Blow-dry waves — volume that falls softly

Soft blow-dry waves start with the drying, not with the curling iron. First the hair is mostly dried on a medium setting in the direction of growth, so the crown gets volume on its own. Then it is wrapped section by section around a large round brush: the brush goes under the section, the dryer follows over it, and the hair gets direction and bend in one movement. The most important moment comes next. A short blast of cool air sets the shape, and the wave is left to cool before the brush comes out. Release it too early and you take the wave out of the hair. There's no need to comb through: loosening it with your fingers gives the soft, natural fall you see in these photos. Protect the hair from heat beforehand and, in autumn, when damp air flattens volume quickly, finish with a light spray rather than a heavy layer.