'I can't justify the cost of regular blow dries. Here's exactly how I style my hair at home.'

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If money were no object, I would get two professional blow dries a week. Minimum.

There is no better feeling than having your hair done, you just feel put together and fabulous.

As I don't have an infinite amount of money, I've learnt to do my own hair. And if I do say so myself, I've learnt to do it well. Often people ask if I've been to the hairdresser. When it's just humble old me.

I have naturally curly and frizzy hair, which I love rocking au naturel on a summer beach holiday. But in regular life, I prefer a bouncy, refined-ish curly look with body and a smooth finish.

Watch: The curling action in action for visual learners. Post continues below.

My first rule of at-home hair is I always wash my hair the night before, never the morning of.

The reason? Because I'm not a professional hairdresser, I can never get it as smooth as when it's had time to set overnight.

You'll see below my secret overnight smoothing hack...

How to get a blow dry hair look at home.

L-R Dyson Air Wrap and a very old and very well-used GHD. Image: Supplied

I use a combo of something very old and something new:

A Dyson Airwrap i.d.™ multi-styler. But with this technique, you really don't need a fancy hair dryer at all.

And the old, but gold: The Original GHD Hair Straightener.

We have been going steady for at least 16 years. So much so, one of the plates dangles down and, yes, it's on my list of things that need upgrading and replacing!

But with the right angling, she still does the trick.

Spoiler alert, this is what I use the next day to achieve the curls.

Night-before prep.

On the left is what we have to work with, on the right mid-drying and smoothing. Image: Supplied.

When my hair is damp (not dripping wet), I work in two sections using the Dyson with the brush attachment to dry and smooth it over. This is not when we're trying to achieve hair salon perfection, just nice, dry, and smooth.

My Secret Weapon: A silk sleeping wrap. Mine is no longer available to purchase, but there are heaps available online.

My silky secret weapon. Image: Supplied

Wearing a silk turban right after blow-drying is secretly one of the best hacks for smoothing frizz because it works like a gentle, heat-free "set" that seals your blow dry without flattening it.

Cotton pillowcases act like tiny sandpaper gremlins, creating friction that roughens the hair cuticle. Silk, on the other hand, is smooth enough that your hair glides instead of getting snagged or roughed up.

So it protects your hair and keeps it smooth and glossy for when you wake up.

In the morning.

Mid hair "ribbon curling". Image: Supplied.

The next day, I give my hair another quick blast with the hairdryer, focusing especially around my face where I have tight-set curls along my hairline.

Then, while my trusty (very old) GHD is warming up, I start with the bottom section. I usually work in four layers.

How to curl hair.

To create curls that sweep away from the face using a GHD straightener:

• Clamp the hair around eye level

• Rotate the styler half a turn away from your face

• Glide it down the length in one smooth movement, continuing to turn as you go

Think of it like twisting a ribbon with scissors, but the ribbon is your hair and the scissors are 200°C.

The twisting motion works like curling ribbon: as the hair slides through the plates, it forms a soft, angled wave that naturally flicks outward. I've included a video at the top, in case you, like me, are more of a visual learner.

• Work through all four sections, curling away from your face

• Give each section a spray of hairspray after curling

• Let the curls cool completely before touching them (this helps them set)

The finishing touches.

How the curls look before and after brushing through. Image: Supplied.

Before I leave the house, I finish with some hair oil (not on the roots, this is crucial to avoid looking greasy) and brush through with my fingers so the curls look more natural and less "overdone."

Extra tip: Sometimes, I'll add some root powder to add volume at the roots.

I do this full routine usually once a week, or at most twice a week, depending on what I've got on. Dry shampoo is my second-best friend to stretching it out and keeping it looking fresh in between.

If I have nothing special planned, I simply throw my hair in a bun on top of my head and stretch out hair-washing night for as long as possible.

Because let's be honest, sometimes a chic top knot is all you need, and your hair (and your schedule) will thank you for the break.

For more tried and tested beauty recommendations, listen to the You Beauty podcast or watch You Beauty on YouTube.

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Featured Image: Supplied.