Brushing and Blow-Drying Tips

Techniques that deliver the looks
Start with freshly washed hair

Before you switch on the hair dryer or start applying products, it’s best to get as much water out of your hair as you can. For this, either blot your hair dry with a towel (rubbing will damage hair cuticles) or wrap your hair in a towel for 5 minutes.

Dry your hair first

It is much easier to blow-dry your hair with a brush if you start when it’s nearly dry. It’ll shape more easily and take less time. So rough dry your hair first by blasting it with a hair dryer. The quickest way is to do this with your head upside-down – it also gives your hair more lift and volume. Only when your hair is mostly dry, blow-dry with a brush.

How do I use my hairstyling products?

Unless the directions tell you otherwise, apply your products to towel dried hair. Apply your styling products in sections, ensuring you cover every strand of hair with the product. You can use a comb or fingers to evenly distribute the product. If you have the time, divide the hair into sections with the help of clips and then apply the product section by section.
Which brush?

Large round brushes are best for giving a smooth finish with volume. Metallic brushes are most effective for shaping and blow-drying. You can use a thinner round brush for your fringe. Paddle brushes are good for finishing long hair.

What hairdryer and do I need a diffuser?

A hairdryer with a concentrator/targeting nozzle is a must, as without it, you could easily destroy the style that you are trying to create. Make sure it has a fast and a slow speed, and can blast cold air. Styling on a hot setting helps give shine to your hair, while cold air helps to set the styling product and prevent static. When using dryers, make sure you keep either your dryer or hair moving at all times. Overheating your hair happens easily and can damage it. Using a hairdryer with a diffuser nozzle is a gentler way to dry your hair. Especially good on curly hair, its key benefits are giving volume and helping to keep your style. But it does take a bit longer to dry. You can also dry curly hair effectively with a normal hairdryer. Use a low heat and power settings. With your hand in front of the nozzle, place the dryer below your hair so the air blows upwards through your fingers. Lift the curls gently while you dry.

The most important thing to remember when hair drying?

Avoid heat damage. Always keep your hairdryer or your hair moving. Never expose one section of your hair to intense, sustained heat from hairdryers (or hair irons) as this will result in fuzzy damaged hair that lacks shine.

How do I lift a section of hair with one hand?

When you are styling your hair at home, you often find you don’t have enough hands to do everything. Sectioning your hair to apply products to the roots or to blow-dry with a brush doesn’t have to be difficult or time consuming. The simplest way is to use your fingers like a comb. If sectioning your hair on your left side, slide the fingers of your right hand in horizontally along the roots. Use your little finger to mark a line you want to section off and lift the hair.

A trick to roll the hair around the brush neatly and easily

It’s important to ensure that the very tip of your hair isn’t crumpled (otherwise you’ll get fuzzy ends). Don’t try to wind your hair round the brush starting at the tip of your hair. The key is to start with the brush half way up the hair and keep turning your brush gently round until you reach the tip of your hair. This way the hair naturally curls round the brush when it gets to the tip. If your hair is short, you can simply place your brush at the roots of the section of your hair, and blow the hairdryer up so that the hair strands curls around the brush. Keep turning the brush so that the hair curls around the brush.

Blow-drying for shine?

It’s the application of heat to hair while styling with a brush that helps add brilliance and shine to the hair. So the more you brush and blow-dry, the more shine you’ll get. But remember to always keep either the dryer or hair moving so you avoid heat damage. Roll the hair around the brush and, directing the dryer nozzle onto your hair, slowly unroll by firmly brushing down and out. The tip is to pull the hair taut and point the nozzle downwards as you unroll and straighten. It’s also important to direct the hot air down the hair shaft as this will force your hair cuticles to lie flat, making your hair shinier and smoother. You can tilt your head slightly to make this movement easier. Remember to wait for a few seconds to let the section of the hair cool down before removing the brush. Alternatively, blast cold air onto the section. This helps to set the style and avoids static. To stop you accidentally ruining your just blow-dried hair, start styling at the back and move from underneath to the top. Hair clips are useful for keeping sections of your hair out of the way while you concentrate on the part you are currently styling. Also, fully dry each section before moving to another one. This prevents your hair losing its shape.

Blow-drying for volume?

The key is to lift the roots. Select a section of hair, roll it on a round brush and pull it in the opposite direction to the hair root so that the root is really lifted. Place the hair dryer above the hair and dry while keeping the hair dryer moving. Repeat this around the top, back and sides.

Does your arm get tired doing all this?

Yes it can be a struggle, especially to get to the back of your head. Keep both your elbows at shoulder level, and use your wrists and lower arm to move the brush and dryer.

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