blowout

When you stop into the salon for a professional blowout, your hair just seems to behave better. Women with thick hair get the polished look they crave, while ladies with flat strands get the volume they desire. Save time and money with these at-home blowout tricks that won't have you blasting your hair with heat either.

Full-on volume: If you just can't contort your arms into the perfect position to get a great blowout at home, you're better off trying hot rollers. Roll large sections using medium to jumbo rollers. As they cool down, you'll get the same root-lifting effect of a round-brush blowout (without all the exercise). Opt for a flexible-hold hair spray and brush through with your fingers, so the curls fall out for a more natural bounce.

Sleek and smooth: Let your hair air dry until 90 percent of the moisture is gone, then blow-dry hair with a round brush until sleek. Use a flat iron to smooth roots, and spritz hair with dry shampoo like Drybar Detox Dry Shampoo ($20) as a finishing touch for the ultimate volume.

Is your blowout falling flat after the gym? Allure has the steps to maintain your smoothed-out style even through a sweaty workout routine.

We're officially halfway through January, and I'm thrilled to report that I am kicking some New Year's resolution tush. I haven't missed a day at the gym yet (just did an acceptance-speech-style "thank you, thank you so much" gesture, don't worry), but here's the rub: my hair, usually blown out and shiny, is taking a hit. Fortunately, I cracked the code for preserving my face-framing waves. Here's to not sacrificing one good beauty habit for another. Learn how to make your blowout last when you read more.

Re-creating the sleek, smooth blowouts your stylists gives you can be daunting. But with a few hair-drying techniques on hand, you'll find that your style will last longer, and your need for straighteners and curling irons will be greatly reduced. Learn how to blow-dry as smoothly as possible (pun intended) when you keep reading.

We're happy to present this story from our friends at Allure:

It's not every day you get a lesson in blowouts from Alli Webb, founder of the Drybar blowout bars. Rule number one: If you've gotten your blowouts down to 10 minutes, you're doing something wrong. (Sorry!) Webb gave me the rundown on the other most common styling mistakes — and how to get the ultimate results. Get her advice when you read more.

What's better than an inexpensive blowout? A free one. On Thursday, April 5, Ulta stores around the country are offering complimentary Fekkai blow-outs (yep, that's free). This offer lasts only from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., so plan accordingly. You'll be able to choose between a Silky Straight or Full Blown Volume service. Plus, drop $25 or more on Fekkai products, and you'll go home with a free sample of the brand's Brilliant Glossing Cream. Can't wait until next week for a perfect hairstyle? Get blowout tips to use at home.

The problem with products that promise to minimize your blow-drying time is that often they just end up drying out your hair. That's where tools and technique come into play. The Cricket Company's Ionic Balancing round brushes ($10 to $11) are available in three sizes — 33 mm, 44 mm, and 53 mm — and are designed with a ceramic barrel vent system for quicker drying. The bristles are also positioned at different lengths, so tangling becomes less of a problem. Instead, hair is left soft, smooth, and free from static and frizz, due in part thanks to ionic technology. There's even a removable sectioning pick at the bottom of the base, so you can do some serious Jessica Rabbit-style deep parting with ease.

You might know that Gwyneth Paltrow's GOOP newsletters, while sometimes mocked by bloggers, actually do contain lots of great content straight from industry insiders. And whether you're a fan or not, you have to give the longtime actress credit for her efforts in trying to bring insider tidbits to the masses. Today's edition is one after my own heart, offering up some pretty cool hairstyle tips and tricks from her pals in the hair biz. See five of my favorites when you read more.