Kate Middleton style blowout (HOW TO)

Jan 23, 2013

Stephanie D.

The majority of articles I've seen on the topic of blowouts are either extremely broad, advise the use of a lot of product over explaining technique or are just generally too vague to be of any use.

This is seriously one of the best things I've learned how to do...a good blowout sets the stage for any other style and makes it both last longer and look nicer. I have very long, quite thick hair with a semi wavy texture and a lot of little frizzies around the temple and nape, so just LOOKING at a blowdryer used to be a total disaster for me.


TRICKS THE ARTICLES WON'T TELL YOU

1. Every article will say something like "blow downward to flatten the cuticle"...what they don't tell you is that you need tension on the brush. A LOT of tension. I will actually wrap my whole hand around the brush so I can pull all of my hair taut. Use the medium fan setting on high heat and avoid burning your fingers (a lower fan setting will also keep your hair from blowing all over the place and causing tangle issues).

2. The section of hair you take should be no wider than the brush and no thicker than the diameter of the center (not the bristles). When you're getting it down, you probably don't want to take more than half that.

3. The point is not to dry your hair. It's a heat shaping method the same as a curling iron. Do you put a curling iron to wet hair? No. Your hair should be just wet enough to help create tension but dry enough that it doesn't take many passes to get it totally dry...so about 85 - 90%

4. Do the roots first, then the midshaft. If I really want volume, I will dry just my roots upside down until they are completely dry. But, especially on long hair, it is much easier to control what's happening if you don't try to go all the way down on a pass. It doesn't matter if the ends dry in the process.

5. Here's the biggie...you need to do it until the section is completely, 110% bone dry. Just because it looks dry doesn't mean that it is. You should feel NO resistance AT ALL from your round brush. Not even a teeny bit. Your hair should not feel cool at all if you leave off the dryer for 30 seconds. Pull a roundbrush through semi wet hair and you will notice resistance. Completely dry, tangle-free hair not so much. If you do not blowdry until that point, there is still moisture in your hair and your cuticle isn't closed - it will either end up frizzy or fall flat later on because of this.

6. To finish, roll your ends up in the brush (not too tightly, otherwise you'll create brush crimps) and blast the brush with heat for 5-10 seconds. You then have to hold it there for at least 30 seconds while the hair cools. When you release, twirl the end around your finger and move it out of the way so you can work on the next section.

7. Do the front and the top first. I know most places tell you to do it the other way around, but you have way more energy and patience at the beginning than at the end. You can do a quick slacker job underneath, not the first parts that are visible.

8. You don't need a ton of products. Of course, it depends on your hair type, but I only use 2 - a sealant and a protectant. You may want a volumizer or thickener - I personally don't need it...but is point is that you don't need to gunk stuff on your hair to get the look. It's an art you'll be forever glad you mastered.


HTH

Feel free to ask questions.