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How to Blow Dry Hair Without Frizz
Updated on June 10, 2025 | 6 min read
Jaclyn LaBadia, Davines Writer
Frizz, the visible sign of a hair cuticle that has been disrupted by dryness, heat, or environmental stressors like humidity, is a common but unfortunate side-effect of blow drying your hair. When the cuticle lifts, hair becomes porous and vulnerable, leading to strands that stray from their natural pattern, appearing dull, rough, or flyaway instead of smooth and polished.
A frizz-free, silky, salon-blowout is never quite as easy to recreate at-home, but the right products and techniques can make it a lot easier. We’ll tell you how to blow dry hair without frizz, and provide expert tips and product picks for a smooth, sleek blowout every time. Keep reading for everything to know about mastering a frizz-free blow dry.
Key Takeaways
How to Blow Dry Hair Without Frizz
- Frizz is caused by lifted hair cuticles from excess moisture, heat, or friction during blow drying.
- Avoid drying soaking wet hair; let it air dry to at least 70% before using heat.
- Always use a heat protectant to shield strands and lock in moisture.
- Blow dry in the direction of hair growth to smooth the cuticle and reduce frizz.
- Use sulfate-free shampoo and a microfiber towel to protect hair before blow drying.
- Tailor your technique by hair type—straight, wavy, or curly—for smoother results.
- Post-blowout care matters: seal with cold air, use smoothing creams and oils, and sleep on silk pillowcases.
- Use anti-frizz products before and after blow drying to lock in smoothness and shine.
- Avoid harmful ingredients and choose quality tools to extend the life of your blowout.
In This Article
What Causes Frizz When Blow Drying Hair?
How to Blow Dry All Hair Types Without Frizz
How to Blow Dry Straight Hair
How to Blow Dry Wavy Hair
How to Blow Dry Curly Hair
Post Blow Drying Tips
Our Favorite Anti-Frizz Hair Products
Pre-Blowout Products
Post-Blowout Products
Multi-purpose Blowout Products
Blow Dry Best Practices and Takeaways
What Causes Frizz When Blow Drying Hair?
A fair number of things can exacerbate the natural frizz that occurs during the blow dry process including trying to dry hair that’s too wet; using heat that’s too high; using improper tools or technique; and not using any, or using the wrong products. The good news is, now that you know what causes frizz while you blow dry, you know how to avoid it. Let’s dive into it below!
Drying Soaking Wet Hair
The first step to avoiding frizz while blow drying is not starting with sopping wet hair. The wetter your hair, the more fragile it is, so the chance for breakage goes up, along with the potential for frizz.
Hair Pro Tip: Gently towel dry your hair and allow it to air dry up to 70% before blow drying.
Excessive Heat
Excessive heat can deplete your hair's natural moisture, leaving it dry, brittle, and more prone to frizz, especially if it’s fine, dry, or color-treated. Lowering the temperature of your hair dryer reduces the risk of damage, while a good heat protectant forms a barrier that helps lock in moisture and smooth the hair cuticle.
Hair Pro Tip: Saturate clean, damp hair with a heat protectant formulated for your hair type before blow drying.
Airflow Direction
Another must for reducing frizz is to blow dry your hair in the direction that it grows. Blowing your hair in the opposite direction forces the cuticle open and backward, and is the main cause of frizz from blow drying. Blow dry in small sections for a smoother finish in less time.
Hair Pro Tip: Keep an inch between your hair and the dryer as you move through sections with a brush.
Using the Wrong Products
A frizz-free blowout starts with properly caring for your strands before you dry. Your hair products can make or literally break your hair. When you wash, choose a sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner. Sulfates strip the moisture from your hair and compromise the cuticle — both of which contribute to frizz.
Hair Pro Tip: Post shower, use a microfiber towel to dry your hair. These are gentler than cotton towels and don’t rough up the cuticle causing frizz.
How to Blow Dry All Hair Types Without Frizz
Whether you have curly, wavy, or straight hair, you can get smooth, frizz-free results with the right steps. The key is to prep properly, use the right tools, and adjust your technique to suit your texture. These tips will help you get a sleek, long-lasting blowout at home, no matter your hair type.
How to Blow Dry Straight Hair
Blow drying your straight hair doesn’t have to end in frizz and frustration. With the right prep and technique, you can get salon-smooth results at home. Here’s a simple, step-by-step method to achieve sleek, straight hair that lasts.
- Prep clean, damp hair with a heat protectant spray to speed up blow dry time, protect against heat, enhance shine, and extend the duration of your blow dry.
- Once your strands are saturated, separate your hair into 4 or 6 equal sections and blow dry each section once with medium heat, keeping tension on the hair and using a round brush.
- Finish with a cold blast and last pass.
