How to Blow Dry Hair Straight

Co-authored by Gina Almona

Last Updated: June 29, 2022 References Approved

Do you want a salon-caliber blowout without having to spend a lot of money to have it done? If you have wavy or curly hair and want to blow it out straight, it's important to use the right technique so it doesn't end up frizzy or puffy. If you prep your hair correctly and blow it out with care, your hair will stay straight, sleek and shiny for several days.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Prepping Your Hair

1
Get the right tools. The most basic tool you need to blow out your hair is a good hair dryer with a nozzle that will direct the heat in a concentrated stream. This will result in a smoother blowout than one done without a nozzle. Most hair dryers come with a nozzle attachment, but if yours didn't, you can purchase one separately from a beauty supply store. In addition to a hair dryer, you'll need the following:^{[1]
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- Wide-toothed comb
- Large round, boar-bristle brush
- Heat protectant product
- Hair oil or anti-frizz serum
2
Wash your hair. Shampoo and condition your hair in the shower as normal. Since you're planning to blow it out straight, consider using a straightening shampoo and conditioner to reduce the volume before you even start your blowout.

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3
Blot it dry. As soon as you step out of the shower, use a towel or an old, clean t-shirt to gently blot the excess water from your hair.^{[2]
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Research source} Don't squeeze it, rub it, or twist it up, since this could make it frizzy. Just use the towel or t-shirt to absorb the water that's dripping from your hair.
4
Comb it out. Use a wide-toothed comb to comb your hair smooth and remove any tangles before you start your blowout. It's much better to start your blowout with tangle-free hair, since the brush you'll be using could damage your hair if it catches on tangles.
5
Apply a heat protectant product. Heat protectant products contain polymers that bind to your hair and keep it from getting fried by the hair dryer. Squirt a nickel-sized amount into your palm, rub your hands together, and smooth the product into your hair from roots to tips.^{[3]
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Research source} You may also want to use a straightening cream or mousse with the heat protectant if it does not provide hold. Check the label to be sure.
- If you don't have a heat protectant product, apply leave-in conditioner or anti-frizz serum with mousse or gel to provide some hold. It's better than drying your hair with no product at all.
- Avoid using too much product, since it could leave your hair looking limp and even greasy instead of shiny and sleek.
6
Move to the bedroom. Humidity causes curly hair to frizz up, so blow drying your hair in the bathroom just after you've taken a hot shower is not ideal. To get the best out of your blowout, blow dry your hair in the bedroom or a different room with a good mirror and no humidity.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Blowing it Out

1
Rough dry your hair. Instead of jumping straight to drying it out straight, start by using the dryer without a brush to get your hair about 80 percent dry. Hold the hair dryer several inches from your head and dry your hair all over, using your other hand to comb through your hair and tousle it to help all the layers dry evenly. Stop when your hair is still damp, but no longer wet.
- Rough drying protects your hair from getting too damaged by your hairbrush and dryer. If you go straight to using the brush, it will take twice as many passes to get each section of hair straight. It's better to get most of the way there without a brush.
- Make sure to point the dryer so the air is blowing down the shaft of your hair from roots to tips, not up it. Aiming the blow dryer this way will help to keep the cuticle closed and create a smoother look.
2
Pin up the top layers. Gather the top layers of your hair and pin or ponytail them at the top of your head. You'll start by drying the bottom layers, and unpin more layers until your hair is fully dry. This way you'll be able to ensure that all of your hair is evenly dried and straightened.
3
Drape a small section of hair around your brush. Choose a section to start with and drape it over your brush close to the roots. The brush should be touching your head, with the hair draped over it and hanging toward the ground. This will enable you to pull the section of hair taut as it dries, which is the key to getting it straight.
4
Turn on the hair dryer and position it 2 to 3 inches (5.1 to 7.6 cm) from the brush. In most cases you want to use a medium heat setting to reduce damage to your hair. However, if your hair is extremely curly, use the hottest setting to ensure it dries straight.
5
Angle the dryer down as you pull the brush from roots to tips. Pull your hair taut with the brush and run it through your hair from roots to tips. At the same time, angle your hair dryer down and move it down the length of your hair. The brush and hair dryer should move in sync.
- If your hair lacks volume, you should brush your hair up. If you want it to lie flat, brush it toward the ground.
- Either way, keep the hair dryer angled down, so that the stream of air moves from the roots toward the tips. This helps the hair shaft lie flat and prevents frizzing.
- Move the dryer back and forth across your hair as well to prevent concentrating the heat into 1 area.
6
Repeat several times until the section is dry. One pass isn't usually enough to dry a section of hair. Keep drying the same section until it's completely dry and straight. Remember to brush from roots to tips, holding the hair taut. Angle the dryer downward.^{[4]
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7
Continue section by section. Keep going until the entire bottom layer is dry, then unpin the next layer of hair and repeat. Continue until your hair is completely dry from top to bottom.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Finishing the Look

1
Blast your hair with cold air. Turn your dryer to the cool setting and finish off the top layer by blasting your hair with cold air from the roots down toward the tips. This helps the hair shaft lie flat and prevents frizzing throughout the day. This will also help you to see if there are any damp spots left in your hair. Any remaining damp sections will need another pass with the blow dryer.
2
Apply serum to keep your hair sleek. Use an anti-frizz serum or argan oil to keep your hair shiny and straight. Rub a little through your fingers and comb it through your hair, focusing on the tips, which tend to dry out sooner than the rest of the hair.
3
Use a straightening iron if necessary. Curly or wavy hair can be difficult to completely straighten with a hair dryer alone. You hair should be sleek, but it might not be bone-straight. If you want it to be perfectly straight, use a straightening iron on each section of hair.

Expert Q&A
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Question

Is blow drying bad for hair?

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

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If you don't take precautions it can be. I suggest using a heat protectant product and a nozzle attachment on your blowdryer to protect your hair from heat styling and drying. You should also make sure you're sectioning your hair into small portions before drying.
Question

Can I use a comb instead of a round brush to blow dry my hair?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology teacher since 2013.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

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A comb doesn’t create enough tension to straighten out curly hair. You will end up with frizzy waves instead of glossy smooth strands.
Question

Can I straighten my dry hair?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology teacher since 2013.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

Yes, but be aware that if your hair is already dry and damaged, straightening could make it worse. Use lots of thermal protectant and a low heat setting.

Warnings

As with all electrical devices, be cautious when using blow-dryers and flat-irons around water and/or children. Unplug blow-dryer and flat-iron after use, and keep the flat-iron out of reach until cooled to prevent burns.

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