Smile When You Style

Redken sends this great advice for super-smooth blow drying and easy-to-do flat ironing. The tips are great (I’m adding my own 2¢ worth, too), and the products are certainly worth a try. Remember, Redken started as a pros-only line, so they know all about taking good care of your hair. With a little practice, you’ll be stylin’ like the pros!

Tools You’ll Need:
• Wide-tooth comb to evenly disperse product and untangle hair
• Round medium-sized boar bristle brush or nylon/boar bristle combination brush to help blow-dry sections.
2¢: I also like the round brushes with holes in them, for faster drying. Some people like flat paddle brushes.
• Blow-dryer with an ionic feature to seal in the cuticle and lock in moisture for high sheen (not recommended for fine hair). Get one that has at least 2 heat settings: high heat for initial drying, low heat for finishing, plus a nozzle attachment.
• A flat iron creates a sleeker, smoother finish and keep ends from curling under. If you choose to use a flat iron after you blow-dry, use on hair after completely dried and make sure it has ceramic plates to diffuse heat with maximum results and less damage.

7 Easy Steps For The Perfect Blow Out:
1) Apply a blow-dry product, like Redken satinwear 02 blow-dry lotion or straight 05 straightening balm to hair and use a wide tooth comb to evenly disperse product.

If you hair has special needs, look into these products:
− Fine Hair: Add volume with thickening lotion 06 body builder
− Limp Hair: Give maximum lift at the roots with guts 10 volume spray foam
− Unruly hair: Smooth it down with align 12 ultra-straight balm

2) Use high heat setting until 80% dry, working from the scalp to the ends using fingers to disperse heat throughout the hair. For added volume, flip hair upside down while drying.
2¢: Keep the heat a good arm’s length from your hair, and keep the hair MOVING. I continually rub-a-dub the hair at the roots while I’m doing this. It’s a technique I learned by watching the pros. Makes it dry faster, too!

3) Clip hair into 3 sections: 2 on the sides and 1 in the back.
2¢: Not enough for me! If your hair is long, the back of your hair is the hardest to do. Separate that section into at least 3 horizontal areas, and begin at the bottom. I also separate the sides into an upper and lower section.

4) Using the nozzle attachment, blow-dry each section one inch at a time using a thick, medium-sized boar bristle brush and low heat. Keep the airflow pointed down the strand to prevent unwanted fly-aways.
2¢: Never allow heated air to flow UP the hair shaft. Cuticle doesn’t like it. Remember, a cuticle that lies flat delivers more shine.

5) For each section, start drying hair at the scalp Move down to the mid-length of hair. When the mid-length is dry, finish the ends.
2¢: Your scalp should be dry by now, don’t hit it directly with the heat. Be sure to maintain tension on the hair, and as you near the ends, just move your wrist into a downward position.
− For ultimate heat-styling protection, try spritzing Redken fabricate 03 heat-active texturizer on each section to create texture and dimension.
2¢: Protection is always good with heat.

6) To finish the look, touch up each section with a flat iron. For added heat protection, re-apply fabricate 03 heat-active texturizer on each section before flat iron use.
2¢: Always use a product on your hair when flat-ironing!
− For additional control and frizz-free shine finish with forceful 23 super strength finishing spray

7) Before heading out, spritz on some vinyl glam 02 mega-shine spray for instant gloss and a glam finish!
2¢: Always good to gleam-up before you go out!

To add even more movement and bounce, Redken session stylist Patricia Morales suggests “Roll two velcro rollers in the front two sections of your hair after your blow-dry is complete. While the rollers are in place, apply your makeup. Then, let the rollers down and you’ll have beautiful waves with extra movement and lift in the front.”
2¢: I’d do one at the top, and one large roller at each side. It won’t add too much curl because your hair is dry, but it will give you that bounce!

The Redken Super-Stylers