Want to look effortlessly well-groomed without putting loads of gunk in your hair? Give yourself a blow-dry. Achieving an impressively coiffed look, however, takes a little more knowhow than just pointing a hairdryer at your head and hoping for the best. We asked men’s hairstylist Mr Lee Machin for some expert tips.

“A proper blow-dry is a great all-rounder, particularly if you’re in the market for a really natural finish or looking to add some volume to finer hair,” says Mr Machin. “But before you start to blow-dry your hair, make sure to give it a good towel-dry first. You want to start with the hairdryer when your hair’s about 80 per cent dry. It should feel damp, in other words. The mistake most guys make is that they try to dry it straight out of the shower when it’s still soaking wet.”

“Always prep your damp hair with a thickening spray or a salt spray. This gives the hair some ‘grip’ and means you don’t have to use a load of wax as a finishing product. Comb the spray through to evenly distribute the product. If you can, use your fingers to dry into the desired style.”

“To get a good strong quiff, use your fingers to lift your fringe back, then dry at the roots to keep the lift there. Finish off with a matt wax to give extra hold and texture.”

“Use a Denman Vent brush to part the hair and brush through it while you dry. This will smooth the hair and give it a bit of lift and a natural finish. For a finishing product, try Aesop Violet Leaf Hair Balm.”

“To achieve that messed-up, slightly wavy look, you need to massage your head with your fingers while drying. Keep the hairdryer on a low speed setting so the hair can dry as naturally as possible.”