Your At-Home Guide to That Fresh-From-the-Salon Look

Hey everyone, it's Danielle from Rock Paper Scissors. The other day, my client Rachel sat in my chair and sighed. She said, "I swear I watch a hundred TikToks on how to get waves like this, and my hair just doesn't."

I totally get it. You see these quick videos and think it should be easy, but then you're left with a tangled mess or curls that fall flat in an hour.

The truth is, those videos often miss the little things, the tiny adjustments we stylists make without even thinking. So let me pull back the curtain. I want to walk you through some of our go-to techniques so you can feel more confident styling your hair at home, whether you're getting ready for work or a night out at Owen's Bistro two doors down from us.

The Secret to a Salon-Worthy Blowout at Home

A great style starts with a great foundation, and that's the blowout. So many people rush this part, but a little patience here makes all the difference.

The number one mistake I see is not using the nozzle attachment on your dryer. That little plastic piece is your best friend! It directs the airflow right where you want it, sealing the hair cuticle for a smooth, shiny finish that can even stand up to a windy Chino afternoon.

Here's how we break it down in the salon.

Section your hair. Don't just blast your whole head with hot air. Clip your hair into at least four manageable sections. This ensures every single strand gets dried evenly.

Pick the right brush. For most lengths, a medium-sized round brush is perfect. You need it to create tension. Gently pull the brush through your hair as you dry, always pointing the dryer's nozzle down the hair shaft. This is key for fighting frizz.

Lift at the root. For volume, pull the hair at your crown straight up toward the ceiling as you dry the roots. This simple move creates lift that actually lasts.

Cool it down. Before you drop a section, hit the cool shot button on your dryer for a few seconds. Hair sets as it cools, so this step locks in the shape and shine.

It takes practice, but mastering a solid blowout is probably the single best thing you can do for your at-home hair game.

Rachel, the client I mentioned, came back two weeks after I showed her this technique. She looked so much more confident. She said, "Danielle, I finally got it! It took me three tries, but I did it this morning and it actually looks like when you do it."

That made my whole day. Seeing clients master their own hair is honestly one of my favorite parts of this job.

Making Friends With Your Hot Tools

Curling irons and flat irons can feel intimidating, but they're all about control. Most people turn the heat way too high, thinking it will make the style last longer. In reality, it just damages your hair.

For most hair types, a medium heat setting around 350 to 375 degrees is plenty. If your hair is fine or color-treated, stay on the lower end.

I learned this the hard way years ago. I had a client named Jennifer who was curling her hair every day on the highest heat setting. When she came in for a cut, her hair was so damaged and fried at the ends that we had to cut off three inches just to get to healthy hair.

She was devastated. I felt terrible because I should have asked her about her heat styling routine earlier. Now I make sure every client understands that more heat does not equal better results. It just equals more damage.

For bouncy curls or beachy waves

The direction you wrap your hair matters. For a classic, uniform curl, wrap all sections in the same direction. For a more modern, beachy look, alternate the direction you wrap the hair with each section.

And please, leave the last inch of your hair out of the iron! This creates that effortless, undone look everyone loves. Once a curl is done, let it cool completely in your hand or with a clip before you touch it. Raking your fingers through hot curls is the fastest way to make them disappear.

My client Sarah from Chino Hills struggled with this for months. She'd come in and say, "I curl my hair and five minutes later it's straight again." I finally watched her do it on her phone and realized she was running her fingers through the curls immediately while they were still hot.

Once I explained that hair sets as it cools, everything changed for her. She texted me a week later with a photo. Her curls had lasted all day. She said, "Why did no one ever tell me this?!"

For that silky, straight look

Just like with a blowout, you need to work in small, clean sections. Pass the flat iron over each section just once, moving slowly and steadily from root to tip. Going over the same piece again and again is what causes damage and those dreaded clamp marks.

A great flat iron and a good heat protectant spray are non-negotiable here.

Getting Real Volume in Fine Hair

If you have fine hair, you've probably tried every volumizing product out there. Some work, but the technique is what really counts. The goal isn't just to make hair bigger. It's to build a supportive structure at the root.

Start with a mousse or root-lifting spray on damp hair, focusing only on the first couple of inches at the scalp. When you blow dry, try flipping your head upside down. This lifts the roots away from your scalp naturally.

If you want to try teasing, be gentle. Instead of frantically rubbing the comb up and down, take a small section at your crown, hold it straight up, and use a fine-tooth comb to gently push the hair down toward the root just two or three times. This creates a small cushion for the rest of the hair to sit on. A little goes a long way.

My client Maria has super fine hair and had been teasing it aggressively every morning for years. When I looked at her hair up close, it was so damaged and broken at the crown from all that teasing.

I showed her the gentler technique and explained that less is more with fine hair. Six months later, the damaged hair had grown out and her volume actually looked better because her hair was healthier. She said, "I was destroying my hair thinking I was helping it."

Styling for Our Southern California Weather

Living here in the Inland Empire means we deal with unique hair challenges. It can be super dry one day, then the Santa Ana winds will kick up, or a hot day can make your scalp sweat and kill your volume.

Humidity and heat: Even in a dry climate, sweat can create humidity right at your scalp, causing frizz. A light-hold hairspray or a smoothing serum can create a barrier. For clients who really struggle with frizz, a Brazilian Blowout can be a total game changer, cutting down styling time and making hair practically weatherproof.

Windy days: When those winds are howling down the street past Chino City Hall, you need a style with some structure. A little texturizing spray can give your hair the grit it needs to not completely fly away. A simple French braid or a polished ponytail is also a great option.

Sun protection: We're blessed with a lot of sun, but it can fade your color and dry out your hair. Look for products with UV protectants, especially if you plan on being outside at an event like the Chino Air Show.

Know When to Call a Professional

Can you get amazing hair at home? Absolutely. But it's also important to be realistic. Your everyday blowout will get better and better with practice. Your waves for a Saturday night will start to look amazing.

But for a wedding, a big event, or a complex updo you saw on Pinterest? That's what we're here for. Trying to tackle a complicated style when you're already stressed is a recipe for frustration.

I had a bride-to-be, Jessica, who tried to do her own hair for her wedding rehearsal dinner. She called me the morning of, almost in tears, saying it was a disaster and she didn't know what to do.

I told her to come in immediately. We fixed it in about 45 minutes. When she left, she said, "I'm not even going to try to do my own hair for the wedding. I'm booking you right now."

Smart move. Wedding day hair is not the time to experiment.

We have stylists like Kinzie and Stephanie who are absolute wizards with formal styling and can create something beautiful and stress-free.

Keep Practicing

Learning to work with your hair is a journey. Be patient, have fun with it, and don't be afraid to experiment. Some days will be great. Some days you'll want to throw your curling iron out the window. That's totally normal.

Rachel still texts me sometimes when she nails a blowout. Last month she sent me a selfie and said, "Finally feels natural!" That's the goal. It should feel natural, not stressful.

If you ever want a one-on-one lesson or just want to leave the styling to us, we'd love to see you. You can find us at Rock Paper Scissors Hair Studio at 5222 D St. in Chino, CA 91710. We're in the heart of the historic downtown, right in that beautiful old brick building.

Give us a call at (909) 707-9553 or book your appointment online. We're here to help you love your hair every single day.