Blow-drying curly or frizzy hair: what you need to know

Smoothing a curly or frizzy head of hair for a few days is a real change of look, and it is entirely reversible. A blow-dry doesn't alter your curl: it puts it on pause.

You still need to know how it works, what undoes it and how to prepare for it, so that the result is worth the appointment.

What a blow-dry does to a curl

A curl holds its shape partly thanks to fragile bonds inside the hair, which come undone with water and heat and then re-form as the hair dries.

A blow-dry works precisely on this mechanism: the strand is stretched over the round brush while it dries, and these bonds re-form in a straight shape. Cold air then sets the result.

This explains two things:

• It's temporary. As soon as the hair takes on water again, through rain, steam or shampoo, the bonds come undone and the curl returns to its original shape.
• There's no chemical transformation. Nothing is permanently changed in the structure of the hair, unlike a chemical smoothing treatment.

Blow-dry or smoothing treatment: knowing the difference

The two are often confused. A Brazilian smoothing or a keratin smoothing are technical treatments that last several weeks, even several months.

This article is about the blow-dry. M BRUSH also offers a smoothing treatment, in a session of 4 to 6 hours depending on length: everything is on the smoothing bar page.

Its advantage, for curly hair, is precisely its reversibility: you change your look for an occasion, and you get your curls back at the next shampoo. For how long a blow-dry holds, read the article how long does a blow-dry last.

How a sleek finish works on frizzy hair

The session follows the usual four steps, but each one calls for more attention.

1. I

   Patient detangling.On a tight curl, knots form quickly and break easily. Detangling goes from the ends to the root, section by section, without pulling.

2. II

   Finer sections.A thick frizzy strand doesn't smooth right through to the core. Finer and more numerous, the sections are the key to a clean, lasting result.

3. III

   Tension and cooling.Each strand is stretched over the brush, from root to tip, then cooled: a strand released while still warm springs back.

4. IV

   The straightener option.On a very tight curl, the sleek blow-dry can be finished with straighteners, an option to tick when booking, for a cleaner, glossier result.

Logically, a sleek finish on frizzy hair takes longer than a sleek finish on straight hair of the same length.

What undoes a sleek finish on curly hair

Naturally curly hair waits for any excuse to return to its shape. The enemies are always the same, but they act faster than on straight hair.

• Humidity in the air. Mist, fine rain, lake air: the root swells first, then the lengths start to wave. Our autumn advice is gathered in the article on blow-drying in the face of rain and humidity.
• Sweat. Sport, a packed room, a hot day bring the curl back at the root and the nape.
• Steam. A hot shower, cooking, a hammam: avoid them or protect carefully.

A blow-dry doesn't change your curl: it asks it to wait a few days.

Heat on curly hair

Curly hair is often drier than average, because sebum travels less easily along a fibre that twists. It therefore deserves controlled heat.

An occasional blow-dry, done with a hairdryer that is always moving and finished with cold air, doesn't damage a curl. What can weaken it is the frequent repetition of high heat: over time, some curls come back less defined.

If you smooth your own hair often, a heat protector and regular breaks remain essential. Our article does blow-drying damage the hair looks at these questions in detail.

Before you come: the right reflexes

People with curly hair often have a well-established routine, made of leave-in creams, gels or oils. On the day of the blow-dry, it has to take a break.

• Clean hair, no product. No oil, no serum, no cream or styling gel: these products stop the hair from smoothing cleanly and weigh it down.
• Shampoo + treatment as an option on site. You can add it when booking; otherwise, come with clean hair and the whole appointment goes into the blow-dry.
• Choosing the right moment. If you want to enjoy your sleek finish, avoid booking it just before a workout or a day of forecast rain.

Making your sleek finish last

• At night, wrap your lengths around your head, held with a few flat clips, or sleep on a silk pillowcase: the sleek finish keeps its line and the root frizzes less.
• In the morning, if a strand has waved, don't wet it: a pass with the round brush and a little hot air, then cold, is often enough.
• On rainy days, a roomy hood and an umbrella are better than a tight beanie.

Book your sleek blow-dry

Booking takes two minutes: your length, the sleek finish, the straightener option if you want it, then a free slot.

Nothing is paid online, and no deposit is required: everything is settled on the day of the appointment. The salon address is Avenue d'Yverdon 4, 1004 Lausanne.

Fancy seeing your curls change their look for a few days? Book your sleek blow-dry.