What's Your Blowout Style? Smooth and Sleek vs. Voluminous Blowout Routine

The difference between a blowout that lasts four days and one that dies in six hours? Three things. You need products that match your goal, not fight it. You need to apply them in the right order on damp hair. And you need the right blow drying technique for your hair type. Most people are doing at least two of these wrong, which is why their at-home blowouts never look like the salon. I am going to show you exactly what works for both smooth, sleek styles and big, bouncy volume, plus the specific products and techniques that make each one last.

You know that feeling when you walk out of the salon after a professional blowout? Hair perfect, confidence high, ready to take on the world. Then you try to recreate it at home and end up with something that looks nothing like what your stylist did.

I'm Bri, a stylist at The Warehouse Salon in Fairfield. The number one question I get is always "How do I make this last at home?" Whether you want smooth and sleek or big and bouncy, I am going to show you exactly what works.

Let me tell you about two clients who were doing everything wrong until we figured out what their hair actually needed.

When Smooth Becomes Poofy Instead

Jessica is a 32 year old marketing manager in Montclair. She has thick, wavy hair that gets frizzy in humid New Jersey summers. She bought every smoothing product at Sephora and a fancy blow dryer brush, but her blowouts never looked smooth. They looked puffy and lasted maybe six hours.

"Bri, I follow all the tutorials," she said. "I use heat protectant, I brush it straight, I even bought that expensive Dyson thing. But by lunchtime my hair is a mess."

I looked at her hair and saw the problem immediately. She was using volumizing shampoo because she thought it would make her hair look thicker. She was skipping heat protectant on her roots because she was worried about grease. And she was only using serum after styling, not smoothing products before.

"So you are adding volume when you want smooth," I said. "And the serum after? That does nothing. You need smoothing cream before you blow dry."

"Wait, before?" she said. "I thought heat protectant was the before part."

"Heat protectant, then smoothing cream, then blow dry. Serum is the very last step, just for shine."

Her whole routine was backwards. No wonder nothing was working.

When Volume Falls Flat

Amanda is a 28 year old teacher in Caldwell with fine, straight hair. She wanted volume but it always fell flat within an hour.

"Why does mine just lay there like a dead fish?" she said.

She was using heavy conditioner, applying products to her ends instead of roots, and blow drying straight down. Way too much product, all in the wrong places.

Start With the Right Shampoo and Conditioner

Your blowout starts in the shower. Using the wrong shampoo will sabotage your styling before you even pick up a blow dryer.

If You Want Smooth Hair

Jessica needed something that would fight frizz from the start. I switched her to AAlterna Caviar Anti Aging Replenishing Moisture Shampoo which seals the cuticle and repels humidity.

But here is the thing: not everyone needs heavy smoothing shampoo. If you have fine hair, smoothing products can make it look flat and greasy. Jessica has thick hair so she needed it. Amanda does not.

Real talk: if your hair is extremely frizzy even with the right products, you might need a professional smoothing treatment like Lasio, Magic Sleek, or Brazilian Blowout. These treatments actually change your hair's structure. We offer several at The Warehouse Salon. If you are not near us, find a stylist who specializes in these treatments and do your research first.

If You Want Volume

Amanda needed the opposite. I put her on Sudzz Fx Whipped Creme & Honey Volumizing Shampoo. This is my go-to because it plumps strands without leaving any gross residue. I also like Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Multiplying Volume Conditioner and Design Me Puff Me Shampoo, depending on the day.

Do Not Skip Heat Protection

Listen. Both Jessica and Amanda were either skipping this or using it wrong. You need heat protectant if you want healthy hair that holds a style. Period.

After washing, towel dry with a microfiber towel. Regular towels create frizz before you even start. Apply heat protectant to damp hair, not dry. It needs to go on before you blow dry.

For thicker hair, I usually grab Revive PROTECT - Thermal Protector. For all hair types, Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Bond Repair leave In Heat Protection Spray works. My personal favorite is Shibui Everything Spray because it does three things at once: protects, detangles, adds shine. I am lazy so multi-tasking products win for me.

Okay, Next Thing: Styling Products

If You Want Smooth Hair

This is where Jessica was messing up. She was putting serum on after blow drying. That does nothing to smooth hair during styling. Serum is a finishing product. She needed smoothing cream on damp hair before blow drying.

