Think of a blowout, and several definitions come to mind. A blowout could be an uncontrolled release of oil, a large celebration meal with family, to be extinguished by air, and even puffing one’s cheeks. But there’s another kind of blowout – a hair treatment or hair service often offered to guests at hair salons to give them voluminous, bouncy, and shiny hair. This guide to blowouts for hair is designed to help you do your blowouts at home.

Table of Contents:

• What Is a Blowout?
• Why Choose Blowouts?
• FAQs
• How Long Does a Blowout Last?
• Are Blowouts Good for Your Hair?
• Can a Blowout Straighten Hair?
• How Do You Sleep After a Blowout?
• Who Can Get a Blowout Done?
• What Is the Difference Between a Brazilian and Keratin Blowout?
• What Tools are Needed for a Blowout?
• A Step-by-step Guide to the Perfect Blowout
• Step 1: Clean
• Step 2: Condition
• Step 3. Heat Protectant
• Step 4. Blow-dry
• Step 5. Divide Into Sections
• Step 6. Pull and Roll
• Step 7. Cold-air Blast
• Step 8. Repeat Steps Six and Seven
• How to Make Your Blowout Treatment Last

What Is a Blowout?

In a nutshell, a blowout is a hair-drying treatment involving washing, conditioning, blow-drying, and styling to create the desired look without damaging your hair.

Why Choose Blowouts?

Blowouts are a simple, least-damaging technique for glossy, shiny, picture-perfect hair. Even if done at home, a blowout gives you that salon-style luxurious glow that is hard to get. 

Gentle blowouts also fortify each hair strand, so your gorgeous style lasts longer. A single treatment can give you easy-to-maintain hair. Plus, you can get any look you want – wavy, curly, or straight. 

FAQs

How Long Does a Blowout Last?

A blowout can last up to five days, but this would depend on factors like the length, thickness (volume), and texture of your hair.

• Pollution, sweat, dust, grime, and humidity are all enemies of blowout treatments and affect how long a blowout treatment lasts. Dust pollution, grease, and dirt all lessen the duration of a blowout.
• Touching your hair regularly causes friction which in turn leads to frizz.
  
  
• Lying down on a rough pillowcase can also remove the goodness of a blowout procedure, dry out hair, cause frizz, and eliminate that healthy shine.
• Getting your hair wet and even sweating can be a disaster for your newly treated mane.

Are Blowouts Good for Your Hair?

Overusing curling irons, straightening irons, styling products, and even a brush can be a bit much for your lovely mane. Blowout treatments involve heating tools, styling products, and intense brushing, but this treatment is generally healthy for your hair.

It smoothens hair shafts, makes your hair more manageable, and leaves your hair clean and shiny. But we know that too much of a good thing can be harmful, and that’s the case with blowouts.

Getting this treatment too often can lead to dry and brittle hair. Your hair will stay healthy and damage-free if you limit your treatments.

If you have naturally curly hair, frequent blowouts could mess with the natural curl pattern as your hair is stretched out during the process.

Can a Blowout Straighten Hair?

A blowout is not a hair-straightening treatment. What it can do for your hair is smooth each strand, so your hair lays flat yet stays bouncy. 

If you want to sport straight hair with a Brazilian blowout, your stylist can get your hair to look straight by using a flat iron. The more they flat irons your hair, the straighter it will get. So, while it is not a straightening technique, it can straighten your hair. 

How Do You Sleep After a Blowout?

Don’t sleep with your hair down. Always detangle your hair with a wide-tooth comb and tie it back in a loose ponytail, avoiding tight elastic bands. If you have thick hair, two loose buns secured at the top of your head can prevent friction. 

Place your hair over the top of your pillow for long hair. Those with curly, wavy, or coily hair can sleep with a silk hair bonnet that loosely holds up hair while you sleep. Sleep only on a satin or silk pillowcase to avoid friction between the pillow and your hair.

Who Can Get a Blowout Done?

Anyone who wants to sport healthy, smooth, sleek hair can get a blowout. You can get it done before a special occasion like a wedding or a birthday, or you can have one just because you can.

What Is the Difference Between a Brazilian and Keratin Blowout?

A Brazilian blowout is a smoothing treatment brand name with a unique, specialized chemical makeup. The treatment originated in Brazil and includes Brazilian ingredients like Camu Camu, acai berry, and annatto seed. 

The liquid keratin formula bonds hair, creating a protective layer over each shaft. The treatment is applied, and the hair is blow-dried, straightened, then rinsed out and blow-dried again. The heat caused by the chemicals activates them and helps them bond to each hair shaft. 

The treatment is trendy because it removes frizz and gives hair an intense shine. Brazilian blowouts are safe – even on colored hair, and can last up to three to four months.

Keratin treatments are keratin-containing smoothing treatments. Keratin treatments are not as simple as Brazilian treatments. Plus, you cannot afford to clip up or tie your hair back in a ponytail for several days after treatment.

What Tools are Needed for a Blowout?

