A blowout and a silk press get mixed up constantly, but they are sisters, not twins. A blowout uses just the blow dryer and a round brush to stretch and smooth your hair, keeping more of its body and movement, while a silk press adds a flat iron for that bone-straight finish. The upshot is that a blowout is the gentler of the two, less heat, more bounce, and a great way to show off your length without pressing your curls flat. It is still heat, though, so a heat protectant is not optional, and neither is knowing when to give your hair a break. Here are the ways to wear one.
Jump to:
- Classic Bouncy Blowout
- Sleek Smooth Blowout
- Big Voluminous Blowout
- '90s Feathered Blowout
- Blowout With Curtain Bangs
- Deep Side-Part Glam Blowout
- Half-Up Blowout
- Blowout Ponytail
- Blowout Bob
- Blown-Out Afro
- Doobie Wrap
- Heatless Blowout
- Layered Blowout
- Blowout Updo
- Blowout With a Bumped Front
- Loose-Wave Blowout
- Middle-Part Sleek Blowout
- Blowout on a Tapered Cut
- Flipped-Ends Blowout
- Dimensional-Color Blowout
Classic Bouncy Blowout
Round-brushed for soft body with the ends turned under, the classic bouncy blowout is the look most people picture when they hear the word. Blow-dry section by section with tension on a round brush to stretch and smooth as you go, then curl the ends under at the bottom. It keeps movement and bounce rather than going flat. Always start with a heat protectant on damp hair. Wrap it at night to hold the bounce into day two.
Sleek Smooth Blowout
Getting close to straight while keeping a little life in the hair, a sleek smooth blowout is what sets itself apart from a silk press. There is no flat iron here, just the dryer and brush stretching your hair smooth, so it stays softer and less flat than a press and takes less heat. Finish with a drop of oil for shine. Because it is not pressed, humidity will revert it faster, so mind damp days.
Big Voluminous Blowout
Maximum body and lift are the whole point of a big voluminous blowout. Blow-dry the roots up and back to build height, round-brush the lengths for fullness, and let your natural volume work in your favor. This is the style that turns heads with movement and body rather than sleekness. Use a lightweight mousse on damp hair for extra hold. Because volume comes from lift at the root, a quick round-brush refresh revives it the next day.
'90s Feathered Blowout
Big, flicked-out layers with tons of movement make the '90s feathered blowout a throwback favorite. Round-brush the layers so they feather back and out, away from your face, for that retro bounce. It suits hair with some length and layers to show off the feathering. Keep a heat protectant between your hair and the brush every time. This one has real personality. A little hairspray keeps the flicks in place all day.
Blowout With Curtain Bangs
Curtain bangs frame your face with soft, sweeping pieces on a smooth blowout. Round-brush the bangs so they part in the middle and curve out to each side, then blow the rest of your length smooth and full. The bangs soften the whole look and draw attention to your eyes. They take daily heat to keep their shape, so use a protectant on them too and go easy. Pretty, flattering, and current on any length.
Deep Side-Part Glam Blowout
The glam, old-Hollywood way to wear one, a deep side-part blowout parts low on one side with volume swooping across. Blow it smooth with plenty of body on the fuller side and let it swoop for drama. The deep part adds height at the root and a bit of mystery over one eye. This is the option for a night out or an event. Set it with a light hairspray so the swoop holds its shape.
Half-Up Blowout
Keeping hair out of your face, a half-up blowout shows off the volume while staying practical. Blow your hair out full and bouncy, then take the top section back and secure it, leaving the length down. The height at the crown plays up the blowout. Pull a few pieces loose around your face to soften it. It is a nice way to stretch a second-day blowout that has lost a little life up top.
Blowout Ponytail
Sleek and swingy, a blowout ponytail gives you a pony with real body in the length. Blow your hair out smooth first, then gather it into a high or low ponytail so the blown-out length falls full and moves freely. Smooth your edges and wrap a piece around the base to finish. The blowout means the ponytail has bounce instead of hanging flat. A great way to wear a blowout on day two or three.
Blowout Bob
Bouncy, full, and easy to wear, a blowout on a bob is a lively everyday look. Round-brush a chin- or shoulder-length bob with the ends turned under for that classic rounded shape and plenty of body. Shorter hair takes less time under the dryer, which means less heat overall. Keep a protectant on and the heat moderate. This works for the office or a night out, and it holds its shape well.
