Expert tips on prepping and setting a great blow dry

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Expert tips on prepping and setting a great blow dry

Mastering the art of blow-drying can sometimes feel like a pipedream.  We head to the salon to get it done professionally, making sure we soak in every twist and turn our hairdresser makes with the brush and the dryer so that we can try and recreate the same voluminous and polished blow dry ourselves at home. But you and I both know that seldom happens.

So to help you improve your blow -drying skills, we thought we’d provide you with a bit of a cheat sheet.

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We enlisted the help of hairdresser Brad Mullins – who has styled the hair of celebrities such as Nicole Scherzinger, Jen Hawkins, Pia Miller, Elsa Pataky and Carrie Bickmore – to give us his tips on the best way to blow dry your hair.What’s the best way to prep your hair before blow drying?Brad suggests giving your hair a good brush before you the hair follicle,” then following with a good shampoo and conditioner that’s best suited to your hair type. This will ensure that your hair is in optimal condition before you start blow drying, making the process faster and more efficientbh loves: The Body Shop Bamboo Large Oval Cushioned Wooden Pin Brush

What products should you use before you start the blow- drying process?

Damage control from the start is essential as you’re blasting hot air straight on to your hair.  So, packing in as many heat protectant products before the blow dryer hits that scalp is key. Brad’s go-to products are the O&M Know Knott conditioning detangler for prepping the hair, followed by O&M’s Atonic thickening spritz for creating volume and texture. Finally, Brad loves the O&M Frizzy Logic (I have personally tried this product, which left a super smooth and silky finish on my hair after my blow- dry) that he suggests working into the ends of your hair to “protect against [the] heat of styling tools.”

bh also loves: Garnier Fructis Nutri-Repair 3 Instant Detangler, Aveda Thickening Tonic, John Frieda Frizz Ease® Perfect Finish™ Polishing Serum

What brush do you recommend for blow drying hair for lots of volume?Brad recommends using a large, round brush and says, “a good tip is to have a few of the  same-sized brush…leave them in [your hair] with the hair [wrapped] around it after you have added heat and let them cool down  for extra volume.”bh loves: ELEVEN Australia Large Round BrushWhat’s the best way to blow dry your hair to achieve lots of volume?The million dollar question. For the perfect, voluminous blow dry, Brad gives us this great tip: “towel dry your hair really well after shampooing then blast hair dry with your hair upside down to get maximum root lift.”  

bh loves: Schwarzkopf Extra Care Styling Express Dry Blow-Dry Spray, VS Sassoon Pro Dry 2300 Hair Dryer

What are the best products to use to set a blow dry?Applying product after your blow dry to ensure your bouncy blow-dried locks stay in place for as long as humanly possible, is an important part of the process. Brad loves O&M’s Original Queenie Hairspray “for flexible hold” and says the new Desert Dry texturising spray (also from O&M) is amazing for keeping your style in place.bh also loves: Kérastase Paris L’Incroyable Blowdry, L’Oreal Paris Elnett Satin Heat Spray, TIGI S Factor by TIGI Vivacious Hairspray

Do you have any other great blow drying tips?   

“An upside down shake of the head is great to loosen up a tonged wave and to invigorate a blow dry half way through the day.”

Do you have any great blow drying tips to share?

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