The essential supplies for a blowout treatment include:

• A shampoo to clean and nourish your hair thoroughly before treatment.
• A conditioner to lock in moisture to prevent accidental hair damage during treatment.
• Heat protectant to protect your hair from damage.
• Detangling product (optional) to get your hair easily manageable and prevent breakage
• Hair clips.
  
  
• Large round ceramic brush/boar bristle brush
• Blow dryer
• A finishing product to help hold the style in place after your blowout treatment.

A Step-by-step Guide to the Perfect Blowout

• Step 1: Clean

Oil, dirt, and product build-up are a blowout treatment’s worst enemies.

Prepare your hair for treatment by first washing your hair with a good quality clarifying shampoo to remove all traces of oil and product build-up from your hair and scalp. A clean scalp leads to stellar results.

WOW Skin Science Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo is an excellent clarifying shampoo made from raw Himalayan apple cider vinegar. This gentle yet effective formula removes product build-up and excess oil without stripping your hair of essential nutrients or drying it out. Apple cider vinegar clarifies and balances your hair’s pH levels and prepares it for a blowout treatment. Sweet almond oil nourishes and protects every strand. Nettle leaf extract helps soothe the scalp, thanks to its antioxidant-rich properties.

• Step 2: Condition

Conditioning your hair with a deep conditioner will make your hair manageable during treatment, reduce frizz, and keep your hair strong and ready to withstand the heat from the blowout.

WOW Skin Science Moroccan Argan Conditioner is packed with the goodness of Moroccan argan oil’s linoleic and omega-6 fatty acids that deeply moisturize and soften your hair. Vitamin-rich sweet almond oil protects your hair from the treatment it is about to receive, while castor oil lubricates the hair shaft and decreases the chances of breakage. Finally, coconut oil’s lauric acid deeply soaks into every strand, providing extensive nourishment.

Click here for more information WOW Skin Science’s range of hair and skin products.

• Step 3. Heat Protectant

Always use a heat protectant product before using any heat styling tool, including a blowout. Never place heat styling tools directly on your hair without first using a heat protectant. The products contain silicones and other essential ingredients that coat the shaft, seal moisture, and protect it from damage caused by heat applications.

• Step 4. Blow-dry

Blow-dry your hair upside down until it is about 30% damp (70% dry). Damp hair is easier to manage and holds the style better once finished. Plus, there is a drastic reduction in the risk of hair breakage during styling. You can run your fingers through your hair while blow-drying if you are not looking for too much volume.

• Step 5. Divide Into Sections

Divide your hair into easily manageable sections and pin it up with hair clips – the kind your hair stylist uses. For now, you can divide and clip your hair into three sections, working on one area at a time.

• Step 6. Pull and Roll

The pull and roll technique is the key to the perfect blowout. Work in small sections throughout your head. The smaller the sections, the better the results.

Start with your large hairbrush at the root of your hair. Work the teeth tightly into the hair. As you blow-dry, pull the hairbrush down the length of your hair, slowly, and along the dryer. When you reach the tip of your hair, gently roll the brush toward the root. Pull toward the end of the hair again. Continue with this section of hair until it is fully dry. Move on to the next section and then onto the next until you do this to all your hair.

When blow-drying, always point the hairdryer’s nozzle downward to ensure smooth and frizz-free results.

• Step 7. Cold-air Blast

You will notice that your hair and that section of your scalp are warm from the heat. The trick now is to allow that section of hair to cool and lock in the style. Turn on the ‘cold’ setting on your hair dryer and blast the roots with cool air for a couple of seconds.

• Step 8. Repeat Steps Six and Seven

Continue pulling and rolling each section, blasting it with cool air throughout your head.

Finally, treat any frizzy strands with your brush and hair dryer, holding the brush as though as you can against these strands and blow-drying them downward.

How to Make Your Blowout Treatment Last

Blowout treatments are not a permanent solution for healthy, sleek, and smooth hair. The treatment is very temporary and lasts until your next hair wash. However, you can ensure your hair looks fantastic between washes and get the most out of each treatment by following some basic rules:

• Don’t use any products on your hair until you get your blowout treatment.
• Humidity is not suitable for your blowout-treated hair. Use an anti-humid spray to protect your hair.
• Don’t touch your hair often.
• Use a dry shampoo if your hair gets greasy at the roots. JustinToves-Vincillone, Authentic Beauty Concept advocate, suggests using a dry shampoo immediately post your blowing to absorb natural oils that will eventually make your hair look weighed down.
• Use dry shampoo a couple of days after treatment. Part your hair into two or three-inch sections to allow the shampoo to get to the roots. Let it sit on your scalp for a good five minutes before massaging the scalp with your fingers – just like you would if you were shampooing your hair. For extra boost and volume, spray on a bit of dry texture spray.
  
  
• Avoid getting your hair wet in the rain, pool, or sweat during a workout. Use a moisture-wicking headband when working out and a shower cap in the shower.
• If you notice your hair getting a bit limp or flat, you can use a large-barrel curling iron to lift it and give it some volume.

You can get perfectly styled, blowout hair at home. It does take a bit of practice, but it can be done – without hair straighteners or curlers. The trick is to prep your hair with a clarifying shampoo followed by a deep conditioner and heat protectant, and then take measures to make the treatment last.