There are two kinds of people in this world: one who use the hairdryer for the sole purpose of wicking out water from wet hair, and another who uses it as a hairstyling tool.
If you belong to the latter category and want to find out how to get a perfect blowout without visiting the salon, we gotchu. Here are some tips to get you started.
The fastest way to blow-dry hair? Don’t start when it is dripping wet. But get it as dry as you possibly can with a towel – a microfibre towel works best.
This pre-hairdryer step soaks up excess moisture from your hair, so you’ll spend less time getting it dry with the hairdryer, which in turn reduces the heat and stress that can damage hair.
Apply heat protectant on your hair before you even reach out for the hair dryer. You might think there is no need to do so since you're not using a curling iron or hair straightener, but heat from hairdryer can also damage your hair.
Heat protectants can come in serums, spray or water form, so find a formula that works for you.
While a higher setting and greater heat means faster drying time, it can dry the hair out and cause more frizz and fly-aways.
For best results, keep the heat and speed settings to medium – this works well for most hair types and even coloured hair. If you’re pressed for time, you can still set the hairdryer to medium heat, but increase the speed and always keep the flow moving.
A common misconception is that going over the same section of already dried hair will help get it smoother and sleeker. On the contrary, this will only lead to dryness and damage.
If you want to get hair frizz-free, use the “cool shot” button or mode to finish your session. This helps seal the hair cuticles, leaving hair smooth and shiny. The best time to do this is when your hair is 80 per cent dry.