Words by Ciler Peksah
3 Minute Read
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Just as chefs are known for their signature dish, as a hairdresser, I would say my speciality would have to be the Big Bouncy Blow-dry!
Yes to the 3B’s! It’s my all-time favourite ‘do’, and the style most of my clients ask me for.
When I started out in hairdressing, I was trained to master the Big Bouncy Blow Dry as the foundation on which to start to play with different styles. The brilliant thing about the 3B’s, is that no matter what your hair type – thick or thin, curly or straight – this style will work for you and you’d be hard pushed to better it. It’s a timeless, chic look, guaranteed to fill you with confidence and joy.
When I first started working with Holly back in 2009, we used to joke about how big we could get her blow dry and I took enormous pleasure in continuously trying to deliver bigger and better than the one before. It was hilarious!
So, without further ado, here’s my step-by-step guide to a fabulous Big Bouncy Blow-Dry!
1. Apply root-lift and heat protector to damp hair
Start by applying hair protector and root volumizer to wet hair, then rough dry with a hairdryer in the opposite direction. By that, I mean blow-dry whilst lifting your hair up and away from your head starting at the root. If you tip your head upside down to rough-dry, gravity does a pretty good job at lifting the root to create volume.
2. Use clips to section-off hair
Next, you’re going to start blow-drying your hair smoothly using a round brush – taking one small section at a time. Section off the piece you’re working on by clipping the rest of your hair out of the way.
3. Use a round brush to achieve maximum root-lift, smooth and create curls
Wrap the chosen hair section around the brush tight to the hairline and blow-dry from the root, pulling up and away from the scalp/face as you go to achieve maximum root lift. When it comes to the front section, I like to blow-dry it and then leave the brush in the hair for it to cool – while I continue with a second brush on another section. It acts like a heated roller – or in my case ‘heated brush’ – and will give the curl longevity.
4. Roll-up and clip blow-dried section
Roll the blow-dried section up to the hairline and clip the curl in place whilst you finish the whole head.
5. Shake it out
Once you’ve blow-dried and clipped up every curl, remove clips and shake your hair out or run your fingers through.
6. Set your style
Add texture to root, followed by hold and shine as required.
Ta-dah!
Apply to wet hair – Products that add volume and protect
1. Mark Hill, Style Addict Extreme Volume Spray, £4.66
Try spritzing this on damp hair and drying your hair at the root upside down to create more root lift before blow drying upright.
2. Bristows Mousse, Volume & Body, £1.39
Gosh this mousse takes me back! As a child I would see this in my local pharmacy – and it’s still on the shelf! Amazing for the price, this product boosts your roots and dries without the stickiness of some other products.
3. Bumble & Bumble Thickening Soft Mouse, £23.40
This heat-protective mousse gives you volume but with a cushiony (crunch-free) feel. I really rate this for root lift, and find it works well on all hair types.
4. Color Wow, Raise the Root Spray, £21.50
I love this root spray and it really does help you create some voluminous, non-sticky WOW factor!
5. L’Oréal, Elvive Extraordinary Oil Flash Blow-Dry Leave-in Mist, £5.99
When applied to damp hair, this product gives you a faster and less damaging blow dry while providing care.
Apply to dry hair – Products that add texture and hold
1. Moroccanoil, Dry Texture Spray, £13.18
This is a MUST in my kit! It really does add great texture and lasts the whole day. To revive, just tip your head to the side and shake your hair out.
2. Kristin Ess, Dry Finish Working Texture Spray, £9.60
Use this after blow-drying to create effortless, soft matte texture in all hair types. It volumises with weightless, ultra-light hold.
3. Paul Mitchell, Spray Wax, £17.50
This innovative fine beeswax provides your hair with 3-dimensional texture and flexible hold to give you a non-oily waxed satin finish. It’s great if you don’t like getting waxy fingers!
4. Boots, Everyday Unperfumed Hairspray Maximum Hold, £1.50
This hairspray is brilliant for this price tag!
5. Hask, Argan Oil from Morocco Repairing Shine Hair Oil Vial, £3.00
This lightweight oil absorbs instantly to provide frizz-free shine without leaving an oily residue. It can be used on both wet and dry hair to create a silky, smooth finish – but avoid the root!
Which hairbrush?
Whether you’re using one hairbrush for the whole head or a couple of hairbrushes (same size) and leaving one in place until it cools while you blow dry another section with a second brush (I like to call this a ‘heated roller brush’), you need to invest in a decent brush!
1. Acca Kappa 12AX 824 High Density Boar Bristle Brush 69mm, £13.80
Easy to use Kotibe Wood handle, with high-density boar bristles mixed with hairdryer resistant nylon.
2. It’s A 10, Miracle Round Brush 25mm, £15.50
This ceramic-coated barrel heats evenly and is ideal for short hair and creating blow-dry curls.
3. Head Jog, Natural Boar Bristle Brush, £5.94 for 1 brush size or £17.99 for set of 3 sizes
Boar bristle is superb for distributing natural oils through hair, leaving it beautifully conditioned with improved texture and reduced frizz.
Clips for sectioning off hair
1. Mermade Hair, Grip Clips, £6 for 4
These clips are so brilliant when I’m working – for me and my clients – or when I need to put Holly’s stylist Danielle’s hair up when she’s getting hot and bothered making last minute outfit adjustments before a live show!
How to use:
- Step 1. Draw a line through your hair with the clip
- Step 2. Pull that section to the side
- Step 3. Secure that section with the clip
- Step 4. Continue with any hair you want sectioned
- Step 5. Blow dry or style hair as desired
2. Amazon: Acehomestore, 3.5” Duck Bill Hair Clips, £3.68 for 12
Any hair stylist or colourist will have these clips floating around in our bags! They are a must for us hairdressers. You can use these clips to hold your rollers or to pin baby hairs away from your face while you’re cleansing or doing your makeup.
Remember…
1. Blow-drying in the opposite direction to the way your hair lays is key! Yes, you will be at all angles but it’s soooo worth it.
2. The more volume and texture you put in, the less flat it will become as the days goes on.
Best of Luck ✌🏼
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Ciler Peksah
Hair Stylist and Consultant
@cilerpeksah_hairstylist
