Professional Blowout Secrets Stylists Rarely Share With Clients

Frequently Asked Questions

Sometimes I look at my brush full of knots, static hair, and the endless parade of half-empty bottles and think about just shaving my head. Stylists mutter about ionic dryers, vertical sections, brush tension—who actually does that every day? If you’re lucky (or stubborn), you get 4–7 days out of a blowout, but if you forget heat protection or a silk pillowcase, it’s over by Tuesday. I’ve begged colleagues for secrets, but most of their tips cancel each other out.

How can I make my blowout last longer?

You fall asleep feeling smug about your hair, wake up to flat, oily roots. No product keeps it going for a week, sorry. Dry shampoo is my crutch, and if I forget the silk pillowcase, friction ruins everything. Every stylist says, “Blast with cool air to set,” but I forget, get distracted, and humidity wins. Advice changes every week: root-lifting sprays, hands-off after day one. Some swear by a loose bun or a headband at night, but honestly, who wants to look like an early-2000s flashback?

What are the best products to use before and after a blowout?

Heat protectant. Non-negotiable. I’ve fried enough hair to know. My drawer is full of serums and sprays that only work if you use them on damp, detangled hair—never dry, I learned that the hard way. Some stylists love smoothing cream before blow-drying, then switch to a light oil or anti-humidity spray (mid-shaft down) once hair’s cool, but not every hair type plays nice. Pro product picks always include flexible-hold hairspray, but too much and you’ll have helmet hair.

Which techniques do stylists use to add more volume during a blowout?

I always end up flipping my head upside down, blasting roots, then wondering why I still look flat. Pros divide hair into micro-sections, pull each one tight with a round brush (the bigger, the better), and keep the nozzle close but never touching. Supposedly that’s the secret—maximum lift, less frizz. Sometimes they sneak mousse onto the roots before drying, and there’s this “double-dry” trick nobody talks about: dry, cool, mist with light hairspray, then blast the crown again. People forget that volume secrets are all about holding tension until the hair is totally cool.

Are there any specific brushes or tools that elevate a blowout?

Paddle brush? Forget it—your hair will be flat in an hour. Mixed boar and nylon bristle round brushes are what stylists actually use, though I always flinch at the price. Vented ceramic barrels dry hair faster, supposedly. My cousin’s brush is always clogged with lint because she never cleans it, so it just fries hair. Ionic dryers are supposed to smooth things out, but I’ve used the same nozzle for years and never checked if it’s on right. Diffusers? Only for curls, but somehow I have three, all collecting dust.

Can you give tips on how to protect hair from heat damage during styling?

Does anyone actually remember keratin melts? I mean, my stylist keeps reminding me that anything past 450°F (or 232°C, if you’re feeling international) is just frying, not styling, and do I listen? Not really. I keep grabbing the iron anyway. I swear by heat protectant—except I always forget which one’s supposed to work for what. Sprays are supposed to be better for fine hair, but then my friend with thick hair says it just turns her head into a sticky mess. Creams feel nicer, but then my hands get greasy and I end up wiping them on my jeans. Am I the only one who’s seen that “hands test” where you stick your hand under the dryer and if it hurts after three seconds, you panic and turn it down? Sometimes stylists go on about those nozzle attachments—concentrators?—like they’re life-changing, but honestly, I just lose them in a drawer. Oh, and every so often someone mentions UV-protectant sprays like we’re all vacationing on the sun. By that point, I’m not even sure why I started doing my hair.

What’s the secret to getting salon-level results at home with a blowout?

Honestly, is there even a secret? People love to act like there’s some magical code, but every time I ask, I get the same sarcastic sigh and a list: “Section, tension, cool shot, patience.” Sure, okay. But if you skip the nozzle or grab the wrong brush—disaster. My stylist (the one who actually listens, not the one who roasted my split ends) keeps insisting you have to pre-dry your hair to like, 80% before you even think about sectioning. Nobody on YouTube ever mentions this because, I guess, it’s boring and doesn’t sell products? But it actually works, so whatever.

I skimmed this expert FAQ and yeah, they say “practice,” but unless you’re part-time gymnast, your wrist is going to hate you. I just start wherever I can see in the mirror and pretend I’m not missing huge patches in the back. Sometimes I panic, sometimes I just let it go. And don’t even get me started on hairspray—use the wrong one, humidity laughs in your face. Go for the light anti-humidity stuff or, honestly, just accept that your scalp and your sanity matter more than perfect hair.