You know that thing we do when someone compliments your outfit and you just can’t stop yourself from blurting, “Thanks! It was on the Target clearance rack!”? I’m the same way when someone compliments my hair. “Thanks! I haven’t washed it in days!”
I’m not sure why I do this. I think it’s partially to deflect the comment and partially to preach the gospel of semi-weekly hair washing. However, I have learned how to extend a blowout for several days and I’m here to share!
I will definitely say that not washing every day isn’t for everyone. There are people who have no interest in dirty hair, and there are just some types that can’t handle it. That’s fine! But if you loathe blow-drying your hair, I’ve got some tips that will help you extend your blowout for up to five days.
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Start at the beginning – Wash your hair!
Making your blowout last goes well beyond dry shampoo. It starts with your actual shampoo. If you feel like your hair is heavy and weighed down just one day after washing, it’s worth considering trying a new shampoo.
This isn’t a huge investment. I love the Elvive line, readily available in drugstores. The shampoo is a whopping $5 so you won’t break the bank. If you’re not interested in switching shampoos, I would recommend a clarifying shampoo every now and then. I try to use one every 2-3 weeks to to clear out any product buildup. The Neutrogena Anti-Residue Shampoo is great, affordable option.
Tip: NEVER condition the roots of your hair. Conditioner only belongs below your ears, or, as I tell my daughter, in your ponytail. Conditioner close to your roots can lead to oily, heavy roots.
Next Up, blow dry like you mean it
Since we’re all about extending the length of your blow out (these tips are all for at-home use, but definitely apply if you get the real deal in a salon) it makes sense to talk about how to start with a great blow out to begin with.
First, heat protectant. I like the Blow Dry Spray from Kristin Ess. L’Oreal also makes a heat protectant that I enjoy. Use this sparingly, as a little bit goes a very long way.
Then I like to blow dry in sections. The sectioning clips linked below are one of my favorite products. I use them for blow-drying, styling, and clipping my hair out of my face while I do my makeup. I have a ton of hair so drying in sections makes the process go faster and also ensures that I get everything completely dry.
Finally, to add a little volume to your roots, flip your hair the opposite direction of the way it will lay and dry your roots from below. When you flip your hair back into place you’ll have bounce like you wouldn’t believe.
Make your blowout last – Style on Day One
My personal preference is to keep my day one styling to a minimum. I like to wear it straight and not hit it with a lot of extra heat or product. There are certainly exceptions to this rule (and will all depend on your personal styling preference) but for me and my hair, this is how I roll.
Day Two Hair- Now the fun begins!
Usually, on Day 2 I do nothing. I don’t like to use dry shampoo right away because it definitely leads to build up. If my hair survived the night and looks okay, sometimes I won’t touch it. Sometimes I’ll decide that it needs a little touch up and I’ll hit it with a curling iron or straightening iron to smooth things out.
If you are brand new to trying to extend the time between washes, you might need to build up to multiple days. If you feel greasy or like you really need to do something to get your through day 2, then skip straight to the next step.
Extend your blowout to day 3, 4, 5, and beyond!
It’s now time to make it work.
Dry shampoo is an awesome tool, but there is definitely a trick to doing it right.
Tip: Dry shampoo works best if you use it the night before!
Yep, sleeping with dry shampoo in your hair will give it time to absorb the oil while you sleep. In spite of knowing this, I rarely remember to use dry shampoo at night, so all is not lost.
Section your hair and spray dry shampoo along the roots. Scrub it into your hair to absorb oil and then brush through. If your hair is feeling a bit dry after using dry shampoo, try a hair oil or a dry conditioner on the ends.
Which dry shampoo to use? Since body chemistry is different for everyone, you might have to experiment a bit to find one you like. I will be a Batiste girl for as long as I live, but I know a lot of people love Living Proof’s dry shampoo. Try a few out and see which works for you.
A few last words:
*Try to switch to hair ties that don’t leave a kink in your hair like my one true love, the Invisibobble.
*A silk pillowcase will help you keep your hair looking nice overnight.
*Invest in a shower cap to keep your hair dry, but in a pinch I simply put my hair up and wrap a towel around it, the same way I do with wet hair after a shower. This protects your hair from both the water in the shower, and also the steam and humidity.
*Use product sparingly. I know I mentioned this, but dry shampoo can only do so much. At some point your hair will cry uncle and beg to be washed.
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