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These Super Easy Blow-Dry Hacks Will Make Life SO Much Easier

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These Super Easy Blow-Dry Hacks Will Make Life SO Much Easier featured image

You’ve heard them before: Blow-dry tips that sound so easy to do at home—until you’re about halfway through and no longer have the patience (or the strength) to hold on to that dryer for one second longer. “The number-one complaint I hear from clients is that it takes too long to blow-dry their own hair at home,” says Meg DiGiovanni, co-owner and stylist at Salon V in New York. “Most women I talk to don’t want to spend a long time styling their hair, and certainly don’t want to set that alarm an hour earlier in the morning to do so. But, you don’t have to go to the salon every time you want a more polished look.” So, next time you’re about to make a blow-dry beeline to have someone else do the dirty work, take these time-saving at-home hacks into account:

Hack 1: Use Your Ponytail as a Guide for Where to Apply Products
The secret to a long-lasting blowout is not loading up your hair too, too much with product. DiGiovanni recommends first applying a good volumizing product with a heat protectant (she likes Kevin Murphy Anti-Gravity Lotion) on towel-dried hair. “When the most amount of product is on your hands, distribute through mid-lengths and ends, or what would be your ponytail. With the leftover product still on you hands, distribute through the front sections and work through roots.” 

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Hack 2: Follow the 85% Dry Rule
You know that nozzle that came with your blowdryer? Find it. Use it. “The nozzle directs the air flow down the hair shaft eliminating unwanted frizz. Flip upside down and use your fingers to lift up roots, drying thoroughly for added volume,” DiGiovanni says. “Drying your hair 85 percent will cut your styling time down significantly.”

Hack 3: Don’t Believe Everything You’ve Heard About Brushes
Boar or nylon bristles? The debate rages on, but DiGiovanni says, in her opinion the best use both. “A mixed boar and nylon bristle round brush is great for an at-home blow-dry. The nylon bristles allow the brush to grab the hair and run smoothly through when blow-drying, while the boar bristles add extra shine.”

Hack 4: Let Your Thumbs Help You Out
You’ve probably seen one or two stylists do this, but sectioning out pieces is the absolutely essential to a good blow-dry—one that your thumbs can be the guide for. “Place your thumbs next to your eyes and draw them towards each other to the back of your head. Clip that hair on top of your head. With the remaining hair in back, split down the middle of your nape and bring over each shoulder,” DiGiovanni says. “On each side wrap hair around a round brush, direct dryer down hair shaft, working the ends to smooth, slightly rolling the brush up and down. After releasing hair from brush, twist section with your fingers to set. Because the roots will already be dry from Step 2, each side should only take one to two minutes.”

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Hack 5: Remember That Warm Hair Can Be Molded
After you’ve sectioned out your hair, release the top section and dry the front. “From both sides of your part, take the shortest pieces of your face frame and wrap around round brush away from your face, like you were setting it in a roller. Blow-dry the hair around the brush, slightly rolling brush up and down as you dry. Release the hair by twisting the brush and placing hair how you want it to sit around your face. Warm hair is still moldable, so it will set where you want it as it cools.”

Hack 6: Save the Crown Section for Last

For your last section, dry the crown sections and set. “Wrap large sections of remaining hair around brush, continuing to roll brush up and down as you dry. Release hair by twisting brush, and follow by twisting the hair with your fingers to set the bend.”

Hack 7: Cool It Down

You’ve heard it before, but how many times do you really rely on the cool setting? “Cool air sets volume!” DiGiovanni says. “Use the cool setting on your blow-dryer to direct cool air into your roots to set your style. Do it upside for added volume!”

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