How to Blow Dry and Add Volume to Your Hair

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Products and techniques for thick, bouncy hair

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Washing

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Protecting and Sectioning

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Blow Drying

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Video

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Expert Q&A

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Tips

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Warnings

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Things You'll Need

For any length or thickness of hair, blow drying can add shine and volume. However, you do need to use the correct technique and protect your hair from the dangers of heat damage. Before you want to do your hair before an important occasion, though, practice blow drying your hair a few times. The technique can at first seem overwhelming, but, with practice, you should be able to blow dry your hair easily and beautifully.

Things You Should Know

Apply a volumizing mousse to wet hair after you shower. Towel dry your hair and wait until it's halfway dry before blow drying.
Spritz heat protectant into your hair and put half of your hair up. Keep your blow dryer on low heat.
Use a round brush to add volume to the bottom sections of your hair. Blow your bangs up and away from your face to finish off.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Washing

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Choose shampoo and conditioner that are right for your hair type. If your hair is dry, buy a moisturizing shampoo. If your hair is too oily, buy a shampoo designed for oily hair. Use a volumizing conditioner, unless your hair already has too much volume.^{[1]XResearch source} Use about a dime to a quarter-sized amount of both shampoo and conditioner. Rinse out the conditioner with cool water to seal the cuticle.
Do not rub your hair! Instead, blot it gently and repeatedly with a towel. Try to get all the excess moisture out.^{[2]XResearch source} You can use an old T-shirt instead of a towel to reduce frizz.
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Put in volumizing, alcohol-free mousse.^{[3]XExpert SourceGina Almona
Professional Hair StylistExpert Interview. 12 December 2019.} Put a tennis-ball sized amount of mousse into your hands. Apply the mousse from the roots of your hair to the ends. If you have longer hair, put it up near your scalp, too.
- The same products do not work for everyone, especially in terms of mousses and volumizing products. If you try a mousse and it does not work well for your hair, ask your hairstylist what kinds of products are be best for blow drying your hair.
Before you begin blow drying, your hair should be at least 60% dry. Keep blotting with a towel if you do not have the time for your hair to just air dry. This might seem like a long time to wait, but, to protect your hair and prevent frizziness after blow drying, the 60% dry rule is really important!^{[4]XResearch source}

Part 2

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Protecting and Sectioning

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^{[5]XExpert SourceGina Almona
Professional Hair StylistExpert Interview. 12 December 2019.} Use a thermal heat protectant that prevents damage from the heat of the blow dryer.^{[6]XResearch source} Heat protectants come in many different forms. Sometimes they are sprays, but they can often be oils. Apply it lightly and evenly to all of your hair.
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Divide your hair into sections.^{[7]XExpert SourceGina Almona
Professional Hair StylistExpert Interview. 12 December 2019.} These sections should depend on the width, texture, and length of your hair. Secure them with hair clips on top of your head. Leave the bottom layer of your hair down. You should blow dry this section first. Then, let the other sections down gradually as you blow dry the rest of your hair.
- If you have really thin hair, you should opt for 4 to 6 sections for your whole head. If you have thick hair, you can divide it into 10 or more sections. Take your time, and make the sections as small as you can without sacrificing too much time.
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Put your blow dryer on a low heat. While many people think that a hotter blow dryer is be more effective, it could give you dry, frizzy hair. Put your blow dryer on the lowest possible setting.^{[8]XResearch source}
- If the lowest possible setting seems really ineffective, try the next highest setting. However, your hair should be mostly dry by the time you even begin blow drying, so the blow dryer should be used more as a styling tool than a drying method.

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Blow Drying

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Wrap 1 section of hair around a round brush. Do not wrap it all the way around the brush. Pull the brush (with the hair wrapped around it) to create tension on your hair, and begin to blow dry from the tips of the hair, moving the round brush up from the tips, to the middle of the hair strand, and finally to the roots.^{[9]XResearch source} Before releasing the brush, blast your hair with cool air for a few seconds to set the curl..
- Make sure that you have a high quality blow dryer with a nozzle to direct the air at the round brush.^{[10]XResearch source}
- Place the hair on top of the brush and direct the air from the blow dryer beneath the brush to add volume to your roots.
- The type of brush you need will vary with your hair type. While people with thicker, more textured hair may want to opt for a paddle brush, people with thinner, fine hair may want a ceramic round brush. If you have questions about what is best for your hair, consult your hairstylist.
Release the sections one at a time from the next layer of your hair. Repeat the same drying process for all the layers of your hair.
Many people, especially if they start with wet hair, do not blow dry their hair until it is thoroughly dry and also warm. Run your hands through all of your hair, making sure that it is warmer than the room temperature. Especially check the bottom and back of your head for cold spots. If you blow dry your hair but leave it cold, it could get dry and frizzy.^{[11]XResearch source}
When all of your hair is dry, blow it all backwards, away from your face. Part your hair.^{[12]XResearch source} If you want extra volume, part your hair on the opposite side than you typically do. Add any finishing products that you like (such as Moroccan oil) and style further.

Expert Q&A

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Question
What should I put on my hair before blow drying it?
Gina Almona
Professional Hair Stylist
Gina Almona is the Owner of Blo It Out, a New York City-based hair salon. With over 20 years of beauty training experience, Gina's work has been featured in People Magazine, Time Out New York, and Queens Scene. She has been able to keep a fresh perspective in the industry by demonstrating and participating in trade shows and workshops like the International Beauty Show. She received her cosmetology training from the Long Island Beauty School, Astoria.
Gina Almona
Professional Hair Stylist
Expert Answer
I personally love using volumizing spray. Spray it on your hair and blow dry your hair upside down to create volume.
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Question
How do I stop my hair from frizzing when blow drying?
Gina Almona
Professional Hair Stylist
Gina Almona is the Owner of Blo It Out, a New York City-based hair salon. With over 20 years of beauty training experience, Gina's work has been featured in People Magazine, Time Out New York, and Queens Scene. She has been able to keep a fresh perspective in the industry by demonstrating and participating in trade shows and workshops like the International Beauty Show. She received her cosmetology training from the Long Island Beauty School, Astoria.
Gina Almona
Professional Hair Stylist
Expert Answer
Proper product application and tools will help avoid frizz. Try applying the proper product and sectioning your hair prior to blowdrying. You should also make sure to use the nozzle when you’re blow drying.
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Can I blow dry already dry hair for extra volume?
Community Answer
Yes and no. You can do that, yes, but it just makes your hair frizzy. But it mostly depends what type of hair you have.
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Tips

Make sure you have the right brush for your hair type. Everyone’s hair is different, and some types work better than others for different types of hair.
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Warnings

Do not overheat your hair! You could damage it.
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Be careful about using electricity in the bathroom, if that is where you do your hair. Do not get your hair dryer wet.
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Do not brush your hair immediately when you get out of the shower. Wait until it is more dry. Brushing wet hair can damage it.^{[13]XResearch source}
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