Sam Villa Says: Teach Your Clients How to Achieve Great Blowouts at Home

When clients would tell me that they couldn’t get their hair to look at home the way I got it to look in the salon, I would say, “It’s easier for me, because I’m standing behind you and have both my hands. You’re working in front of a mirror, which makes everything opposite.” I suggested that after getting their hair on the brush they should turn away from the mirror to do the blow-dry.

It’s really important for you to help your clients look great between visits. Please be my guest and borrow some of my other blow-drying tips for your clients:

  • To prevent frizz, reach for an old tee shirt instead of a fluffy towel to thoroughly squeeze out the excess moisture without roughing up the cuticle.
  • Detangle hair by working from the bottom up.
  • Product is a necessity. Use mousse for volume, lotion for hair that’s smooth and touchable or gel for lift and definition.
  • A boar-bristle brush will distribute the natural oils throughout the hair and give you a smooth finish.
  • Stand up—your body will have more flexibility than when you’re sitting down.
  • If you work with a round brush, section off the hair and start at the bottom. Between sections, put down the blowdryer so you have both hands to get the hair on the brush.
  • If your hair is color-treated, set your thermal tools on medium to keep the cuticle closed and maintain the color longer.

Naturally curly hair has special requirements:

  • Comb out your hair with a large-tooth comb.
  • Before using a mousse or gel, apply a leave-in conditioner.
  • To maintain the curl, clamp the hair with clips at the base to provide lift; then let your hair dry naturally or use a diffuser to dry it.

The last thing I recommend to clients is that if they’re having a “bad hair day,” just start over! Spritz the hair with a water bottle and adjust the top surface. Investing just a few minutes will turn things around to have a great hair day!

sv headshot high res 180x300 Sam Villa Gives a Glimpse at Life on the RoadSam Villa has more than 25 years experience as a platform artist and educator for major salon professional companies. Part of the Redken family for the past 11 years, Sam is Redken’s Education Artistic Director and Design & Training Consultant and appears on redken.com as a spokesperson for consumer consultations. He is in constant demand at international and domestic trade shows and in-salon programs, where his progressive teaching approach enables stylists to absorb new techniques quickly and for practical use in the salon. In 2008, Sam launched his website, www.samvilla.com, along with his own brand of digital media education and styling tools for salon professionals.