Blow drying my hair is one of my least favorite things to do. (That, and anything laundry related!) Not only does my hair dryer zap precious time, by the time I’m done, I’m craving a serious shoulder massage! For all you ladies who feel my pain, here are some tips for a speedy, smooth blowout.
Try A Water Filter:
Try sudsing up with filtered water. Why? Celebrity hairstylist River Lloyd of John Frieda Salon in NYC (clients include Kate Hudson and Tory Burch) says that tap water can contain chemicals. These chemicals can coat your strands, making them harder to dry and style properly. Filtered water will not only speed things up, Lloyd says it will help combat frizz and dryness, eliminating the need for scorching heat-based tools. (I don’t know about you, but my hair straightener could definitely use a vacation!)
Recently, I heard about a celebrity stylist that asks his clients to wash their hair with bottled spring water the day before a shoot. You don’t need to go that far! A simple shower head attachment, like this one from Aquasana, is easy to find.
Aquasana Shower Filter, $67.99
Try This Technique:
Super-soaked strands will always take longer to dry. To make styling a breeze, Paul Mitchell stylist Kathleen Firth recommends this three step process:
1.) Towel dry hair thoroughly. (A microfiber, super-absorbent towel can help absorb water ASAP.)
Microfiber Hair Towel, $20
2.) Rough dry your hair to remove any excess moisture.
3.) While hair is still damp, begin drying in sections. Concentrate the heat of the blow dryer on the section that you’re styling. A nozzle attachment can help with this and create a more powerful stream of air.
Lloyd agrees that it’s all in the technique. “Most people spend half their time blowing air on the bathroom ceiling. You can cut your styling time by close to half by using your peripheral vision when drying your hair."
Try These Tools:
1.) Using an ionic hair dryer, which speeds up the drying process for even the most porous hair.
2.) Smoothing/frizz fighting serums and balms will help displace water and constrict hair strands, shaving minutes off your blow dry. Firth recommends Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum and Super Skinny Relaxing Balm. Apply to wet hair at the ends, working your way up to the scalp.
3.) If you’re in a rush, Lloyd recommends a styling aid that contains alcohol. Long term use can dry out hair, but these treatments are perfect in a pinch.
