IT’S always the same. Try as you might, you can’t recreate the fantastic finish on your hair at home that your hairdresser magics-up when you’re at the salon.

With the festive season just around the corner, now is the time to brush up on your blow-drying skills.

The team at Saks Northallerton have put together a “how-to” guide on creating three perfect blow-dries.

“Women visiting Saks salons nationwide generally want one of three different versions of a straight blowdry,”

says Wilson Derbyshire, franchisee of Saks Northallerton.

“Straight hair’s still hugely popular.

It makes a woman feel glamorous, chic and polished. However, there are different ways of blow-drying your hair so you don’t always have to wear it completely straight. You may prefer to create volume or even curl with our blow-dry menu.”

THE ITALIAN

WITH loads of volume and glamorous waves this blow-dry is starting to become more popular than the American. Apply mousse to the roots then blow-dry the hair upside down until almost dry to create volume.

Then, section by section, wrap the hair round a large round brush, blow-dry and then carefully untwirl to keep the curls. Gently run fingers though the hair to make waves instead of ringlets and finish with hairspray.

Tools required: Saks Hot Curl Brush (available in small, medium and large) Products: L’Oreal Professionnel Tecni.art Volume Lift spray mousse and L’Oreal Professionnel Tecni.art Air fix hairspray

THE BRITISH

THE hair is worn flat to the head, completely straight from root to tip.

It’s not the most forgiving of blowdries so is best suited to those under 30 or who have more perfect features.

Section off the hair and dry as smoothly as you can. Start at the back and work your way round to the front. This way if you start getting bored or tired half way through your blow-dry you’re less likely to give up – as you won’t want the front of your hair looking worse than the back.

Other way round and you might be more inclined to give up – out of sight, out of mind.

To create the perfectly straight look, finish with straighteners.

Tools required: Saks Large Paddle Brush and Saks MicroIonics Straighteners.

Products: Kerastase Serum Nutri- Sculpt to smooth dry ends.

THE AMERICAN

STRAIGHT again, but with a looser finish than the British and half-aninch lift at the roots. In order to gain extra boost at the crown back-brush the hair underneath, once dry, while leaving the top layers smooth, so the hair looks shiny.

Tools required: Saks Large Hot Curl Brush (the metal barrel heats up to help with styling).

Products: L’Oreal Professionnel tecni.art Volume Lift spray mousse (spray onto roots before drying) The best way to learn how to create any of these looks is to visit your nearest Saks salon.

Log on to saks.co.uk or visit the team at Saks Northallerton and ask for a lesson. Call 01609-771477 for an appointment.

Once you’ve learnt the perfect blow-dry for you, you can practise it at home.

Of course, the most important tool for all three looks is the hair dryer – try the Saks Dryer (£38, pictured right). With an ultra long flex, this sleek, black, rubber-covered dryer is used in Saks salons for hours on end every day so is incredibly durable, hard-wearing and effective.