What Actually Made a Difference in My At-Home Blowouts
I’ll be honest…learning how to love my hair JUST the way it is has been a long journey. I know that sounds cliché but it’s true!
For most of my life my hair was damaged…I was a diver (in chlorine 4-5 hours/day) for 10 years of my life…so you can imagine the kind of damage I’m talking about. It took YEARS for my hair to recover and when it finally did, I added a ton of bleach to make it more “dimensional” (saying with a major eye roll…I never appreciated my natural dark hair).
But over the years, I’ve grown and I’ve learned (thankfully) how to embrace my hair and more importantly, how to treat it in a way that would enhance its beauty and shine! AND I’ve learned that a good blowout isn’t about piling on products. It’s about choosing a few right ones and using them with purpose. Below, I’m sharing the exact products I use every time, along with why I love them and what they’ve done for my hair.
Firstly….
• The Foundation: A Boar Bristle Brush
This was the product that quietly changed everything for me.
For a long time, my hair looked fine right after styling, but flat and dull within hours (greasy even). What I didn’t realize was how much the brush mattered. Switching to a boar bristle brush completely changed how my hair behaves.
Boar bristles help distribute your natural oils from root to ends, so shine comes from your hair itself rather than excess product. They smooth the cuticle gently, which means less frizz and more polish, and they grip the hair just enough to create real lift at the roots while blow drying.
This one tool made every other step work better.
• Leave‑In Conditioner and Heat Protectant
This is always the first thing I apply after the shower.
I love this formula because it hydrates and protects at the same time without weighing my hair down. It preps the hair so heat tools glide smoothly, which helps reduce damage over time and leaves the hair feeling soft, not coated. It creates the perfect base for styling.
• Oil Non‑Oil
This is my secret weapon for shine.
It gives hair that glossy, healthy finish without heaviness or grease. My hair still feels touchable and light, but looks polished and smooth. I especially love it for taming frizz around the ends and face.
• Scalp Recovery Treatment
This is one of those unglamorous steps that makes a big difference.
A healthy scalp truly sets the tone for how your hair behaves. This treatment helps soothe and rebalance, and I’ve found that when my scalp feels good, my hair styles better and holds volume longer.
• Root Lifting Spray
This is where volume really starts to take shape.
I apply this directly to the roots in sections before blow drying. When paired with drying the hair in the opposite direction it naturally lays and lifting at the roots with a brush, it creates lasting volume without stiffness or crunch.
• Bio Ionic 1.75” Curling Iron
Once my hair is dry and volumized, I use this curling iron to add soft movement.
The larger barrel creates relaxed, blown‑out waves rather than tight curls. It glides smoothly through the hair, leaving it polished but still natural and lived in.
• Dry Volume Boost Spray
This is my final step.
After curling, I lightly backcomb at the roots where needed and finish with this spray for extra lift and texture. It adds body and movement without making the hair feel stiff or heavy.
Final Thoughts
This routine is simple, intentional, and repeatable. The right tools and products make all the difference. You don’t need more steps, just better ones.
If you’re looking for an at‑home blowout that feels polished but still effortless, this is the routine I come back to every time.
The exact products and techniques that transformed my at-home blowouts, adding lasting volume, healthy shine, and a polished, lived-in finish without the salon visit.