I am the queen of the blowout (looking good is part of my job). I have had one in almost every state in the Union and in quite a few cities abroad. Some have been amazing -- my idea of hair heaven -- and others were more like hair hell. So, to keep myself from being disappointed when I plop into a new stylist's chair, I've come up with a few tips that pretty much guarantee a great result.

To get a heavenly blowout every time:

1. Speak Your Mind: Make sure you tell your stylist how you want your hair to look. Beachy waves, sleek, lots and lots of volume, bend at the ends -- these are all key terms to help your stylist know how he should approach the task at hand. Each blowout has a different technique, so stop your stylist and have a chat if he doesn't ask you what you want before starting the job.

2. Make Sure You Get Dried in Sections: It should be an immediate red flag if your stylist doesn't section your hair before starting. Sectioning hair allows for a better blowout because the different areas -- part, crown, hairline, etc. -- can be treated individually. Sectioning also allows your stylist to focus on small sections at a time, which is what you want for the sleekest, smoothest, longest-lasting blowout.

3. Ask for Different Brushes: No matter what length your hair is, a good blowout requires the use of a few different brushes. A paddle brush for smoothing, a large round brush for adding bend at the ends, and so forth. Some stylists take what I call the "lazy approach" and rough dry hair with fingers and then go back and add bend. But that adds up to a waste of time and money. Definitely request they use an actual brush from the start -- your blowout will last longer and look better.

4. Insist On a Cool Down: Always make sure your stylist finishes your blowout on a cool setting to help close the hairs' cuticle. This will help your style hold and keep frizz at bay.

Can't afford to get your hair blown out on a regular basis? You're so not alone. Good thing the ponytail is officially cool!