Hair - Blow drying

To create the perfect blow dry, it is important (especially for hair that is thick and long) to be 80% wet. In order to do this, lightly dry the hair using a large comb to brush through any tangles.

Equipment:

• Paddle brush
• Hair dryer with nozzle
• Mousse
• Salt spray
• Heat protector
• Denman brush
• Large comb

Tips:
Check the clients scalp for any irritation and ask the client what their hair type is and if they are prone to anything as this will indicate which products you can and can't use.



Steps: Volume, Lift and Curl

1. Brush the hair through to remove any tangles.
2. Spray heat protector on the hair before blow drying.
3. Always consider/ask if the clients extensions are real or fake as this will change the heat settings that you can use on the hair. 
4. Apply mousse to the mid and ends of the hair and a small amount to the roots to give the hair volume. 
5. Apply salt spray in the same place you applied the mousse to add texture.
6. Section the hair in half at the back and section one side on a slant at the back. It is important to create the right section as it will determine how much of a curl you will get. 
7. Angle the hair into a triangle shape so the curl isn't in straight sections. Don't make the sections too thick as it won't fit around the brush.
8. Use the medium or large brush if you want larger curls. 
9. Make sure the hair dryer has a filter on the back, this is to ensure the hair doesn't get sucked in the back. Also make sure the nozzle is on as this will help in directional flow. 
10. Lift the hair upwards, placing the brush underneath and using your thumb to hold the hair as you curl it. Dry the roots first, drying under and over the brush to create lift. Keep the hair up high so that it doesn't drop. Dry the mid length of the hair, if the hair is perfectly then it won't get tangled.
11. Wrap hair around the brush and hold the hair dryer on it. Once cooled, twist the brush out to create a curl and lift. If you want a more prominent curl, take a clip and leave it to cool so it sets. Come back at the end to dress them out. 
12. When it comes to the top of the head, section the curl into a triangle so it goes to a point at the back.

Steps: Straight and Sleek

1. The best brushes to use for this are the paddle and Denman brush. Take the brush, so you get a bit of a lift but so that it is smooth.
2. Lift the hair nice and high and dry the roots and then onto the mid length hair, bringing the brush round and rotating it round so it creates lift. The Denman brush creates a lot more lift than the paddle brush as it is smaller. 
3. Dry shampoo is a great styling aid, use it before back combing to help it stay in. It is also good if you've used too much mousse as it will dry it out. It also helps to keep the blow dry in for a couple of days as the dry shampoo makes it last longer. Use a spray shine to give it a nice healthy look, you can either put it in your hands and smooth it through the hair or spray directly on it. 

Due to the length of my models hair and the time we had in lesson, I decided to create the straight and sleek hair. 

I was holding the hair dryer at the wrong angle which was causing some of the hairs to stray. Lottie showed me the correct way of holding it so that all the hairs were being dried down and I can instantly see the difference. It looks like her hair has been straightened. 

Overall, I feel much more confident with blow drying hair now. I understand what angle you need to hold the hairdryer in order for the hair to be completely straight. I would like to practice on different length hair but I really enjoyed this lesson and learning new techniques.