The "perfect blowout" has eluded me for years. My relationship with my hair has been a mountainous one, and I can tell if it's a good day or a bad day by the way my hair looks. It's frizzy and dry. It seems to irritate me from breakfast to dinner. Now that I can no longer get a quick ego fix at the local blow bar, it's finally time to learn how to treat my hair. (Opens in new tab) Think of the plus side of this: you can use your favorite regular supplies (opens in new tab) and you don't have to worry about heat damage. Every time I see a flat iron in the salon cranked up to 450°, I either have to endure the burn on the ends of my hair or endure the embarrassment of having the heat turned down. At home" 360° is enough for me.

Since the salon seems like a distant memory now, I thought I'd bring it to you, J.Lo, Chrissy Teigen, and ...... Ah, it's me. He's the only one allowed to cut my hair after I gave myself a nasty chop (Juan Carlos, sorry.

Undeniable fact: Luscious hair starts with healthy hair. If you, like me, have been doing things that are not kind to your hair for years (hi, bleach, heat tools, dry shampoo more often than wet shampoo), there is no need to panic. Just because we aren't always gentle with our hair doesn't mean it's impossible to keep it looking good. Regular trimming is an effective way to keep the ends of your hair looking fresh. But if you don't want to take out the scissors right now, hair masks, treatments, and excellent shampoos and conditioners can make your hair look healthier.

And really, what else are you doing right now?""We always complain that we don't have enough time to pamper ourselves," Juan Carlos notes. Now is the time to address the two most important issues affecting our hair: health and moisturizing. Some masks only need to be worn for 20 minutes, while others can be worn overnight for intensive repair. The Olaplex Mask (open in new tab) ($56) is my personal favorite. Use it on the length of your hair and leave it on as long as you have time.

Once you've washed your hair with shampoo and conditioner, let's get down to the business of fixing your hair problems (frizz, dryness, damage). No, don't reach for the hot tools just yet. Just as you wouldn't take an exam before properly preparing your hair, your hair needs to be properly prepped before you even think about approaching your hair with heat.

The type of prep needed depends on the hair type. Juan Carlos recommends using a firming product for those with fine hair, and a straightening or moisturizing product for those with coarse or unruly hair. His personal favorite is Milbon's Restorative Blowout Primer (opens in new tab). After applying the styling product of your choice, apply heat.

Now that you've treated your hair like a princess, it's time to get down to business. If you're like me, blow-drying your own hair may feel like an arm workout. But for beginners who aren't yet used to maneuvering tools on their heads like a trapeze rider, Juan Carlos has a few tips to make the process easier:

I myself use industrial hair clips ($16) like the DryBar (opens in new tab) I find it easiest to use them to separate my hair into manageable sections. I finish the top layer of hair first, then go back to the bottom layer and work my way up. Manipulating the brush and dryer at the same time takes practice, and at first it may feel like a strain on your delicate biceps. But it definitely makes it easier, and you get to flex your muscles and get out of quarantine, so it's a win-win situation.

If you are stuck indoors with your partner, they can help you. Before I could do it myself, I used a brush or had my boyfriend change the angle of the dryer nozzle. Romance.

Once your hair is completely dry (not 90% dry, but completely dry), you can add a styling product, such as a flat iron or curling wand if that's your usual style. Don't forget to spray heat protectant for safety.

Once your hair is blow-dried and gorgeous, you can add a little product at the end to reduce split ends, tame split ends, and make your style last longer. Juan Carlos explains, "We do so much damage to our hair with tools and chemicals that repair is essential." Take your favorite hair oil or moisturizing cream and apply it to the middle and ends of your hair. There are some incredible new products on the market that will keep your hard work fresh for several nights.

Rinse and Repeat: When it's time to wash your hair next, apply a repair mask before you shower to keep your hair nourished and cared for, and restore volume like Victoria's Secret.

Hairstylists, salon employees, and small businesses are really suffering right now. It's great to be able to beautify yourself at home, but if you can, please support small businesses and your go-to salon; companies like R+Co are working hard to help people and businesses by making their favorite products available at local salons. (opens in new tab) We all need to take care of each other in these scary times. So, with your beautiful new 'do, try to spread the love to others, whether it be buying small business gift cards to use in the future or just being super understanding to those who may be having a difficult time.

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