How to Blow Dry Wavy Hair
Want to enhance your natural waves without the frizz? Blow drying wavy hair is all about balancing definition and smoothness. With the right prep and styling approach, you can bring out soft, touchable waves that last all day.
- Start by saturating damp strands with a hydrating and detangling curl primer to protect your waves before drying.
- Gently scrunch your hair to encourage natural waves.
- Place hair into the diffuser attachment on your bow dryer, holding it away from your scalp.
- Hover and move the diffuser around, drying your hair in sections, on low heat and airflow to encourage bends and minimize frizz.
- When your hair is fully dry, go back over sections with cold air to set the waves.
How to Blow Dry Curly Hair
Blow drying curly hair takes a little care, but the results can be beautifully defined, voluminous curls without the frizz. The key is moisture, gentle handling, and the right tools. Follow these steps to dry your curls while keeping their shape, bounce, and shine intact.
- Once your curls are washed, use a microfiber towel or old t-shirt to gently squeeze the excess water out.
- Next, section your hair and apply a defining curl primer to fight frizz while protecting and perfecting your curls. Note the tighter your curls, the more product you’ll need to tame them.
- Let your hair air dry to about 80% before gently diffusing each section of hair. Use low heat and airflow to reduce frizz and encourage natural curl patterns. High heat dehydrates your hair, and curly hair is already notoriously dry.
- Finish each section with a blast of cold to set the curls.
Post Blow Drying Tips
Your post blow dry care is just as important when it comes to how to blow dry hair without frizz. The right finish can seal in shine, reduce flyaways, and help your style last days longer.
Keep your blowout sleek longer with the frizz-fighting hair care tips below.
- Lock in your blow dry and set your style with hairspray.
- Use a smoothing cream to tame flyaways and frizz on the go.
- Keep your ends sealed and smooth with hair oil.
- Sleep on a silk pillowcase to reduce frizz overnight and extend the life of your blowout.
Our Favorite Anti-Frizz Hair Products
The best products to keep your strands sleek, smooth and frizz-free after a blowout are ones that hydrate, protect, seal the cuticle and repel humidity.
The Davines line of heat protectant products offers several styling benefits in addition to heat protection and come in several different forms to keep your hair healthy while you blow dry. And bonus, all Davines products are free of harmful ingredients that can strip your strands of their much needed moisture — one less thing to worry about when it comes to avoiding frizz! These are a few of our favorites for extending the life of your blowout.
- Lock in your blow dry and set your style with hairspray.
- Use a smoothing cream to tame flyaways and frizz on the go.
- Keep your ends sealed and smooth with hair oil.
- Sleep on a silk pillowcase to reduce frizz overnight and extend the life of your blowout.
Pre-Blowout Products
The right prep products not only protect your hair from heat damage but also reduce frizz, cut down on drying time, and help your style hold its shape. Treat your hair to these products before a blow dry for premium results.
- Use This is a Primer to prep your hair for the perfect blowout. It serves as a heat protectant spray, an anti-humidity barrier and a shine-enhancer, reducing styling time.
- Use LOVE CURL Primer before you blow dry to encourage your natural curl pattern, detangling and making styling easier. With an anti-humidity and anti-frizz effect, ideal for wavy hair.
Post-Blowout Products
Keep your blowout looking fresh, smooth, and frizz-free with the right post-styling products. These finishing touches help lock in moisture, tame flyaways, and add lasting shine.
- Use Oi Oil after your blowout to seal your ends and keep your strands glossy while fighting frizz and adding moisture and shine.
- Use This is a Perfecting Hairspray to lock in your blowout and keep flyaways smooth and out of sight.
Multi-purpose Blowout Products
Some products can help your hair look its best before and after a blow dry. Check out our top pick below.
- Use LOVE Smoothing Perfector to smooth frizz, tame unruly hair and protect your hair before drying. You can also use it to tame flyaways after a blowout.
All of the above products’ formulas are free of toxins, use natural ingredients and are made sustainably.
Blow Dry Best Practices and Takeaways
A salon quality blowout that’s sleek and has staying power can be hard to pull off at home. Frizzy strands are often a direct result of blow drying. If you’re wondering how to blow dry hair without frizz, using the right products and hair tricks are key.
- Stay away from sulfates and cotton towels.
- Don’t blow dry hair that’s too wet.
- Use the proper blow dry technique with the appropriate tools, heat protectants and stylers for your hair type.
Follow these tips to frizz-proof your blowout and use only high quality tools and formulas free of harmful ingredients to keep your hair smooth before, during and after blow drying.
Davines products for frizzy hair are designed to hydrate, protect, seal the cuticle and repel humidity, while keeping your strands sleek, for a blowout that not only lasts- but you can feel good about!
Want to leave it to the professionals? Visit your local Davines salon and get the perfect blowout for your hair type and needs.
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