We’re big fans of letting our hair dry naturally (it is, after all, the easiest way) but there’s something about a fresh blow dry that makes us feel instantly shiny and new.

It’s no surprise that a polished blow out is a go-to look for some of the most recognisable faces, from Claudia Schiffer and Kate Middleton to GH’s own cover star, Nigella Lawson.

We asked the experts how to create the perfect blow dry and here are their top tips.

What do I need for a blow dry?

Before plugging in the hairdryer, make sure you’ve got the following items in your toolkit.

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Detangling brush. Use a brush that’s specially made for wet hair, to minimise breakage. The Manta Brush works on wet and dry hair and is gentle enough for all hair types from Afro to fine.

Hairbrush This is the brush you'll use after detangling and during your blow dry.

Heat protectant i.e a spray or serum to protect hair from heated tools.

Leave-in conditioner For textured and curly hair.

Clips to section hair.

Hairdryer with concentrated nozzle. This slim nozzle helps focus the airflow directly where you want it. Check out the GHI's top hairdryers here.

Hairspray and/or finishing serum

How do I prep my hair for a blow dry?

It’s important to take into account your hair texture and condition before blow drying. In general, it’s best to wait until hair is at least 50-80% dry to reduce heat exposure.

But if frizz is an issue or if you have grey hair that tends to be coarser, L.A-based hairstylist Riawna Capri (she counts Goldie Hawn and Game of Thrones star Natalie Dormer as clients) said, "Don’t rough dry your hair or let it air dry too much. And all hair types should be prepped with a heat protector." She recommends a volumising heat protectant for fine hair or one with smoothing properties to minimise frizz.

For those with curls and coils, Renée Gadar, Aveda's Global Artistic Director for Texture recommends an additional leave-in conditioner (she loves Aveda Nutriplenish) and says it's easiest to blow dry textured hair when it's still wet, before the curl pattern sets in.

Regardless of hair type, make sure to gently detangle any knots before evenly distributing your heat protector. Then, section off your hair and put them up with clips.

How to blow dry hair

Round brushes are great for creating volume and waves but bigger, flat brushes can help give a sleek effect in less time (and are easier to control if you’re not used to round brushes).

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