What I've Actually Learned About Great Blowouts After 15 Years Behind the Chair

by Brittany Boland, Salon Director at Hyde Salon

Okay, let's be real here. I've been doing hair for fifteen years, and I've probably given thousands of blowouts at this point. Some were absolute disasters (sorry, Mrs. Henderson from 2018), and others made clients cry happy tears. The difference? Well, it's not what most people think.

Everyone assumes it's about having the fanciest tools or some secret product, but honestly? Half the battle is just slowing down and not trying to rush through it like your hair is on fire.

The Foundation Thing Everyone Gets Wrong

Here's where most people mess up before they even turn on the blow dryer: they think any old shampoo will do. Look, I get it – good products are expensive. But when someone comes to me complaining that their blowout falls flat after two hours, nine times out of ten it's because they're using that heavy, drugstore conditioner that's basically coating their hair in wax.

I had this one client, Sarah, who was so frustrated because her fine hair always looked greasy no matter what she did. Turns out she was using this "hydrating" conditioner meant for coarse, damaged hair. Switched her to something lightweight, and boom – her blowouts started lasting three days instead of three hours.

The scalp massage part? That's not just us being fancy. When you really work the scalp, you're getting better circulation and making sure every bit of product is actually doing its job. Plus, let's be honest, it feels amazing and everyone deserves that five minutes of zen.

Why I'm Always Harping About Sections

I cannot tell you how many times I've watched someone grab all their hair at once and just... go at it with the blow dryer. It's like trying to paint a wall with a roller the size of a toothbrush – you're just making more work for yourself.

When I first started, I tried to speed through blowouts by doing bigger sections. Know what happened? I'd spend twice as long trying to fix the messy parts I missed. Now I take smaller sections than I probably need to, and I'm actually faster because I'm not going back over the same pieces three times.

The clips are your friend. I use those cheap black ones you can get anywhere – nothing fancy. Start at the bottom, work your way up. Your arms will thank you, and your hair will actually cooperate.

My Tool Situation (And Why You Don't Need to Break the Bank)

I'll be straight with you – the professional blow dryer makes a huge difference, but not for the reason you think. It's not because it's magical; it's because it's consistent. My dryer puts out the same heat and airflow every single time. Your average drugstore dryer? It might be blazing hot one minute and lukewarm the next.

That said, I've done great blowouts with a $40 dryer when I had to. The brush matters more, honestly. A good ceramic round brush that doesn't shed bristles and has the right tension – that's where you spend your money.

I had this client who kept complaining her blowouts never looked right. She brought in her brush one day, and I swear the thing was falling apart. Bristles missing, the barrel was all scratched up. Got her a decent brush for like $25, and suddenly she was texting me photos of her hair looking salon-perfect.

The Actual Technique Stuff

This is where I probably sound like a broken record to my regular clients, but the airflow direction is everything. Point that nozzle down the hair shaft – imagine you're sealing shingles on a roof. Up equals frizz, down equals shine. It's physics, not magic.

The tension thing took me years to figure out. Too loose and you get no volume, too tight and you're basically crimping the hair with heat. It should feel like you're gently stretching the hair, not trying to rip it out.

Here's something I learned the hard way: if you're getting a lot of static or flyaways, you're probably moving too fast or using too much heat. Slow down, turn the temperature down a notch. Your hair isn't going anywhere.

Finishing Products – Less is Actually More

Every new stylist thinks they need to use six different products to make a blowout perfect. Wrong. I use maybe two finishing products, max. A tiny bit of serum if the hair needs shine, maybe some texturizing spray if we need volume. That's it.

The humidity thing in Columbia is real, though. I've seen perfect blowouts turn into poodle situations the second someone steps outside in August. A light humidity shield is worth its weight in gold here, but use it sparingly. Too much and you're back to that greasy, weighed-down look.

One trick I learned from an old-timer stylist: let the hair cool completely before you add any finishing products. Hot hair absorbs everything differently, and you'll end up using way too much.

What Actually Matters

Look, after all these years, I've realized the "perfect" blowout isn't about perfect technique or expensive tools. It's about making someone feel good when they look in the mirror. Some of my favorite blowouts have been slightly imperfect – a little too much volume, ends that flip the "wrong" way – but the client loved it because it felt like them, just better.

The confidence thing isn't marketing speak. When someone loves how their hair looks, they hold themselves differently. I see it every day. That's the real secret – making people feel like the best version of themselves.

If You Want to Come See Us

Honestly, we'd love to have you at Hyde Salon. I'm not going to pretend we're magical or anything, but we do care about getting it right. And if you have a hair disaster story, trust me – I've probably heard worse.

Hyde Vista – 801 Gervais Street, Columbia, SC 29201
Hyde Chapin – 301 Columbia Ave, Chapin, SC 29036

Give us a call, or book online if that's your thing. We'll figure out what works for your hair, not some generic version of "perfect."

-Brittany