorter to have better layered movement)~
I haven’t tried a large number of root boosters, but I can say that 1) I would recommend this over a Garnier Fructis’ root booster (that didn’t do much for me) with a spray nozzle – not an aerosol and 2) the BigSexyHair aerosol surprised me with the amount of body/height it gave, the first time I used it. (I actually had to comb my hair down!) 🙂
So, I’d say it’s pretty effective – particularly, the first day of application. It disappears by the second day, and you can feel the product a little bit in your hair (adds a small amount of stiffness to your roots), so I would recommend washing your hair and applying, vs. applying more product over the intial application.
Let me know if that’s enough info, or if you have additional questions! 🙂
xo,
lauriel