Hair Salon Blog: Essential Hair Care Tips and Insights

Have you ever wondered why your at-home blowout never quite matches the magic of a salon visit? The secret isn’t just in the tools—it’s in the technique. Whether you’re aiming for sleek and straight, voluminous waves or a frizz-free finish, the right approach makes all the difference. Follow this step-by-step guide to learn how to blow dry hair at home like a pro.

Preparing Your Hair for Blow Drying

A great blowout starts in the shower. Use the right shampoo and conditioner for smooth, manageable hair.

• Fine Hair: Volumizing shampoo + lightweight conditioner for body.
• Thick Hair: Moisturizing shampoo + hydrating conditioner for shine and frizz control.
• Curly/Wavy Hair: Sulfate-free shampoo + rich conditioner for definition.
• Oily Scalp: Clarifying shampoo + conditioner only on ends to prevent greasiness.
• Best Routine: Massage shampoo into your scalp, rinse well, repeat, and then apply conditioner from mid-length to ends. Let it sit, then rinse.

This routine helps prep your hair for an easier, longer-lasting blowout.

Pre-Blow Dry Prep Checklist:

Prepping your hair properly after your shower helps achieve a longer-lasting style while minimizing damage.

• Use a microfiber towel or cotton T-shirt instead of a regular towel to prevent frizz.
• Apply a heat protectant to shield your strands from damage and lock in moisture.
• Detangle your hair with a wide-tooth comb to reduce breakage and simplify styling.
• Use styling products based on your hair type.

These steps ensure your hair stays healthy, manageable, and ready for flawless styling.

Essential Tools for Blow Drying

Investing in the right tools makes all the difference in achieving salon-quality results at home.

• Hairdryer: Ionic reduces frizz, while ceramic and tourmaline provide even heat distribution.
• Round brush: Larger sizes add volume; smaller ones define curls.
• Flat paddle brush: Ideal for sleek, straight styles.
• Sectioning clips: Keep hair manageable for precise styling.
• Nozzle attachment: Focuses airflow for smoother results and minimizes heat damage.
• Diffuser attachment: Enhances natural curls and waves.

With the right tools, achieving a flawless, salon-worthy blowout at home is easier than ever. Visit our blowout services page for tips and answers to all your blowout questions!

Blow-Dry Styles for Different Hair Types

• Straight & Sleek: Use a paddle brush with the nozzle pointing downward to smooth hair and reduce flyaways. Apply a light smoothing serum before drying to tame frizz and after to add shine and polish.
• Voluminous Waves: Wrap hair around a round brush, pulling upward for lift—alternate directions with each section for a natural, tousled look. A lightweight mousse or texturizing spray can enhance volume and hold.
• Defined Curls: Attach a diffuser, scrunch hair upward, and use low heat to maintain curl shape while minimizing frizz. A curl-enhancing cream or light gel helps keep curls bouncy and defined.
• Quick Blow-Dry Tips: Keep the dryer six inches away to prevent heat damage, and move it constantly for even heat distribution. Finish with a cool shot to lock in shine and style. Use a lightweight product like texturizing spray, shine serum, or volumizing powder to perfect and hold your look.

Step-by-Step DIY Blow-Dry Guide

• Section Your Hair: Part your hair down the middle, then from ear to ear, creating four sections. Clip up the top and sides, leaving the bottom loose. Working in sections ensures even drying and better control.
• Adjust Hairdryer Settings: Use medium heat and low speed for fine hair to prevent excessive drying. Thick hair benefits from high heat and medium speed to speed up the process. A diffuser on low heat helps define curls while reducing frizz.
• Start at the Roots: Direct airflow at the roots while lifting with a round brush for volume. For a sleek look, use a paddle brush and follow with the dryer. Drying the roots first prevents flatness and sets the foundation for your style.
• Work in Sections: Unclip one section at a time and dry in small pieces. Always point the dryer downward to smooth the cuticle and reduce frizz.
• Boost Volume: Use a round brush, pulling hair upward while drying. Finish with a cool blast to set the shape and keep the volume lasting longer.
• Minimize Frizz: Use an ionic dryer with a concentrator nozzle for smooth results. Keep the dryer moving and finish with a light serum for shine.
• Set Your Style: Once dry, use a cool shot of air to seal the cuticle and add shine. Finish with a lightweight styling product for hold.

