New to Van Clarke? Subscribe to our newsletter for 15% off your first order. Start your haircare journey today.
Need to smooth out frizz? Put more body into hair? Using the best techniques and the right equipment makes blow drying simple.
It shouldn’t be a struggle and shouldn’t take ages. Follow these tips and you will have beautiful longer-lasting hair quicker and easier.
1. Use the right equipment for your hair and the style you want. Flat brushes and round brushes with short sparse bristles are easier to use but don’t give the same control. If you need to properly smooth wavy or frizzy hair a quality round bristle brush is best.
2. Bin the nozzle unless you have thick wavy hair that needs blow drying smooth quickly. They over concentrate the heat and cause more hair damage than anything else.
3. After washing comb through thoroughly to take out tangles and then release the roots by combing up and back at 45 degrees from the hairline.
4. Preparation is the most important step to take the hair closer to the finished result before brushwork. Use a diffuser to prepare the hair taking out 85% of excess water. Lift roots into shape prepare mid-lengths and ends.
5. Use the time you have on the most important parts. The hairline sections around the face are the most important followed by the tips of the hair, then the top layer. Least important the underneath section of the back. So if short of time don’t waste it on the bits no one sees.
6. Work cleanly. Take neat sections no wider than the brush and keep the rest of the hair out of the way. Slant sections downwards around the hairline.
7. Lift sections high at a tangent to the scalp so you have proper control of the roots. This will eliminate snagging and give tension control without painful pulling.
8. Keep a one-inch gap between the hair and the nozzle.
9. Keep dryer nozzle in line with hair and pointing towards ends. Do not over dry the section. If it isn’t right, damp it and start again. All the damage is done when continuing to Blowdry hair that’s already dry. This goes beyond taking out excess water and strips the hairs own innate moisture leading to thinner brittle hair that eventually splits and breaks. Dry to 98% and let it air-dry the rest of the way.
10. If blow drying curly hair straight keep the section tight, closed and in position when you take the brush away. This will limit the hair absorbing surrounding moisture whilst you move onto the next section.
11. Give a good blast at the end on medium heat to fully dry, give a more natural feel and blend the sections.
12. Smooth finish, but too heavy around the face.
13. Using our signature Diamond Dry Cut method, we then cut the hair dry, reshaping to give softer layers around the face blending to longer layers at the back. This also took away the very dry faded hair so bringing more health and lustre to the look. To add more finish we used medium round tongs to create soft waves, then applied a mix of Magic Oil and Ten Second Transformation to bring vibrancy to the colour, reveal the contrasting lights and add a textural sheen.
Rosie used LifeSaver Pre-wash Treatment and Moisturising Shampoo and Conditioner. A little Magic Oil helps tame frizz and ease blow drying. As Rosie’s hair is thick, we use the Firm Bristle version of our favourite Round Brush. A little Ten Second Transformation at the very end feeds and smooths the hair giving a little shine and texture too.
Michael Van Clarke
True Tarte Tatins take time (alliteration not intended 😊), the preparation of this version is super quick. I used up a spare roll of puff pastry; apples and nuts are always on hand here.
Try these delicious treats at home. You won't be disappointed.
Here's a bit of fun for Christmas which the kids will love having a go with. You'll need the cookie cutters, but they come in all shapes, sizes and designs nowadays.