Why Your Best Hair Day Starts With Someone Else Doing Your Hair

I've been doing blowouts for years, and I still can't replicate at home what I can do in the salon. And I'm a professional. So if you're wondering why your hair never looks as good as it does when you leave the salon, that's why.

It's not you. It's physics. And arm fatigue. And the fact that you can't see the back of your own head.

Let me explain why professional blowouts are worth it, what actually happens during one, and how to make it last longer than one day (because if you're paying for it, you should get more than 24 hours out of it).

I'm Danielle, I work at Rock Paper Scissors in Chino, and I've probably blown out thousands of heads of hair at this point. Some things I've learned.

What a Blowout Actually Is (Because Some People Don't Know)

A blowout is when we wash your hair, blow dry it with a round brush, and style it so it looks really good. That's it. No cut, no color, just styling.

Some people think it's only for special occasions, but honestly, a lot of our clients come in every week or two just to get their hair blown out because they don't want to deal with it themselves. And I get it. Doing your own hair is annoying.

The main reason people get blowouts is because it's faster and better than what they can do at home. I can blow out your hair in 30 to 45 minutes. It would take you an hour and your arms would be dead and it still wouldn't look as good.

Also, a really good blowout can last 3 to 4 days if you take care of it. So you're essentially buying yourself several good hair days for the price of one service. The math works out.

When People Actually Get Blowouts

I see a few different types of blowout clients.

The weekly regular. These are people who just don't want to do their own hair. They come in every week, sometimes twice a week, and it's part of their routine. We have one client, I think her name is Patricia, who comes in every Saturday morning before she does her errands. She's been doing this for like three years.

The special event person. Wedding, party, date night, family photos. They need their hair to look good for something specific and they don't trust themselves to do it.

The "I give up" client. This is someone who's been fighting with their hair at home, getting increasingly frustrated, and finally just comes in and says, "Please just make it look normal."

I had someone come in two weeks ago who'd been trying to curl her hair for a work event and it just kept falling flat. She showed up 45 minutes before she had to leave and said, "Can you fix this?" Her hair was half curled, half straight, and she looked stressed. I washed it, blew it out smooth with some volume, and she left looking way better than if she'd kept trying to make the curls work.

What Actually Happens During a Blowout

Okay, so here's the process.

First, we talk. I need to know what you want. Smooth and sleek? Voluminous? Soft waves? Big curls? You'd be surprised how many people just say "make it look good" and then get mad when I don't read their mind correctly.

Then we wash your hair. We use good shampoo and conditioner. This matters. The products we use create a better foundation for styling than whatever you're using at home. Not trying to be snobby, it's just true.

Then I blow dry your hair in sections. This is the part you can't do as well at home. I'm using a round brush to create tension and smooth the cuticle while drying. I'm working in sections so every part of your hair gets properly dried and styled. I can see the back of your head. You can't.

If you want curls or waves, I use a curling iron or flat iron after the blowout. The blowout creates the smooth base, then I add the texture.

Finally, I use finishing products. Usually a light hairspray or shine spray. Not too much, just enough to make it last.

The whole thing takes 45 minutes to an hour for most people. If you have really thick or long hair, it might take longer.

The Different Types of Styling Services (And What They Cost)

We do a few different levels of styling depending on what you need.

Basic blowouts are around $45 to $75 depending on your hair length and thickness. This is a wash and blow dry with a round brush. You leave with smooth, voluminous hair. It's not complicated, it just looks good.

Special occasion styling is more like $85 to $125. This is when you need something specific for an event. Maybe curls that need to last all night, or a half up style, or something with more detail. It takes longer because we're being more precise about it.

Formal updos are $75 to $150. Weddings, prom, fancy events. These take the longest because we're pinning everything up and making sure it's secure enough to last through dancing, photos, hugging, all of it.

My coworker Stephanie is really good at updos. I do them, but she's faster and better at the intricate ones. If someone calls asking for a formal updo, I usually try to book them with her.

Isaac is our blowout specialist. He can create volume that lasts for days. I don't know how he does it. Some kind of magic with the round brush.

Diana does more editorial, trendy styling. If you want something that looks like it came off Instagram, she's your person.

How to Make Your Blowout Last Longer Than One Day

If you're paying for a blowout, you should be able to get at least 2 to 3 days out of it. Here's how.

Sleep on a silk or satin pillowcase. Cotton creates friction, which creates frizz. Silk or satin is smoother. Your hair will look better in the morning.

Put your hair in a loose bun on top of your head when you sleep. Not a tight ponytail. Loose. This protects the style without creating a crease.

Don't touch your hair. Every time you run your fingers through it, you're transferring oil from your hands onto your hair. It'll get greasy faster.

Use dry shampoo on day two, not day three. The mistake people make is waiting until their hair is already greasy to use dry shampoo. Use it before it gets oily. Spray it at your roots on the morning of day two. It'll absorb oil before it becomes visible and keep your hair looking fresh.

Don't wash your hair for as long as possible. I know some people wash their hair every day. If that's you, a blowout isn't going to last. You have to be willing to go 3 to 4 days without washing if you want to get the full value.

I had a client who kept complaining that her blowouts only lasted one day. I asked how often she washed her hair. She said every day. I said, "That's why." She couldn't wrap her head around not washing daily. I told her she was wasting her money on blowouts if she was going to wash them out the next day.

Why Blowouts Last Longer Here Than in Humid Places

Living in Southern California is actually great for blowouts. It's dry here. Humidity is what kills a blowout. If you've ever been to Florida or anywhere humid and watched your hair immediately frizz up, you know what I'm talking about.

Here in Chino, the air is dry most of the year. Your blowout will hold its shape longer because there's no moisture in the air working against you.

The only exception is when we get those Santa Ana winds in the fall. Those will mess up any hairstyle. On windy days, I usually recommend a light hairspray and maybe pulling your hair back loosely so it doesn't get tangled. Or just accepting that it's a windy day and your hair is going to do whatever it wants.

When a Blowout Isn't Worth It

There are times when getting a blowout doesn't make sense.

If you're going to the gym or pool right after. Obviously. Don't pay for a blowout and then immediately sweat or get your hair wet.

If you wash your hair every single day. Like I said earlier, you're just wasting money.

If your hair is severely damaged. A blowout can only do so much. If your hair is fried from bleach or heat damage, it's not going to hold a style well. You need to focus on getting your hair healthy first.

If you have very short hair. Not saying it can't be done, but if your hair is shorter than chin length, a blowout isn't going to give you dramatically different results than what you can do at home with a round brush.

Should You Get a Blowout?

If you have an event coming up and you want your hair to look good, yes. If you hate doing your own hair and you have the budget for it, yes. If you want to learn how to style your hair better by watching a professional do it, yes.

If you're trying to justify it financially, think about it this way: a blowout costs about the same as going out to dinner. If you'd spend $50 on a meal that lasts an hour, spending $50 on a hairstyle that lasts 3 days isn't that crazy.

We're at Rock Paper Scissors, 5222 D St. in Chino. Downtown in the brick building. Call (909) 707-9553 or book online.

Come in and let someone else deal with your hair for once.

Danielle