Knowing how to blow-dry your hair properly is the difference between a style that lasts for days and one that frizzes within an hour. The method hairdressers use is not complicated. It depends on preparation, sections and the direction of the airflow more than on the price of the dryer.
What you need
- A hair dryer with heat and speed settings and a cool button.
- A concentrator nozzle, the flat attachment that directs the air.
- A round brush for smoothness and bend, or a paddle brush for a straight finish.
- Sectioning clips.
- A heat protectant. See How to Choose and Use a Heat Protectant.
Hair Dryer Buying Guide: Settings and Attachments explains dryer settings and attachments.
Step 1: Remove water gently
Blot your hair with a towel. Do not rub. Then let it air dry for a few minutes, or apply your products and wait.
Step 2: Apply products
Spread a heat protectant evenly through damp hair. Add mousse at the roots if you want volume, or a smoothing cream on the lengths if your hair frizzes. See Hair Styling Products: Mousse, Gel, Cream, and Spray.
Step 3: Rough dry
Without a brush, dry your hair with your fingers until it is about 80 percent dry. Lift the roots as you go. This shortens the time your hair spends under tension and heat with the brush.
Step 4: Section
Clip the top layers out of the way. Start with the hair at the nape of the neck. Work in sections no wider than your brush.
Step 5: Dry each section with the brush
- Place the brush under the section at the roots.
- Hold the dryer so that the nozzle points down the hair, from roots to ends. Air blown in this direction smooths the cuticle. Air blown upwards roughens it.
- Move the brush and dryer together slowly down the section.
- Repeat two or three times until the section is fully dry.
- For bend at the ends, roll the brush under or outwards as you reach the tips.
Step 6: Set with cool air
Before releasing each section, press the cool button for a few seconds. Hair sets as it cools, so this helps the shape to hold.
Step 7: Finish
When all sections are dry, check that no part is damp, because damp patches frizz. Smooth a drop of serum over the ends and mist with a light hairspray if you wish.
Settings guide
| Hair type | Heat | Speed |
|---|---|---|
| Fine or damaged | Low to medium | Low to medium |
| Medium | Medium | High |
| Thick or coarse | Medium to high | High |
| Curly, with a diffuser | Low | Low |
Keep the dryer about 15 cm from your hair and keep it moving.
Adjusting for your goal
- Volume: lift the roots straight up from the head as you dry, and dry the top sections forward over your face before flipping them back.
- Sleek and straight: use a paddle brush and keep steady tension.
- Soft waves: wind each dried section around the round brush, cool it, and release it gently.
- Curtain bangs: dry the bangs forward first, then sweep them to each side with a small round brush.
Blow-drying curls
To keep curls defined, swap the nozzle for a diffuser.
- Apply your curl products to wet hair.
- Use low heat and low speed.
- Hover the diffuser around the hair, then cup sections and lift them towards the scalp.
- Stop when the hair is nearly dry.
Common mistakes
- Starting with the brush on soaking wet hair.
- Skipping the nozzle, which sends air in all directions.
- Using sections that are too large to dry through.
- Holding the dryer in one place.
- Leaving the roots or the underside damp.
Looking after your hair
A blow-dry on medium heat is gentle compared with a flat iron, but it is still heat. Use a protectant every time, and give your hair some air-dried days. Heat Styling: How to Protect Your Hair has the full safety guide. If your hair is straight and goes flat quickly, see Straight Hair Care: A Simple Daily Routine.
Related on ArniSun
- Heat Styling: How to Protect Your Hair
- How to Choose and Use a Heat Protectant
- Hair Dryer Buying Guide: Settings and Attachments
- Straight Hair Care: A Simple Daily Routine
- Hair Styling Products: Mousse, Gel, Cream, and Spray
Sources and further reading
Frequently asked questions
Should I blow-dry my hair when it is soaking wet?
No. Blot it and let it air dry a little first. Starting on damp hair saves time and reduces heat exposure.
Why does my blow-dry go frizzy?
Usual causes are blowing air up the hair instead of down, leaving sections slightly damp, or using sections that are too big.
How can I make my blow-dry last longer?
Dry every section fully, set with cool air, avoid touching your hair, and sleep with it in a loose bun or wrapped in a satin scarf.