Master TikTok’s #fakeblowout trend to save $$$
If you’ve ever tried giving yourself a classic round-brush blowout at home, you already know it’s one of those things that looks simple until you’re actually doing it. The brush slips, the dryer angle feels wrong, your wrist starts negotiating its exit, and suddenly the whole thing becomes a bit… ambitious. Most of us don’t want a full-arm workout before 9 a.m.; we just want smooth, bouncy hair that looks intentional.
That’s where the blowout with a straightener steps in. TikTok has basically turned it into a movement, and honestly, it makes sense: it’s a much more practical way to get that lifted, glossy finish without the brush-balancing circus act. A straightener gives you control—you can smooth where you need smooth, add movement where you want movement, and shape the ends without fighting gravity, airflow, or beginner-level coordination.
Once you understand the basic flick-and-glide technique, it becomes one of those styling habits you start doing on autopilot because it’s quick and genuinely easy. So if you’ve been wondering how to do a blowout with a straightener all this time, you’re in the right place.
Why a straightener blowout just ✨works✨
A straightener isn’t the first tool most people imagine when they think “blowout,” but it’s secretly one of the most effective ways to get that smooth, lifted, salon-fresh finish at home. Traditional blowouts usually require coordinating a round brush, a dryer, and sheer willpower; a straightener simplifies the whole process by smoothing and shaping in a single movement.
The science is simple: a straightener applies controlled, even heat from both sides of the hair, which means you can sculpt bends, flips, and volume more precisely than you can with a dryer. It’s why the results often look more polished and reflective—the plates seal the cuticle as you work, giving you that pro-level shine.
It’s also a technique that works on a wide range of hair types. If your hair is naturally straight, it adds shape and bounce. If your hair is wavy or mildly frizzy, it smooths while maintaining movement. If your hair is curly, it gives you the option of a sleeker, round-brush-style finish without actually needing the brush.
The real win? Control. You decide where you want volume, how soft or dramatic the ends should be, and how much bend feels right for you. Once you learn the basic flick-and-glide motion, a straightener blowout becomes one of the easiest, most reliable ways to style your hair without the complexity of a classic blow-dry.
Source: ELLE
Gather your blowout supplies
A great blowout doesn’t start with the straightener; it starts with what you do before the plates ever touch your hair. Prepping properly makes the difference between a smooth, bouncy finish and a style that falls flat (or frizzes) the second you walk out the door. Here’s what you’ll want on standby.
A straightener with rounded edges
You can technically use any flat iron, but rounded or curved edges make a HUGE difference. They let you bend and bevel the hair without creating sharp creases. A 1" or 1.25" plate is the easiest to control for most hair lengths. As always, we’d recommend the TYME Iron Pro for its versatility.
Heat protectant
Non-negotiable. A mist, cream, or serum formula will protect your strands while helping the straightener glide more smoothly. Apply evenly from mid-lengths to ends and brush it through so everything is coated.
A detangling brush or wide-tooth comb
Knots are the enemy of smooth styling. Start with completely detangled hair; it’ll help the straightener move fluidly and reduce tugging.
Sectioning clips
Your blowout will look more structured when you work in layers. Clips help keep everything separated and let you focus on one section at a time without feeling rushed.
Optional but helpful:
- A lightweight mousse or root-lifting spray for volume
- A smoothing cream for frizz control
- Dry shampoo if your roots tend to fall flat
- A flexible-hold hairspray or shine spray for the final step
Prepping takes only a few minutes, but it sets the tone for the entire blowout—and makes the styling process far faster and more predictable.
How to do a DIY blowout with a straightener
Step 1: Start with clean, dry, fully prepped hair
Before you even turn on your straightener, make sure your hair is clean, dry, and evenly coated in heat protectant. The smoother your starting point, the smoother the result. If your roots tend to fall flat, work in a small amount of mousse or a root-lifting spray while your hair is damp. Once everything’s dry, brush it through so you’re starting with tangle-free hair that your straightener can glide over without catching or dragging. This is the “foundation” step that sets you up for that polished, salon-style finish.
Step 2: Section your hair so you’re only working with one layer at a time
Even if you’re tempted to skip it, sectioning makes the entire process easier and way more consistent. Clip the top and middle layers of your hair out of the way and start with the bottom layer. Working in smaller, controlled sections gives you more precision and prevents that uneven “puffy underneath, sleek on top” situation that often happens when you rush through a blowout.
Step 3: Smooth the strand first, then add the bend
For each section, start by running the straightener down the hair once just to smooth everything out. Then, on the second pass, add your bend: clamp near the root, rotate your wrist slightly inward or outward (depending on whether you want a flick or a swoop), and gently glide down the length. This two-pass method gives you a cleaner result because you’re not trying to straighten and shape at the same time. It’s a small detail, but it’s what makes the movement feel easy rather than fussy.
