The Best Way to Speed-Dry Your Hair

culled from:.goodhousekeeping.com

Step #1: Let it air dry a bit.
Smoothing out hair that's about 30% dry is faster than tackling it sopping wet, says Alli Webb, cofounder of Los Angeles-based Drybar. So gently towel-dry — or even better, a T-shirt, which will help prevent frizz — apply a lotion or serum (see step #2), comb, and let hair air out for 10 minutes. In the meantime, you can go about your other morning routine. (But don't wait too long: Too-dry tresses resist manipulation.) Then start on your hairline to brush out any cowlicks.
Step #2: Rub on a smoother.
Any blow-dry lotion or serum will help achieve a sleek finish, usually with a dose of a smoothing silicone. But in consumer testing, the Good Housekeeping Institute found that Blow Ready Set Blow Express Blow Dry Lotion ($21, ulta.com), with polymers it claims distribute heat along the hair shaft, also shaved an average of three minutes off drying time.
Step #3: Swap out your brush.
Switch to a ceramic round-barreled brush. It conducts heat and will warm up under the hot airflow of your dryer, reducing blowout time, says Sean Jahanbigloo, co-owner of Juan Juan Salon in Los Angeles. "These brushes usually have fewer bristles than ones made of boar hair (often used for blowouts), allowing for more airflow."
Step #4: Use a strong dryer.
The motor in a professional blow-dryer is three to four times larger and produces more air (hence faster drying) than the one in a consumer model, says Leon Benz, director of marketing/product development at Conair. But they can run upwards of $200. For power on a leaner budget, JF1 John Frieda Full Volume Dryer ($33, amazon.com) has a slightly compact version of a pro motor.
Step #5: Do a semipro job.
"At the salon, we meticulously dry both the top side and the underside of each hair section, for a blowout that lasts for days," says stylist Shuki Almac, of New York City's Warren-Tricomi salon. To smooth tresses for just one day, use the nozzle attachment to focus the airflow on only the top of each section. And if you're super-rushed, brush downward with a paddle brush.