Hair is back! Of course, our hair never actually left. But it is certainly taking on more of a leading role when it comes to our beauty looks. Combining a revival of social calendars with the surge in scalp care and hair care, we have never been so laser-focused on experimenting and caring for our tresses. More so, in a time of profound optimism, we have seen an even greater return to the bouncy blow-dry. Swish, swish, bish!

About as ‘90s nostalgic as we can get, the bouncy blow dry takes drying your hair one step further–think supersized sculpted waves, layers of body and plenty of bounce. But, for many, achieving a salon-quality blow dry seems only possible with the famed Dyson Airwrap. “The Dyson Airwrap technology uses a spinning vortex-like motion to attract the hair to wrap around the tool’s barrel, which creates a curl using air,” explains celebrity hairstylist, Carly Bethel. “This helps create a bouncy curl because extra hot tools do not weigh it down.” However, despite their innovative technology and cult hair tool status, they aren’t really affordable. And so, we took to the stylists and hair hacks on TikTok (the blow dry masses over 582 million views) to learn how to create the covetable blow dry without a Dyson Airwrap in sight.

“A great way to achieve a bouncy blow dry is using a blow dryer and a round brush,” shares Bethel. The secret is to “pin each section with a duckbill clip after it’s blow dried.” Carly recommends applying the Bumble & Bumble Thickening Full Form Soft Mousse to the roots, R&Co Dallas Thickening Spray to the mid-lengths and the Oribe Straight Away Smoothing Blowout Cream to smooth the ends before blow drying can commence. Once all the products are worked into the hair, blow dry your hair section by section using a round brush and pin each section in place. “Make sure to leave the hair pinned until it is completely cooled. Once it’s cooled, spray a hairspray on the hair from roots to ends after releasing each section for extra hold!”

Rollers are the trusted hair tool to achieve a bouncy blow dry, standing the test of time. And despite what you may think, it works on all hair types, you just have to find the right tools for you. 

Straight and fine hair types: Maximise roots with volumising primers and creams

Wavy hair types: Start with styling spray or cream for additional volume

Curly and coily hair types: Use olive oil moisturiser, high-power straighteners, and frizz-fighting products for a smooth, silky blow out.

Heating your hair is critical, so take a straightener or curler to the hair before wrapping and pinning in the roller. For additional volume, blast the rolled hair with warm heat on the blow dryer before allowing it to cool down and letting it go entirely. If you have heated rollers, you can essentially roll the hair in place and pin it until thoroughly cooled et viola!

Cutting out the middleman, the blow dry round brush saves the two-step heat styling needed to create the bouncy curls. Allowing your hair to partially dry, you’ll want to spritz through your favourite heat protectant to protect the strands. Then, section your hair (ideally one to two inches thick) using claw clips and quickly swoop through with a brush to release any tangles. Take your heated brush to the ends of your hair and roll it up, wrapping your hair around the brush until the barrel is at your roots. Hold for 15-20 seconds and slowly unravel the brush downwards. Repeat the process to all sections. Lock everything in with hair serum, high-shine spray and volume spray at the roots.

If you prefer sleek, bouncy waves, your straighteners are the perfect tool to help achieve a blow dry. With your straighteners, you want to avoid taking the iron down the hair but instead, rotate your straighteners in an ‘s’ curl down the hair strands. Mimicking what a round brush or Airwrap tool does, you’ll create a natural bounce to your hair. For additional fullness and bounce, apply volumising products at your roots.

Like your hot round brush and straighteners, you want to start with the hair semi-wet before applying a heat protectant. Starting with your curling wand, work the tool up your hair and hold it at the root for 15-20 seconds. Pin the curl before moving on instead of wrapping your hair around the curler. However, if you require more volume, slowly unwrap the curl while warm and take it back up with your rollers and allow it to completely cool. Once cooled, unwrap, comb through and set with hairspray. 

IF YOU’RE INTO YOUR WIGS: All of these blow dry hacks will work just as well but ensure to either lay and grip your wig securely beforehand. You may also find you need to re-lay afterwards, but a bouncy blow dry will give your wig the life it needs, lasting three to five days.