Dry, dull hair when straightened — is a salon blowout worth it? (first time)

Hi everyone,

I have long, thick 2C-ish wavy/curly hair. I like my natural curls as they look healthier but they get frizzy and annoying after a couple days, so I’ve been trying to switch things up and get a smoother, salon-style blowout look. I also feel like it'd be a game-changer.

My issue is my hair always ends up looking dry, dull, and puffy, especially when I straighten it. I’ve tried heat protectant, oil, small sections, chase method, etc. and it still doesn’t come out shiny or smooth/sleek like I want it to. I lowkey gave up doing it myself... not to mention the amount of time it takes.

I’m thinking of going to a salon for the first time for a blowout or something related but I'm not even sure (no dye, no extensions, nothing permanent) and maybe a trim since my ends feel dry.

I had a few questions:

• Is a salon blowout actually worth it for this kind of hair?
• Will it realistically give that smooth, shiny “healthy blowout” look, or is that unrealistic?
• Does it actually improve how your hair looks/feels over time or is it just styling?
• Should I slowly start learning to use a round brush myself instead of relying on salons right away?
• How often do people usually go to the salon for blowouts like this?

I’m even considering going monthly if it helps, but I’m not sure if that’s normal or worth it.

Would really appreciate honest advice, especially from people with similar hair types.