I gave her Color Wow One Minute Transformation Anti-Frizz Styling Cream which fights humidity and protects up to 450°F. IGK GOOD BEHAVIOR Protein Smoothing Blowout is another good one.

Apply section by section through damp hair. Focus on mid-lengths and ends where frizz is worst. Then blow dry, pulling hair taut to seal the cuticle.

If You Want Volume

Amanda was using too much product in the wrong places. For volume, you need lightweight stuff at the roots only. Less is more with fine hair. She was globbing mousse through her entire head and wondering why it looked limp.

I started her on SudzzFx Lift (BlowOut) Volumizing Spray Gel. Super lightweight, no gritty feeling. If you need more hold, try Abba Pure Style Volume Foam Styling Mousse or Shibui Volumizing Mousse.

Apply to roots only. Blow dry upside down or lift sections straight up.

Here's What Nobody Tells You About Technique

Jessica and Amanda were both using blow dryer brushes wrong. Same tool, totally different techniques needed. Technique is actually more important than the products in some cases.

For smooth hair, you need tension. Pull each section tight as you dry it. The tighter you pull, the smoother it gets. Always pull down and away from your head. Finish with cool air to seal the cuticle. I learned this from a stylist in Miami years ago and it changed everything.

For volume, you need lift. Do not pull hair down. Lift each section straight up or forward as you dry. Focus heat at your roots. Some people flip upside down and blow dry their whole head that way. Amanda does this and it works great for her.

Side note: use double-pronged clips at your roots while hair dries. Leave them in until hair cools completely. Game changer for volume.

The Finishing Step

If You Want Smooth Hair

Now Jessica can use serum. After blow drying, a small amount seals the cuticle, tames flyaways, adds shine. It fights humidity throughout the day.

My top picks are Olaplex Number 9 for all hair, Ghost Oil By Verb for fine hair, Crybaby Serum By IGK, and Milk Shake Glistening Serum if you want serious shine on thicker hair.

Use a few drops. Rub between palms, smooth over hair surface and through ends. Not on roots unless you want grease.

If You Want Volume

Amanda skips serum completely since it weighs hair down. She uses light finishing spray or powder instead.

Making Your Blowout Last

If You Want Smooth Hair

Jessica's blowouts now last three to four days instead of six hours. Between washes, she uses Kenra Dry Oil Conditioning Mist or Kenra Volume Dry Shampoo to refresh without washing.

She touches up ends with more serum if they look dry. Sleeping on a silk pillowcase helps too. This also works great for second-day hair refresh, by the way.

If You Want Volume

Amanda's volume used to disappear by end of day. Now it lasts. She uses Oligo Professionnel Calura Powder Pump Volume at the roots for instant lift. You can use it right after styling or on day two. Color Wow Style On Steroids Performance Enhancing Texture & Finishing Hairspray is another option.

Your Questions Answered

Can I get a smooth blowout if I have naturally curly or wavy hair?

This question comes up constantly. Yes, you absolutely can. Jessica has thick, wavy hair and gets smooth blowouts that last for days now. The key is using the right smoothing products on damp hair before you blow dry and creating enough tension as you pull each section. My own hair is somewhere between Jessica and Amanda, so I switch between techniques depending on what I want that day. If your hair is very curly or coarse, a professional smoothing treatment makes home blowouts way easier to achieve and maintain.

Why does my volume always fall flat so quickly?

Usually you are using products that are too heavy, applying them to the wrong areas, or blow drying with your hair pulled down instead of lifted up. Fine hair needs lightweight products applied only at the roots, and you need to dry with lift at the base.

How often should I wash my hair if I want my blowout to last?

Most people can stretch blowouts three to four days between washes. Use dry shampoo or dry conditioner to refresh your hair and style in between. The less frequently you wash, the longer your blowout will last and the healthier your hair will stay. Now, if your hair is super damaged or chemically treated, you might need different products than what I am listing here. Come see me if nothing is working.

Get the Blowout You Actually Want

Jessica fought her hair for months with the wrong products. Once she switched routines, everything changed. Amanda had the opposite problem but got the same result.

If your blowouts do not hold or look right, book a consultation. I can assess your hair, show you exactly what you need, and walk you through the technique. Follow me on Instagram @themanebri for more tips.

Book at The Warehouse Salon in Fairfield at 1275 Bloomfield Ave, Building 1, Unit 3 by calling 973-500-4536.

Your best blowout is closer than you think.