Your Best Blowout Starts Here!

With the right prep, tools, and technique, you can absolutely get that salon-quality blowout at home! Want expert tips tailored to your hair type? Stop by Therapy Hair Studio in Houston, Texas, for personalized advice and professional recommendations, or visit us online. Our stylists are ready to help you perfect your at-home blowout!

Hair extensions are a fun, affordable way to change your look overnight. They are taking over the hair styling industry, from celebrities to Instagram influencers. Despite their popularity, however, they are relatively new to the mainstream—and, unsurprisingly, people will make mistakes when wearing and applying them. These, then, are the eight most common hair extension mistakes​ and how to avoid them.

Mistake No. 1: Choosing the Wrong Length for Your Hair Extensions

Getting hair extensions with the longest length in the store can be tempting, especially if you have short hair and want a long, luxurious look. However, experts recommend choosing hair extensions that aren’t much longer than your actual hair length, allowing for seamless blending and a more natural look.

Mistake No. 2: Choosing the Wrong Color for Your Hair Extensions

It may seem like a “common sense” sentiment, but getting a hair extension that is as close to your natural color as possible is essential. Professional stylists can always dye human hair extensions but cannot perform miracles. Don’t get blond extensions, for example, if you have black or brown hair, and vice versa.

Some exceptions include if you’re looking for a drastic natural change or going to a costume party. However, consult your hairstylist about your options before drastically changing.

Mistake No. 3: Not Taking Your Lifestyle into Account When Applying Hair Extensions

Active lifestyles—such as those enjoyed by athletes or other on-the-go professionals—frequently involve installing semi-permanent hair extensions. This leaves the extensions vulnerable to the elements and gives them a “ratty” appearance long before their time.

Consult with your stylist about your lifestyle to determine which type of hair extensions are right for you.

Mistake No. 4: Installing Cheap Hair Extensions

When it comes to hair extensions, you get what you pay for. You may think you’re saving money by spending mere pennies on the dollar on your hair extensions or buying them from a drop shipper or a foreign online store. However, you’ll need to buy more low-quality extensions to get the same result as fewer, higher-quality extensions.

Quality, not quantity, is the rule regarding hair extensions. Sometimes, spending just a little bit extra goes a long way.

Mistake No. 5: Putting Clip-In Hair Extensions Too High on the Crown of Your Head

If you’re choosing clip-in hair extensions, a common mistake is putting them high on your head’s crown. Professional stylists, however, recommend not applying clip-in hair extensions any higher than the height of your eyebrows, which sit below the crown of your head. This allows for easy, more natural application of clip-ins and will make the installation look natural.

Mistake No. 6: Washing Your Hair Too Soon After Installing Your Hair Extensions

People who wash their hair daily may be tempted to wash it immediately after a hair extension application. However, this practice can damage the hair extension and cause it to come out.

Instead, wait at least 72 hours before washing your hair. This will allow your extensions—especially if they are taped in—to “cure” in your head, making them less likely to fall out during washing.

Additionally, be sure to wash your hair before installing your hair extensions, but do not put in a conditioner—leave-in or otherwise—as the oils can compromise the integrity of the hair extension adhesive.

Mistake No. 7: Using the Wrong Products to Care for Your Hair Extensions

Hair extensions are just like “regular” human hair: they are subject to breakage and damage, mainly when you use the wrong products. Consult your stylist to see which products best suit your hair style and texture.

Mistake No. 8: Not Getting Therapy Hair Studios to Install Your Hair Extensions

Visiting Therapy Hair Studio in Houston for hair extensions will help you feel beautiful, vibrant, and confident. Since 2008, we’ve been helping thousands of customers feel their best with our caring, individual approach to hair care. Contact us today at (713) 355-4247 to schedule your appointment at our Houston hair extensions salon and get the look you’ve been after.

Related Posts:

How Often Do Hair Extensions Need Replacing?

