Blow Dry TipsWith Kate Middleton’s blow dried hair making waves in the fashion world, scores of women up and down the country are looking to recreate that look. The ladies who lunch in Made in Chelsea all have gorgeous waves they flick and flit around. But it’s not high society in London who spends the most on their hair and hairdressers.

Scousers top the charts when it comes to blow dries, with a whopping 24% visiting the salon once a week. But our Midlands mavens aren’t far behind, with a fifth of the female population booking in a weekly trip to their salon for a style. So what’s the point of a good blow dry? Are there any other benefits to a bouncing bonce? And how can you save a few pennies and recreate the look at home? Well, just because we’re lovely, we’ll tell you!

Blow dries are a read mood lifter. We’ve all had those days where even after a shower and using uber-expensive products designed for those with limitless finances, our hair still won’t play ball. It usually ends with a frustrated shriek, whipping out a foam doughnut and settling for a bun while cursing those annoying flyaways that just won’t go where you want them.

Now. We’re not saying that Liverpudlian ladies have more bad hair days than anyone in any other city in the UK. But the fact is true: having a blow dry is amazing. Why? Well, not only do you get someone washing, massage and soaping up your hair to perfection (it’s never the same stood in your shower at 7:30 trying to navigate around by touch only because you’ve got shampoo in your eye AGAIN, is it) but including a treatment is a great way to keep your tresses in tip top condition. Not to mention a blow dry can last for days after, making you feel happy and confident. It’s like waking up with that just-stepped-out-of-the-salon feeling.

So what else is a blow dry good for? Well, it’s a great way to spy on us hairdressers. We know having someone new loose on your hair is daunting. So you can have the salon experience without scissors coming anywhere near you. You can get a feel for how friendly we are (we’re a lovely bunch at the Barbarella Hairdressing Salon) and it’s not as costly as a full cut and dry, starting at £13, or the prize of a bottle of Champagne.

As affordable as we are, we know that times are tight. So if you’re counting down the hours and minutes to payday, here are a few tips for getting as near to a salon look as possible:

When your roots are raised and hair is fairly smooth, whack in a few large rollers and heat then for about ten minutes.

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  • Firstly, make sure your hair is clean, with no traces of conditioner left in it at all.
  • Start at your roots pulling upwards to give lift and volume.
  • Section your hair into small pieces and work each bit, starting with the nape of your neck.
  • Using a round brush, pull your hair taught as you blow dry down the length, straightening each strand.
  • When your roots are raised and hair is fairly smooth, whack in a few large rollers and heat then for about ten minutes
  • Spritz with hairspray before removing, and voila! You’ll have bouncing curls.
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So a blow dry isn’t just a wash and a brush. It’s about giving you beauty, confidence and making your week that little bit more glamorous. It’s about making sure you leave with a smile on your face until the next time we see you. And all for the price of a bottle of fizz. We know which one we prefer!