What Is a Blowout Hair?
Ever wondered what blowout hair actually is? I was confused about this salon term too until I tried it myself. A blowout is when a stylist uses heat tools and round brushes to give you smooth, bouncy hair that lasts for days.
In this guide, I’ll explain exactly what happens during a blowout hair appointment and whether it’s worth your money.
You’ll learn how the process works, what makes it different from drying your hair at home, and tips for your specific hair type.
I’ll also cover the real talk about heat damage so you can make a smart choice for your hair.
Understanding Blowout Hair
A blowout is a salon service where your hair gets washed and dried with a blow dryer and a round brush. The stylist creates a smooth, polished look with volume and shine.
A proper blowout takes 30-60 minutes with careful sectioning and heat control. The stylist works in small sections and directs airflow down the hair shaft. The result lasts 3-5 days, much longer than home styling.
No cutting or chemicals are involved. A blowout is purely styling. Your hair length stays the same. Regular blowouts are different from Brazilian blowouts, which use chemicals to change your texture for months.
How a Blowout Hair Process Works
A blowout involves several careful steps that stylists use to create smooth, long-lasting results.
Hairashing and Preparation
The stylist starts by washing your hair with shampoo and conditioner to remove dirt, oil, and product buildup.
After rinsing, they gently squeeze out excess water with a towel. Your hair should be damp but not dripping.
Heat Protection and Product Application
Before any heat touches your hair, the stylist applies a heat protectant spray or cream. They might also add smoothing serums for frizz control, volumizing mousse at the roots, or lightweight oils for shine.
Sectioning the Hair
The stylist clips your hair into 4-8 sections, depending on how thick it is. Working in sections means every strand gets equal attention and hair dries evenly for a polished result.
Blow-Drying and Styling Technique
The stylist takes a small subsection of hair and wraps it around a round brush. They hold the brush with tension while directing the blow dryer’s nozzle down the hair shaft.
Larger brushes create smooth, straight looks with volume. Smaller brushes can add soft waves or curls at the ends.
Cooling and Setting the Style
Once a section is fully dry, stylists switch to cool air for 10-15 seconds. Cool air closes the hair cuticle for extra shine, sets the shape so it lasts longer, and reduces heat damage.
Finishing Touches
The stylist might use a small amount of serum on the ends, light hairspray for hold, or a shine spray for glossiness. They’ll also style your part and shape the overall look.
Benefits of a Blowout Hair
Blowout hair offers several advantages that make it worth the time and money.
Smooth, Frizz-Free Hair
The heat and tension from the round brush seal the hair cuticle flat. This blocks humidity from getting in and causing puffiness. Even in humid weather, a good blowout keeps your hair sleek for days.
Added Volume and Body
A blowout gives you volume at the roots that’s hard to achieve on your own. The stylist lifts each section away from your scalp while drying, creating natural height and bounce.
Fine hair looks thicker, and flat hair gets movement.
Long-Lasting Style
Most blowouts last 3-5 days without washing. Some people stretch them for a week with dry shampoo. This means less daily styling time, fewer washes, and you wake up with good hair for days.
Confidence and Convenience
A blowout gives you that polished, put-together feeling without much effort. It’s popular for job interviews, first dates, weddings and events, professional meetings, or just feeling good any day.
Blowout Hair for Different Hair Types
Different hair textures need specific techniques and products to get the best blowout hair results.
Thick or Coarse Hair
Thick hair needs more sections and higher heat to get smooth results. The stylist works in smaller pieces to make sure each strand dries completely.
They might use heavier smoothing products to control volume. The process takes longer, but the results last well because thick hair holds styles better.
Curly or Textured Hair
Blowouts can stretch and smooth curly hair without relaxers or chemicals. The stylist uses tension and heat to temporarily straighten the curl pattern. This requires extra heat protectant, more time and care, a comb attachment or paddle brush first, and a round brush finishing for smoothness.
The curl comes back after washing. Many people with curls get blowouts to switch up their look temporarily.
Fine or Thin Hair
Fine hair needs lightweight products so it doesn’t look flat or greasy. The stylist focuses on root volume and uses lower heat to prevent damage.
They might use volumizing products only at the roots, choose a medium-sized round brush, avoid heavy oils or serums, and add texture spray for grip. The result looks fuller without weighing hair down.
Straight or Oily Hair
Straight hair gets oily faster, so blowouts might not last as long. The stylist uses minimal products and focuses on adding texture and movement.
Tips for making it last include using dry shampoo between washes, sleeping on a silk pillowcase, avoiding touching your hair too much, and keeping products away from roots.
Does a Blowout Hair Damage Hair?
All heat styling carries some risk. A blowout uses high temperatures directly on your hair, which can cause damage over time. The heat can dry out your hair shaft, weaken the protein bonds, lead to breakage with repeated use, and cause split ends if done too often.
But damage isn’t guaranteed. Proper technique makes a huge difference. When stylists use heat protectant, keep the dryer moving, and don’t overheat sections, damage stays minimal.
Always use heat protectant products, don’t get blowouts more than once a week, let your hair air-dry sometimes, use deep conditioning treatments regularly, choose lower heat settings when possible, and make sure hair is properly sectioned and dried evenly.
Getting an occasional blowout for special events causes less damage than daily flat ironing at home.
Why Blowout Hair Is a Popular Styling Choice
Blowout hair gives you a polished base for other styles. You can wear it straight and sleek, add curls with a curling iron, pull it into a smooth ponytail, or create an updo with volume. The smooth, voluminous base makes any style look more professional.
Instead of styling your hair every morning, you style it once and enjoy it for days. This saves 15-30 minutes each morning. People with busy lives love this. You wash less frequently, which is healthier for your hair.
Blowouts are popular for weddings and special events, professional photo shoots, important work presentations, date nights and parties, or vacations and travel. Some people make it part of their weekly routine. Others save it for special occasions only.
Conclusion
A blowout is a heat-styling service that creates smooth, voluminous hair lasting several days. It’s not a haircut or chemical treatment, just professional blow-drying with technique and quality products.
I think everyone should try a professional blowout at least once. You’ll see what your hair can look like with proper styling, and you might learn techniques to use at home. The confidence boost alone makes it worth trying.
If you’ve had a blowout before, I’d love to hear about your experience. What did you think? Did it last as long as expected? Drop a comment below and share your thoughts with other readers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a blowout last?
Most blowouts last 3-5 days with proper care. Use dry shampoo and silk pillowcases to extend the style longer.
Can I get a blowout with wet hair?
Yes, blowouts start with freshly washed, damp hair. The stylist removes excess water before applying products and drying.
How much does blowout hair cost?
Salon blowouts typically cost $35-$75, depending on your location and hair length. Prices vary by city and salon quality.
Is blowout hair bad for your hair?
Occasional blowouts with heat protection cause minimal damage. Frequent blowouts can dry out hair, so limit them to once weekly or less.
What’s the difference between a blowout and a Brazilian blowout?
A regular blowout is temporary styling that lasts until your next wash. A Brazilian blowout uses chemicals to smooth hair for 3-4 months.