Step 4: Use the “long glide” technique for volume and bounce
To create that signature blowout lift, angle the straightener slightly upward as you move from the root to the mid-lengths, then soften the angle as you reach the ends. This upward glide builds volume without teasing or product overload—it simply encourages the hair to lift away from the scalp in the same way a round brush would. If you want a more dramatic bend, rotate your wrist an extra quarter turn as you move through the mid-lengths.
Step 5: Shape the ends for that salon-style finish
The ends are what make the straightener blowout look intentional instead of accidental. For that polished, bouncy look, turn the straightener gently inward or outward for the last two inches of the hair. If you prefer a more modern, minimal finish, leave the ends straighter with just a soft bevel. The key is to keep the movement fluid—no sharp turns or stops at the bottom. The smoother the motion, the smoother the result.
Step 6: Repeat through each layer, adjusting your bend as you go
As you release each section, move upward through your layers, using the same smooth-pass-then-shape technique. For the top layer, raise the section slightly off the head before gliding the straightener through—this adds lift where most people want volume the most. Alternate the direction of your bends for a more natural, “yes, my hair just does this” look, or keep everything uniform for a classic blowout shape. Both work beautifully; it’s about the vibe you’re going for.
Step 7: Give your face-framing pieces extra attention
These pieces set the tone for the entire style, so take an extra moment here. Glide the straightener through the front sections while sweeping them away from your face to create that effortless, curtain-like movement. If you have shorter layers or curtain bangs, use a quicker glide and a softer bend; they need less heat to hold their shape and look best with subtle movement.
Step 8: Let your hair cool before touching it
Once everything is shaped, resist the urge to immediately rake your hands through it. Cooling is what locks the style in, just like in a traditional blowout. Give it a minute or two while you tidy your counter, check your phone, drink water—anything but touching your curls. Once cool, shake out the roots with your fingers or brush through lightly depending on how polished or undone you want the final look to be.
Step 9: Finish with the right products (nothing too heavy)
To keep the blowout airy and bouncy, use lightweight finishing products. A flexible-hold hairspray will maintain movement without stiffness. A tiny amount of smoothing serum or shine spray can add gloss, but keep it minimal so the hair doesn’t lose lift. If you want extra longevity, mist a little dry shampoo at the roots after the hair cools—it helps maintain volume without building residue.
Source: Instagram
Styling tweaks & variations
One of the best parts about doing a blowout with a straightener is how easy it is to customize the final look. The same technique can give you sleek ends one day, soft bends the next, or full “big hair energy” when you’re in the mood for it. If you want something classic and polished, keep your bends consistent and brush everything together once it cools—this creates that smooth, uniform shape that says “I have my life together today.” For something more relaxed, alternate the direction of your bends as you work through the layers. It breaks up the pattern just enough to give that effortless, slightly lived-in feel without crossing into messy.
If extra volume is the goal, focus on lifting at the roots during your glide and don’t be afraid to use bigger sections toward the top. And if your ends tend to flip wildly in their own direction (relatable), give them an intentional bevel with a slow, gentle curve. You can even add a subtle wave mid-length by rotating the straightener an extra quarter turn—just enough to break up the straight line.
Making your blowout with a straightener last
A great blowout doesn’t need to disappear the moment you go to bed. With a few small habits, you can stretch your straightener blowout into two, three, sometimes even four good hair days. The trick is to protect the shape you created while avoiding anything that weighs the hair down.
Start with sleep: a silk or satin pillowcase is the easiest insurance policy you can buy. It reduces friction so your ends don’t frizz and your bend doesn’t flatten overnight. If you want extra staying power, loosely clip your hair in a “pin curl” shape at the crown or twist it into a very soft, loose bun secured with a silk scrunchie. Tight elastics are the enemy here—they create kinks that no one asked for.
On day two and beyond, dry shampoo becomes your best friend. Apply it before you need it, tapping it into the roots to keep volume lifted. If your lengths start looking a little tired, a quick, low-heat glide with the straightener can revive shape without restyling from scratch. And if frizz creeps in, a tiny amount of lightweight serum will smooth things out without collapsing your bounce.
Smooth, bouncy, done—that’s the straightener advantage
A straightener blowout is one of those techniques that feels almost too simple once you get the hang of it. A flick here, a bend there, a slow glide through the ends—and suddenly your hair looks intentionally styled, even if you only spent a few minutes on it. The real beauty of this method is that it adapts to however you like your hair to look: polished, bouncy, understated, or somewhere in the middle. It’s flexible, predictable, and surprisingly forgiving.
And now that you know how to do a blowout with a straightener—proper prep, the right angles, cooling time, and the lightweight finishing touches—you’ve basically unlocked a salon result using the tool you already own. No round brush choreography required.
So try the steps, tweak the finish, experiment with the volume, and let this become the styling hack you reach for whenever you want that good hair day confidence. Your blowout era officially begins now.