There’s a strange mental countdown that starts the moment you leave the salon with picture perfect hair. For anyone who grew up with stubborn, tikwas strands, part of it is knowing that the confidence that came with your fresh blowout is one wash away, and the other is dreading the inevitable moment you have to recreate magic by yourself.

Then comes the post-haircut shower: You’re standing in front of your vanity with a blower and brush in hand, trying to remember exactly how your directed the wind to make your hair fall into place. You remember the finished look, but not quite how you got there. How did they get my hair to look like that?

Getting that salon finish isn’t exactly a walk in the park at first, but it’s not rocket science either. Celebrity Paul Nebres believes the difference comes down to building the right habits and using the right tools. At the Dyson x BETTERHAIR styling masterclass, Nebres spoke to Allure Philippines about the mistakes that can get in the way of recreating a salon-worthy blowout—and the changes that can make styling your own hair easier. 

Mistake #1: You’re not using your tools properly

Why does salon hair have so much more movement and bounce?

“I feel like it’s how people use the tool,”

That salon bounce doesn’t always come from some complicated technique reserved for professionals. Knowing how to handle your tools—and investing in ones that work well—can make styling at home much easier.

Mistake #2: You’re using the wrong tool

What’s the biggest mistake people make when blow-drying their hair at home?

If there’s one beauty tip Nebres will continue advocating for: it’s getting investing in the tools. “Usually, we tend to buy the cheaper alternatives because it’s, well, cheaper, and we don’t know if it works well,” he says.

It’s easy to think that any blow-dryer will do the job, but the tool you use can make a difference in how you style your hair. Rather than constantly replacing cheaper tools, Nebres also recommends investing in something that works well and can hold up over time.

Mistake #3: You’re using too much heat

Are people using too much heat on their hair?

“Usually, the problem people have with haircare products is they use too much heat, especially here in the country,” he says.

His advice is simple: use a heat protectant when you’re styling with heat, and be mindful of how often and how intensely you’re using it. A good styling routine should help you get the look you want without leaving your hair feeling more stressed afterward.

Mistake #4: You’re choosing based on price, not what your hair needs

What’s one thing people should invest in when it comes to styling their hair?

“Invest in something that is of quality.” 

The celebrity understands the appeal of buying whatever is practical and affordable, but he thinks it’s worth looking beyond the price tag. “Especially now, we keep on buying for practicality. But we don’t know how long it will last.”

He applies the same thinking to haircare, too. With so many products available, the better buy isn’t necessarily the cheapest one or the one everyone happens to be talking about—but the one that works for your hair type. “There are so many hair [care] brands in the Philippines, but we don’t know if it’s made for Filipino hair,” he says.

Mistake #5: You’re skipping hair prep

If you could give our readers one styling technique to copy at home, what would it be?

Before getting into the actual styling, Nebres wants us to pay attention to what happens beforehand. “I think prepping your hair is really important,” he says.

That can mean properly blow-drying your hair or using products such as heat protectants, oils,  or dry shampoo, depending on what your hair needs. Hair prep gives your styling a better foundation—and it’s an easy step to overlook when you’re simply trying to get your hair to cooperate for the day. 

So before you pick up the brush and start fighting with your frizz, start with the prep. It might be the part of your routine that makes the rest feel a little less like a fight.

Frequently Asked Questions

Celebrity hairstylist Paul Nebres attributes the gap mainly to technique, not talent — how the blow-dryer is angled and moved through hair matters as much as the tool itself. Skipping hair prep and using underpowered tools also keep at-home blowouts from holding salon-level bounce and movement.

According to Nebres, it’s defaulting to the cheapest blow-dryer available without knowing whether it actually performs well. He recommends investing in a quality tool that holds up over repeated use, rather than replacing a budget option every time it underperforms or breaks down.

Nebres advises using a heat protectant whenever styling with heat, noting that overuse of heat — especially common in the Philippines’ climate — is a frequent haircare problem. Being mindful of both frequency and intensity of heat exposure helps prevent unnecessary stress on the hair.

Nebres says quality should come before price, since cheaper alternatives often don’t specify whether they’re suited to a given hair type. He points out that many haircare brands sold in the Philippines aren’t necessarily formulated for Filipino hair, making informed product choice worth the investment.

Nebres identifies hair prep as the step most people skip. This can include properly blow-drying in stages or applying products like heat protectants, oils, or dry shampoo beforehand — giving the rest of the styling routine a stronger foundation to work from.