How To Fake A Blowout At Home

Hair professionals have a way of making blowouts look easy — so easy, in fact, that when we get home and try to do it ourselves, we sadly find that we can't keep our hair wrapped around that round brush quite like they can. The good news is, there are a few tools that you can use that will teach you how to fake a blowout at home. Since there's not always enough time to squeeze a salon blowout appointment, these are tricks we all should know.

First thing's first: Be sure to have a strong hold blowout cream handy and brush it through your hair before you start. My absolute favorite is R+Co's Park Avenue Blowout Balm — if you're someone who likes to go a few days between washes, this will help you hold the style up to four days! But, if you're planning to run to the drugstore now and you're looking for a more accessible alternative, Garnier's Full & Plush Voluptuous Blowout is a great product to use. The best part? Neither of these products will make your hair sticky and because they're strong hold, you can skip the hairspray!

If you have curly or wavy hair, you'll need to blow dry your hair straight first. If you have straight hair, dry your hair as you would normally. And if you have the extra time, air drying is preferable since blowdrying can cause straight hair to become flat. Some methods require partially damp hair, but not to worry, I'll explain as we go!

Here are some tools you can use fake a fab blowout at home:

A Hot Air Brush

John Frieda Hot Air Brush, $25, Target

When it comes to faking a blowout, John Frieda's Hot Air Brush is my absolute favorite tool. Basically, it's a brush and blowdryer in one, so if you find yourself unable to hold onto the brush as you blow dry, this is the tool for you! Similar in shape to the round brush that salon professionals use, this product will help you control the curl of the hair near the ends without juggling two tools at once.

To use it successfully, begin by blow drying your hair using a normal hairdryer. Once your hair is 80 percent dry, apply your blowout cream and finish styling with your hot air brush. For those of you with straight hair, this method should work well. For those of you with frizzy or unruly hair, let's review the next option.

A Large Barrel Curling Iron

Conair Double Ceramic Curling Iron, $17, Amazon

For this method, begin by blow drying your hair all the way through. If your hair is curly or wavy, use a high heat setting to get it as straight as possible before using your barrel curling iron. The iron you use should be about 1 1/2 inches thick for the best results.

As you're curling, be sure to curl two inch sections of hair away from the face. This will give you a neat, dolled-up blowout ideal for work or dinner out.

Velcro Rollers

The ultimate lazy girl's guide to a perfectly faked blowout? Velcro rollers. Begin by blowdrying your hair 70-80 percent of the way dry and then clip your hair into the rollers. Be sure to roll the hair away from your face. If it's your first time using rollers, watch the video above to learn how to put them in correctly.

When choosing a set of rollers, it's important to buy the kind with the metal on the inside since you'll be finishing the blowout with the rollers in. The metal insides will help pick up the heat from your blowdryer, finishing your style nicely. Once the hair is 100 percent dry, leave the rollers in for 10-15 minutes. Use this as your time to do your makeup or make your coffee. When you come back, remove the rollers and finger comb through.

Your Straightening Iron

Infiniti Pro by Conair, $40, Bed Bath and Beyond

Believe it or not, your straightening iron can actually be a great tool to give your hair a "cleaned up" look. If you prefer subtle style to a "done up" blowout, this is the tool for you. For this method, you should use the type of iron with rounded edges for best results.

Section off your hair and straighten as you would normally. As you get close to the ends, you want to use your wrist to curl the very ends of the hair towards your face. If you have layers, do this at the end of each layer of hair to give it subtle style.

For volume, finish the look with some dry shampoo at the roots!

Image: Carol Yepes/Moment/Getty Images; Courtesy of Brands