Blowouts: What to Expect and How to Make Them Last

A blowout is a professional wash and blow-dry that leaves your hair smooth, shiny and full of shape. Here is what happens in the chair, how long it holds and how to keep it looking fresh.

What is a blowout?

A blowout is a salon wash and style done with a blow dryer and a brush. Your stylist dries your hair in sections, using round or paddle brushes to build shape, smoothness and volume. There are no chemicals involved, so the result is temporary. It lasts until your hair gets wet or loses its shape.

Blowouts aren't only for straight, sleek hair. You can ask for big volume, soft bends, bouncy ends or a smooth, polished finish. People often book one before an event, a trip, photos or a busy week when they don't want to style their own hair.

Some salons focus only on blowouts and styling, while full-service salons offer them alongside cuts and color.

What happens at a blowout appointment?

How long it takes depends on your hair's length, thickness and texture, and on the look you want. Long, thick or very curly hair takes more time to dry and smooth than short or fine hair. Ask when you book so you can plan your day, and ask whether long or thick hair changes the price.

Most blowouts follow the same basic steps:

• A quick chat about the look you want. Photos help.
• A shampoo and conditioner chosen for your hair.
• Styling products, such as a heat protectant and something for volume or smoothness.
• A rough dry to take out most of the water.
• Sectioned drying with a brush, which creates the shape and shine.
• Finishing touches, sometimes with a curling iron or flat iron, and a light spray or serum.

How long does a blowout last?

A blowout lasts until water, humidity, sweat or oil from your scalp undo it. That might be a day or several, depending on your hair, the weather and your routine. Fine hair and oily roots tend to fall sooner, while hair that holds a style well can look fresh longer.

Why does water ruin a blowout? Part of your hair's shape comes from weak bonds that break when hair gets wet and form again as it dries. Blow-drying sets those bonds in the shape of the brush. Water and humid air let them shift again, so your hair slowly goes back toward its natural texture.

Ask your stylist what to expect for your hair. They can suggest a dry shampoo that suits your roots, or show you a quick way to refresh your ends with a round brush, so your blowout looks good for as long as possible.

How do you make a blowout last longer?

A few habits can stretch a blowout:

• Keep it dry. Wear a shower cap, skip steamy rooms and carry an umbrella or scarf on rainy or humid days.
• Sleep gently. Many people wear a loose, high bun or sleep on a silk or satin pillowcase to reduce creases and frizz.
• Use dry shampoo at the roots when they start to look flat or oily.
• Keep your hands off. Touching your hair often adds oil and takes out the shape.
• Plan workouts around it. Book your blowout after a hard workout, not before, or wear a soft headband to protect your roots.
• Touch up with care. If a section needs a refresh, use a low heat setting and keep the tool moving.

Is blow-drying bad for your hair?

Heat can damage hair, so it's smart to treat it with care. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) suggests using the lowest heat setting, limiting the time hot tools touch your hair and using them less often, about once a week or less. The AAD also suggests letting your hair partly air-dry before you style it.

How the dryer is used matters, too. In a small lab study published in the Annals of Dermatology, hair surfaces showed more damage as the dryer's heat went up. The researchers concluded that keeping the dryer about 15 centimeters (about 6 inches) away and moving caused less damage than letting hair dry naturally.

Ask your stylist to use a heat protectant. In a 2011 lab study, certain protective pretreatments reduced heat damage and breakage from hot flat irons. An occasional blowout with good technique is very different from high heat every day. If you notice a lot of breakage or sudden hair loss, see a doctor or dermatologist.

Blowout vs. silk press vs. keratin: what's the difference?

These three services often get mixed up. Here is the short version:

• Blowout: a wash and blow-dry with a brush. No chemicals. Works on most hair types and lasts until your hair gets wet or humid.
• Silk press: usually done on natural, textured hair. The stylist blow-dries and then flat irons small sections for a sleek, silky finish. No chemicals, but more heat than a basic blowout. See our silk press guide.
• Keratin treatment: a chemical smoothing service sealed in with a flat iron. It reduces frizz and makes blow-drying easier for months, not days. See our keratin treatment guide, including the safety questions to ask.

How do you book a good blowout?

A little planning gets you a better result:

• Book the day of your event, or the day before if your hair holds a style well.
• Ask whether to arrive with clean or unwashed hair. Most blowouts include a wash, but a style-only service may not.
• Bring photos of the finish you want, from sleek to big and bouncy.
• Mention your hair's length, thickness and texture when you book, since they can change the time and price.
• Ask about add-ons, such as a deep conditioning treatment or curls with a hot tool, and what each one costs.
• Check that the stylist is comfortable with your hair type, especially if it's very curly or coily.
• Plan to tip. Our guide to how much to tip a hair stylist covers it. Then compare blowout salons near you.

Questions people ask