Blown-Out Afro
Stretching your natural hair into a big, full, rounded shape, a blown-out afro keeps your texture while adding height. Using a blow dryer with a comb attachment or the tension method, you lengthen the coils without pressing them straight, so you get volume with your texture intact. It shows off your real length beautifully. Keep the heat moderate and moisturize well, since stretching still uses heat. A bold, gorgeous way to wear your natural hair big.
Doobie Wrap
The Dominican-salon secret to a smooth, long-lasting blowout is the doobie. After blow-drying, your hair is wrapped flat around your head and pinned, then covered overnight, which sets it sleek and keeps the roots smooth without extra heat. In the morning you unwrap it for a bumped, glossy finish with body at the ends. Wrapping it each night this way makes the blowout last longer and cuts down on re-heating. Smooth, shiny, and low-heat to maintain.
Heatless Blowout
Almost no heat at all goes into a heatless blowout. After washing, braid or twist your hair in sections, or use African threading, and let it dry fully overnight, then unravel, oil, and brush it out in the morning. You get stretched, smooth, lengthened hair without the dryer, the gentlest option there is for your curl pattern. It takes planning, but your hair thanks you. The low-damage way to a blowout look.
Layered Blowout
Layered hair moves beautifully in a blowout, since the layers give the round brush something to work with. Blow-dry them to flick and turn in different directions for a full, textured finish with lots of movement. The layers keep the volume from sitting in one heavy block. Use a protectant and work in sections. This is great if your cut already has shape, and it makes fine or flat hair look much fuller.
Blowout Updo
Smooth, stretched hair makes a blowout updo easy to build. Blow your hair out first so it is easy to gather, then twist or pin it up into a chignon or a loose bun. The smoothness keeps the updo clean, and it tucks your ends away. This is a lovely option for a wedding or a formal event. Leave a soft piece loose at each temple to frame your face.
Blowout With a Bumped Front
Retro flair up top is what a bumped, rolled front adds to a blowout. Blow the hair out smooth, then roll and pin the very front section back into a soft bump or quiff before letting the rest fall. The raised front adds height and a vintage feeling, and it keeps hair off your forehead. Set the bump with a little hairspray so it holds. A sleek, elegant twist on a standard blowout.
Loose-Wave Blowout
Soft bends and waves instead of straight make the loose-wave blowout one of the prettiest ways to wear one. Round-brush the lengths and turn them into loose S-waves as you dry, leaving movement and body rather than a sleek finish. It looks soft and undone while still smooth. Because it keeps texture, it forgives humidity a little better than a straight blowout. Scrunch a light product through when it cools.
Middle-Part Sleek Blowout
Clean and modern with a '90s feeling, a middle-part sleek blowout parts straight down the center. Blow it out smooth and flat with just a little body, and tuck the front pieces or let them frame your face. The center part keeps it minimal and sharp. Finish with a shine serum, going light so it does not weigh the hair down. This is the understated, grown-up way to wear a blowout, good for work or everyday.
Blowout on a Tapered Cut
Cropped natural hair gets soft volume and movement from a blowout on a short tapered cut. Blow-dry the longer top with a round brush or comb attachment to stretch and lift it, keeping the tapered sides neat. You get body and swing without losing the shape of the cut. Shorter hair means less heat and less time, easier on your strands. A neat, low-fuss way to blow out a short cut.
Flipped-Ends Blowout
A fun 1960s bounce comes from a blowout with flipped-out ends. Blow the lengths smooth, then use the round brush to flick the very ends up and out instead of curling them under. It gives a playful, retro finish with movement at the bottom. Add a little volume at the crown for the throwback. Velcro rollers on the ends set the flip if you want it stronger. A cheerful, lively way to wear a blowout.
Dimensional-Color Blowout
Dimensional color really pops on a blowout, since the smooth, stretched hair lets highlights and lowlights catch the light. Warm caramel, honey, or auburn tones woven through add depth and make a blowout look richer and fuller. On dark natural hair, deeper warm shades take with little to no lifting, which is gentler than going light. Keep color-treated hair moisturized, since color and heat together are drying. Shine and depth in one.
