The perfect blow-dry

By Camille Jones

camille.jones@gulfweekly.com

Whether you want to add some extra volume to your hair or want to create a power hold for a special event, the perfect blow-dry is your new best friend.

Hair maestro Asgar Saboo, who has styled the likes of Cindy Crawford, Eva Longoria, Katrina Kaif and Aishwarya Rai- Bachchan, is here to share his top tips on how to achieve it in such a way that will leave you looking and feeling like you have just stepped out the salon.

Pre-dry
Pre-drying your hair makes it much easier to manage later on. Towel-dry your hair slightly then detangle with a wide- toothed comb to minimise breakage.

Prep
Smooth over towel-dried hair with a small amount of serum or natural oil, such as coconut or argan oil. For curly hair, the trick is to ensure the curls remain constructed, so add a volumising mousse or curl-enhancing product to set them. Finally, brush through again with a wide-toothed comb to spread the product evenly. Add a heat protection spray to dry or damaged hair.

Section and Dry
Sectioning your hair will make it easier when you have thick hair. Hold it back with whatever you have at home. The perfect blow-dry is about focusing the direction of the hair when it is drying. For this, it is best to use the concentrator nozzle of your hairdryer. Using a barrel brush, take a small section of hair and lay the top end over the brush. With the hairdryer on high heat but medium power, hold it adjacent to the hair and pull along the brush. Curl the brush under slightly when you reach the end of the hair to ensure it falls with a soft finish. For curly hair, using a brush will cause the look of frizziness so it is best to dry by scrunching and holding your hair under the heat.

Volume
If you are looking for extra volume Velcro rollers are a perfect way of naturally lifting and curling your hair. Focusing on the top layers, particularly for thicker hair, separate individual sections and place the roller at the roots underneath your hair. Pull the roller along the hair and when you reach the ends, roll it back under itself to the scalp. Fasten the roller onto your head with a grip and secure with a medium hold spray. Once you have secured all the rollers, give a final spray and warm gently using a low setting on the hairdryer.

Finish with finesse
For a bouncy blow-dry, remove the rollers and shake your hair gently but be wary of running your fingers through the curls as this can cause the look of frizziness. For a sleek and sultry style, carefully brush through the hair with a paddle brush to eliminate stray hairs and give a soft finish. Finish with a spritz of shine serum and spray to hold.