How To Blow Out Hair Without Heat

K, so even though blowing out your natural hair might seem like a self-explanatory process, there's actually a lot you lot demand to keep in mind if you lot're trying to avoid heat damage or breakage. "One of the biggest misconceptions about natural hair is that information technology's stronger than other hair textures—but information technology's actually actually delicate and needs to be treated as such," says Ashanti Lation, celebrity stylist and founder of VIP Luxury Hair Care. That means you need to (A) prep it with the right products earlier you become started, and (B) take your time and be super gentle while you piece of work.

So to make the process every bit like shooting fish in a barrel equally possible, nosotros chatted with Lation and Jazzee Santiago, hairstylist and natural hair skillful, to become all their pro advice on natural hair blowouts. Keep reading for everything yous need to know, from the prep piece of work (like, starting-in-the-shower-prep work) to the maintenance that'll keep all your work in place.

How do you blow out natural pilus?

According to Santiago, there'south a couple ways you can do a natural-hair blowout (like in the tutorial above), only the main goal here is to stretch your hair, not necessarily straighten it. "You can and so wear your blowout as is, or you can run a apartment atomic number 26 or curling wand through information technology at the stop to smooth and way the stretched-out hair," she says.

Blowouts are too a crucial step if you lot're planning to silk-press your hair (aka when you flat-iron your pilus after the blow dry and so it's bone-straight and shiny, says Santiago). Regardless of how you choose to style your blowout, though, Lation says there are a few things you'll need to have on hand before you lot get started:

Your blowout tools:

Got your supplies all laid out and gear up? Absurd, at present keep reading for a elementary step-by-step tutorial (and, psst, if yous're more of a visual learner, you can curl back upward to encounter how YouTuber Nickybnatural does it).

Step 1. Cleanse and status

First things commencement: Y'all want to start off with freshly apple-pie and conditioned hair. "If you accident-dry your hair with whatever product buildup or oil, you're going to risk it not beingness every bit smooth or as soft," says Lation. Production choice is really personal preference here, merely it'due south not a bad idea to utilise a super-hydrating co-launder (call up, you'll lose some moisture when you rut fashion). While you're working your conditioner through your hair, go ahead and detangle your hair with a wide-tooth comb or a gentle brush.

Moroccanoil Curl Cleansing Conditioner

Briogeo Be Gentle Be Kind Avocado + Quinoa Co-Wash

Mizani True Textures Cream Cleansing Conditioner

Mizani Truthful Textures Foam Cleansing Conditioner

Curlsmith Curl Quenching Conditioning Wash

Stride 2. Exit-in and heat protection

After y'all've rinsed, grab your go out-in conditioner and work it through your pilus while it'southward still wet. "Yous desire a get out-in conditioner that's super lightweight—anything too rich or heavy will counterbalance down your blowout," says Lation. Next comes the well-nigh important pace: locking in all that moisture with a oestrus-protecting serum or oil.

"Depending on how much hair you accept, take a dime- or quarter-sized dollop of serum, rub it between your palms, and then run your hands through your hair until it'due south evenly distributed," she says. The key here is to make sure that every strand is coated.

Step iii. Split up and stretch

Lation typically likes to split up her clients' hair into four sections (a few alligator clips or hair ties will come in handy here). "Earlier you even take hold of your blow dryer, gently pull each department of hair as tight every bit yous can from the root all the style downwards to the tip," she says. "This pre-stretching means you won't have to put every bit much estrus or tension on your hair when you're ready for the dryer."

You lot tin do through this step with goose egg heat like Lation suggests, but if y'all need some extra stretching aid, y'all can also plough your dryer on the lowest, coolest setting and run information technology forth each section as you lot stretch.

Step iv. Blow-dry

Yous've got a few options when you're set to blow-dry. Both Santiago and Lation agree that blow-drying with a comb zipper is the easiest technique for beginner s (it allows you to have a bit more command), only if you're already extra comfortable with rut tools, you tin can also blow-dry with a paddle brush. Peek through whatever of the natural pilus blowout tutorials on YouTube and you'll see a third pick: blow-dry brushes (like the cult-favorite Revlon One-Footstep Hair Dryer), which are loved for their power to create quick and easy blowout styles (though should only be used on detangled hair, FYI).

Seriously—these accident-dryer brushes WERK

Bed Head Blow Out Freak One Step Dry + Volume

Bed Head Blow Out Freak One Step Dry + Book

Conair InfinitiPro Hot Air Spin Brush

Drybar The Double Shot Blow-Dryer Castor

John Frieda Hot Air Brush

"Ready your dryer on medium heat to get started, and never go up to the highest rut—particularly if it's your kickoff time," says Lation. Why? Because overheating your hair is a recipe for impairment. You'll desire to angle your comb attachment (or paddle castor) and gently run through each section with medium tension, starting at the bottom and finishing with your ends. "Brand sure y'all blow-dry each section gently and really have your fourth dimension with it. If you get frustrated, terminate, take a sabbatical, and start once again," she says.

Pro tip: If y'all're subsequently a fuller, more voluminous look, Lation says you can flip your head over when it'due south just about dry and rapidly striking your roots with the dryer. Either manner, one time your hair is totally dry out, switch off the heat and get over your hair ane final time with cool-shot setting on your dryer to assist prepare your look.

Step five. Fashion

When it comes to styling your blowout, Lation says it's totally personal preference. You can wear your blowout exactly as is, do a twist-out, run a curling iron through it, or grab your flat iron and endeavour a silk press (P.S. Bank check out our silk press guide before starting). Basically, don't be afraid to play around with your expect until you figure out what you lot like best for your hair.

How long do blowouts final on natural pilus?

That depends on how long y'all want to wait until wash day, simply Lation says 1-ii weeks is the standard. At that place's really just one golden rule: Lation says you should never impact up your blowout with heat after you've styled it. "If yous continue putting oestrus on your blowout during the week, you're going to go damage," she says. Then just exit it alone until you're set to wash, then deep status and prep information technology once again, k?

As far equally maintenance goes, Lation says those who get the straighter, sleeker route should use a silk or satin wrap at night to prevent whatever frizz or friction while you slumber (silk pillowcases are also a neat idea). If you similar to wear your blowout as is, she suggests doing 2 large braids before you lot jump in bed, and then taking them downwardly and fluffing your pilus in the morning time for volume. Or, if you want to maintain the sleekest of sleek looks, attempt Doobie-wrapping your hair before bed.

The final word

Like Lation says, the major key to blowing out natural hair is all in the prep work. Just remember to be as gentle equally possible while you're blowing out your hair to prevent any unnecessary damage or breakage. And, hey—at-abode blowouts are very much a skill, so don't be too difficult on yourself if information technology takes a few tries to really nail downward your routine.

Ruby Buddemeyer Ruby was the dazzler editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covered beauty beyond print and digital.