Five Tips for Maintaining Your Extensions

Therapy Stylists Create Length, Fullness and Dimension with Hair Extensions

The Top 7 Rated Hair Extensions

The 4 Best Extensions for Growing Out Hair

Celebrities, models, and influencers always have their hair decked out in the finest extensions. So, it’s no surprise that hair extensions have also become popular amongst regular people. Stylists can add extensions to short hair, but there are some minimum requirements that haircare professionals recommend. But how long does your hair have to be to get extensions? It depends on the type of extensions you’re considering.

Hair Extensions: What Are They?

There are two types of hair extensions: those made from human hair and those made from synthetic materials.

Human hair extensions are manufactured from human hair donated or sold to the manufacturing company. They can last up to a year and have all the elements of human hair. They can be heat-styled, dyed to a preferred color, and even washed like a regular head of hair. Human hair extensions, however, are a bit more expensive than their synthetic counterparts.

Synthetic hair extensions, meanwhile, are made from synthetic materials like acrylic, nylon, or polyester. They are processed to look like human hair but cannot be heat-styled, dyed to a preferred color, or washed like regular human hair. While synthetic hair extensions are less expensive than human hair counterparts, they can also look “cheap” depending on the manufacturer, upkeep, or style.

How to Apply Hair Extensions

There are several ways to apply hair extensions:

• Sew-in/Weave is the most popular type of hair extension in the Black community. Stylists can easily twist these extensions into ethnic styles such as cornrows, Bantu knots, and box braids. For best results, sew-in/weave applications require at least six inches of the client’s normal hair.
• Microlink/Microbead hair extension application requires extensive professional skills. It involves using metal or silicone beads to apply hair extensions to natural hair. This process requires at least four inches of the client’s normal hair for best results.
• Tape-in hair extension application only requires four inches of the client’s normal hair. This method, as its name suggests, “tapes” the extension to the base of the client’s head. However, this method requires that the client have enough hair at the base of the head to cover the tape used in the extension so it looks “natural.”
• Clip-in hair extensions are the most flexible method for hair length. A client’s hair must only be 3 or 4 inches long to deploy the clip-in method, which is temporary by design. These extensions are removed after the evening out and are not usually left in the head for more than 24 hours.

Which Extensions Are Best for Your Hair Type?

Each hair extension application method is different and, as such, best suited to different hair types. Microlink/microbead extensions and clip-in extensions are both very versatile and can be used on all hair types. However, sew-in/weave hair extensions are best for thick and coarse hair, while tape-in extensions are best for thin to medium-density hair.

It’s essential to get a hair extension that compliments your natural hair. For example, don’t get a synthetic blonde hair extension if you have dark curly hair. Remember that wearing hair extensions for an extended period can damage your hair, so always consult a hair care professional before putting them in. Ensure you understand what’s involved with adequately caring for the extensions so they can last longer while leaving your hair looking full and healthy.

Finally, remove your hair extensions immediately if you experience irritation, inflammation, or any other negative side effect that causes you pain or discomfort. Hair extensions are supposed to make you feel beautiful, not unhappy!

Other Short Hair Considerations 

Installing hair extensions can be difficult for clients with hair shorter than 4 inches, but it is not impossible.

Some stylists opt for a “mesh” system of hair extension installation designed for shorter hair. Other stylists, however, modify the micro link/microbead method, tailoring it specifically for shorter hair.

Regardless of which method you choose to install your hair extensions, it is of the utmost importance that the installation looks natural so that you can always look and feel beautiful.

Get Your High-Quality Hair Extensions at Therapy Hair Studio

Located in the heart of Houston’s Galleria district, Therapy Hair Studio offers its clients the best hair extensions. Since 2008, the talented stylists at Therapy Hair Studio have delighted thousands of customers with their expert approach to hair care and unique way of making each client feel like a million bucks without spending a million bucks, and we can’t wait to add you to our list of satisfied clients. Contact us today at (713) 355-4247 and discover what Houston’s hair extensions salon offers.

Related Posts:

How Often Do Hair Extensions Need Replacing?

Five Tips for Maintaining Your Extensions

Therapy stylists create Length, Fullness and Dimension with Hair Extensions

The Top 7 Rated Hair Extensions

The 4 Best Extensions for Growing Out Hair