Hair Styles | Short, Prom & Celebrity Hairstyles | Hair Care- The Hairstyle Blog

Do you really know how to use a blow dryer? It pays to master the art of blow drying your hair. A blow dryer can make curly hair straight, add volume to fine and thin hair, or style soft curls to almost all hair types. This is the predominant hair styling tool used by non-professionals and professional hair stylists alike.

Purchase a blow dryer with 1500 to 1800 watts. Anything less powerful will prolong the drying time and put more stress on the hair. Much higher wattage can over-dry or blow a hair style right out of your hair.

It’s important to dry your hair to about 95% before you start using your hair dryer as a styling tool. Your hair is most vulnerable to breakage when wet, so the less tugging the better. Also, this saves time and wear and tear on your hair.

To get most of the moisture out of your hair, start by drying with full heat, using your fingers instead of a hair brush. Now you are ready to use your blow dryer for styling your hair.

Don’t forget to use your blow dryer attachments, they do have a purpose.

• The Nozzle — Don’t throw away that nozzle. It will concentrate the airflow allowing for a better result on your hair style. It will also make your styling time more effective. By concentrating the air at the roots for lift, or at a specific section for curl, it can make the difference of achieving a good and long lasting hair style.

• The Diffuser Sock –This is a synthetic, elastic, one-size-fits all sock that fits over the hair dryer head. Great for travel, it scrunches down to nothing. Used to diffuse the air and dry the hair less forcefully. Good for wavy and curly hair styles when you want to enhance the curl. The sock is also cheap and will fit all blow dryers.

• The Other Diffuser — Made of plastic, these fit on the head of the dryer (However, not all types fit every hair dryer. You need to check the sizes.) These will diffuse heat over a larger area of your hair. Some have prongs that allow you to lift your hair from the roots to dry in more lift at the roots.

Purchase a blow dryer with 1500 to 1800 watts. Anything less powerful will prolong the drying time and put more stress on the hair.

Purchase a blow dryer with 1500 to 1800 watts. Anything less powerful will prolong the drying time and put more stress on the hair.

Got a question, war story or comment about this topic? Click on the "Leave Your Comments" link at the very bottom of this article. Some of my best ideas for future articles come from reading reader comments. I'd love to hear from you!

How to Buy The Right Hair Dryer

Is Your Blow Dryer and Hair Curling Iron Safe?

Blow-Dry 101

Hair Dryers That do More Than Dry Your Hair

Wedding or Prom Up Do Ideas

How to Choose The Right Hair Dryer

Hair accessories — scarves, barretts and other hair thingies