Everyone knows that your hair looks its best when you step out of a salon. The problem is, trying to replicate that look every day when getting ready. When I heard that Anthony Lombardi of the Style Network’s hit show Jerseylicious was doing blowout sessions at his salon the Anthony Robert Salon in Verona, NJ, I had to inquire.

Anthony came up with a great idea! Clients can come in and schedule a blowout session with him and he will teach them how to replicate the look using the tools and products they already own. I thought this was fantastic! I could learn how to get great hair by doing it myself with the tools I already have. What girl doesn’t want to wake up, get ready and look like they just stepped out of a salon? I sound like a commercial.

Since I was long overdue for a haircut, I figured I would kill two birds with one stone and make a haircut appointment and blowout lesson with Anthony. I couldn’t wait to see him again! When I met him at the Jerseylicious premiere, he was so nice and such a down to earth guy.

The hubs and I arrived to the Anthony Robert Salon and was greeted with such enthusiasm and a hug from both Anthony and Jeff, who is a stylist there.  Anthony invited me to have a seat and we discussed what I wanted to do with my hair. I told him that I am growing it long again and was looking for a little trim. I needed a sprucing up and maybe some layers, but not too Jennifer Aniston first season Friends!  Anthony laid out the styling tools I brought with me. I felt the need to explain why I had each item. But he guessed them right on! The wide tooth comb is for detangling after a shower, the boar bristle round brush is for styling while blow-drying and the other brush is just to detangle throughout the day. Ok, he knows what he’s talking about!

I headed off to the shampoo area where Jeff did my shampoo. Then back to the chair where Anthony would snip and cut away. Once he was finished cutting, Anthony said you shouldn’t blow-dry immediately after a shower. Once you take a shower, towel dry your hair, keep a towel on it, do a few things and then blow-dry. You should be able to wring your hair and it not be dripping. It should be damp. Anthony then sprayed a Bio-Ionic leave-in conditioner in my hair, followed by the Bio-Ionic Thermal-Active Bodifying Blow-Dry Spray and finished with a dime size amount of Moroccan Oil. The blow-dry spray will add texture to hair but not leave it sticky or hard to manage. I told him that in the past I’ve bought tons of products to use before blow-drying, but that I can never get a brush through because the product leaves my hair sticky and tough. He assured me this product would not do that. The Moroccan Oil is meant to give your hair a little shine and help to create the look you are going for.

Anthony then grabbed a few hair clips and sectioned my hair off. He said to always blow-dry your hair in ¼” sections. This will help from getting your hair tangled in the brush. He said the back of your hair is typically the hardest for most people to do because of the angle, so people should do the back first and then work forward. Anthony grabbed a section of hair on the back of my head, his blow-dryer and couldn’t stress enough how important it is to keep the nozzle on your blow-dryer. You know what I’m talking about ladies. You buy a new blow-dryer. It comes with a diffuser and this other nozzle looking thing. The nozzle thing goes in the trash. Right? That’s what I’ve always done. But we can no longer do that. That nozzle is what helps to isolate the hair you are trying to blow-dry so your hair doesn’t blow everywhere. It keeps it all together.

When working on each section of hair it is important to, again keep the nozzle on your blow-dryer, and work from your roots down with your brush and blow-dryer. If you are looking for more volume hold a section straight up, bring your round brush to the root and blow dry out. Make sure your blow-dryer isn’t right up against your hair, give it some space.

Anthony worked on the left side of my hair and once he showed me the proper technique, I mimicked his work on the right side of my head. I’m not as coordinated as Anthony with holding a dryer in one hand and a brush in another and working quickly. I kept having to put the dryer down to get my brush just right and meanwhile shooting all the hot air from the dryer right on to Anthony. Sorry Ant! By the end of my lesson, I was a pro. Ok, maybe not a pro, but I was able to blow-dry my hair without constantly putting my dryer down. Anthony and Jeff were very supportive and gave me positive feedback throughout my lesson.

Once my hair was dried and blown out, Anthony applied SemÍ DÍ LÍno Diamante™ Cristalli Liquidi, an illuminating serum to add some shine to my new do. I immediately recognized the smell of the product. I said this smells so good. Everyone agreed. It reminded me of boy’s in the 80’s wearing Drakkar Noir. Remember those days? Not only did my hair look amazing, but it smelled amazing too.

I was thrilled with my new do and my blowout lesson. I really learned a ton! I gave Anthony and Jeff a hug and was on my way, but before I left, Anthony gave me a great summertime tip. If you aren’t able to rinse off after a swim in the pool, mix a bit of conditioner with water into a spray water bottle and spritz your hair after swimming. This will help rid your hair of some chlorine from the pool and help to keep your hair healthy and shiny and not dull and fried.

Ladies… I highly recommend that you schedule an appointment with Anthony Lombardi of the Anthony Robert Salon for a blowout session. You already have the tools, now you need to learn the technique. Don’t you want to be able to style your hair like you just stepped out of a salon every morning?

To schedule your appointment call the Anthony Robert Salon at (973) 857-1922.

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