How to Get the Perfect Blow Dry

When we heard that trendy Radio Hair Salon was opening a blow dry bar in Fenwick of Bond Street, we were more than chuffed. With locations in London's Broadway Market and Shoreditch, which also happens to be Bumble & Bumble UK's flagship store, Radio's staff are more than experienced when it comes to modern hair trends. We took the opportunity to ask the salon's director, Corrado Tevere, for his top tips on how to achieve the ultimate blow dry... ###### What are your top tips for creating the perfect blow dry? Prepping the hair with the right products is key - use the right hairdryer, brush and hair clips to save time and allow you to work on the hair section by section for a better finish. The level of heat from your dryer is also very important as dry and fine hair types can tolerate less heat than others. Always use a primer for the hair before blow drying, such as Bumble and Bumble’s Prep. My final tip is to be patient and work products consistently through the whole hair before starting the blow dry. ###### What are the best brushes to use when blow drying? Good quality brushes can make such a difference to the finish of your hair. I suggest bristled brushes to add shine and tame really dry hair. Metal round brushes are for big waves and body as they retain heat and put less tension on the hair, but I use Mason Pearson brushes when I want to create straight, sleek looks. ###### Which products should be used to prep the hair before styling? Anything from Bumble and Bumble, depending on the look you want to achieve. Use Tonic Lotion or Prep as your base to prep the hair for heat, while the Thickening Hairspray or Thickening Full Form Mousse are a must for body and control. The Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil is great if you want a silky, smooth finish.

###### We always find it hard to blow dry the back of our head - any tips? Bend forward and rough dry the back of the hair from the neck to the crown, drying it against its natural growth pattern to create lift. Then take big horizontal sections of hair – clipping the rest out of the way – using the brush to smooth the hair from top to tail. Direct the nozzle of the dryer downwards on the hair shaft to help seal the cuticle and get maximum shine. It's not always so easy, but practice makes perfect! ###### What's the best way to avoid the dreaded curl-under when blow drying a fringe? Always blow dry fringes in both directions from left to right and from right to left in order to give lift and movement (rather than under). If you use a brush, make sure it's not too small so that you don’t get too much bounce. If you have curly hair, use a strong holding product like Bumble and Bumble's Styling Creme (£20.50) then start from wet and blow dry against the curl to control it. ###### Which products do you recommend to set the hair after styling? Bumble and Bumble’s Dryspun Finish (£22) is amazing at adding extra body and modern texture to the hair. Or, finish with Does it All Styling Spray (£11) or Classic Hairspray (£10) depending on your hair type to give long-lasting hold. ###### We've heard that you should end your blow dry on the cold setting for extra shine - true or false? It is true. Using very hot air on dry hair as you are finishing your blow dry can lead to frizziness and flyaways. Too much heat not only dries your hair out quicker, but also won’t hold your finished style as well. Dry the majority of your hair on a medium heat, then use the cold setting at the end for a more polished, longer lasting finish.