Is It Bad to Blow Dry Hair? [Tips to Blow Dry Hair without Damage]
Hairstyling and hair drying has always been the most favorite for most of us. Thus, the blow dryer was on top of the list of hair tools to many. Excessive usage or regular blow-drying can have adverse effects on the hair and that is what we will discuss in this article.
Before we head to the main topic, you need to know that blow-drying and air drying are two different things. One is manmade and another is natural. Some are often confused when these words are used in hair treatment/styling.
If you have to compare the two, air drying is safer. The only issue with air drying is that the moisture stays in the scalp. Thus, the hair is likely to develop knots and look greasy at the same time.
On the other side, blow-drying the hair too much can be bad too! Excessive heating and brushing too hard can extract the entire moisture making the hair dry and weak.
Is it bad to blow dry your hair?
Most hair experts will not advise you to blow dry your hair frequently. Blow-drying too much can cause dullness, frizziness, dryness, and brittleness. People will have different opinions based on their hair type and quality.
To be honest, it doesn’t matter whether you blow dry your hair once a week, twice a week, or occasionally. The fact is, every time you blow dry, it is likely to cause damage to your hair.
The only way that we see getting out of the damages due to blow drying is by taking proper care of your hair. You must follow a good haircare routine. Above all the side effects, it is still impossible to neglect those gorgeous looks that you get from blow-dry.
Is it fine to blow dry hair every day?
No good hair expert will advise that! Exposing the hair to heat every day will cause severe damages to the hair and scalp.
The heating tools like a blow dryer dries out the hair extracting all the oils. Your hair will lose its shine and luster. These are more likely to break too. You need to be picky on events and occasions when you feel necessary to blow dry your hair.
The type of blow dryer also makes a big difference. Choosing a good technology blow dryer will cause less damage to your hair and hair cuticles. However, the damage will still be there but, the severity will be less.
If you still intend to blow dry your hair every day, choose a blow dryer that has special features like speed settings, heat settings, and more. Other than the dryer, choose a good hairbrush that helps to add bouncy volume to the hair.
Can you blow dry hair after drying it?
We don’t advise you to do that. It will anyway be pointless to dry your hair when it is already dry. Exposing the dry hair to heat will make your hair easily prone to dullness, dryness, brittleness, and breakage. You need to understand the right ways to blow dry your hair.
Other than the perfect blow dryer, suitable tools, and attachments, you need to know the right way of blow-drying your hair.
From choosing the hairbrush to making hair sections, everything makes a big difference in keeping your hair protected from the heat.
Process to prepare for blow dry
We have divided the preparation into two sections, preparation for hair and preparation for blow dry. We hope that helps you to understand the pre-care of blow-drying.
Prepare your hair
- Wash your hair with shampoo and conditioner. If possible, using an alcohol-free and sulfate-free shampoo would be wise.
- Apply a hair mask for deep conditioning for at least 10 minutes. This will help to nourish your hair and make it soft and smooth.
- You may also apply a smoothing cream or leave-in conditioner to the ends of the hair to avoid dryness caused due to blow dryer.
- Spray your hair before starting the blow dry process. Hair spray helps to add volume to the hair without making it look sticky.
Start the blow dry
- Always blow dry your hair upside down.
- Continue using the dryer until it is 70% dry.
- Use a round brush always to blow dry the hair. Try the pull & roll technique by making small sections. Roll your hair toward the root and pull it back to the end of your hair while you blow dry.
- Always point the nozzle of your hairdryer in the downward direction i.e. reaching the ends of your hair. This will keep your hair free from frizz.
- Don’t forget to dry your roots with cold air always. You should allow your roots to cool than heating up.
- If you wish to get straight hair from blow dryer, you need to pull your hair tighter with the support of a hairbrush. The tighter you pull your hair; the dryer will make your hair straighter.
- Practice is the key! Practice different techniques of blow-drying that differ from big, bouncy, curly hair to straight, thin, and frizzy hair.
Process to Blow Dry Straight Hair [Applicable for Natural Hair, Layered Hair, Thin Hair & Fine Hair also]
You must choose an 1800 watts or closer hairdryer. Medium heat is generally recommended for hair drying. Always use a nozzle attached to the dryer so that your hair can smoothly dry and stay protected from the direct heat of the dryer.
*This method is also applicable on natural hair, short straight hair, layered hair, thin hair, and fine hair.
Items Required:
- Dryer
- Nozzle
- Hair clips
- A round hairbrush
- Mousse
- Cream
- Hair spray
Steps:
- Towel dry your wet hair and soak up excess water from the hair.
- On high airspeed and medium heat settings, blow dry your hair.
- Use hair clips to secure your hair from the damage of hair dryer. Clip up your hair on the top side of your crown.
- Start drying with lower layers taking support of the hairbrush.
- While drying, point the nozzle downwards for smooth and shiny results.
- Now blow dry the hair that you clipped from the crown. If you wish to add volume to the hair, focus on the roots. Make use of the hair brush to pull hair back and use the dryer back and away.
- Remove all the clips and flip the hair back. Apply the hair cream or a good hair mist along with the blow dryer to set the hair properly.
Recommended Hair Dryers to Blow Dry Straight Hair:
Process to Blow Dry Curly Hair [Applicable for Thick Hair, Frizzy Hair, Short Curls, Long Curls and Dry Hair also]
For curly hair, a dryer must have power limits of 1400 watts or less. Curls need low temperature over high as in straight hair. Thus, you must set the settings of your blow dryer to either low or medium.
*This method is also applicable on thick hair, frizzy hair, short curls, long curls, and dry hair.
Items Required:
- Dryer
- Diffuser
- Conditioner
- Leave-in Gel
- Finisher
Steps:
- Apply a leave-in conditioner on wet hair before you begin the drying process. The leave-in conditioner will help the moisture to stay in the hair strands during the drying process.
- Post conditioner; apply the gel dividing the hair into 4 equal sections. Move your hands inside the hair and shake your hands. The curls will spring back up to their natural shape.
- Set the temperature of your dryer to medium or low heat and the airspeed to medium.
- Use the diffuser at the roots. While you blow dry the curls, move the diffuser on your roots until they are dry.
- Take pea-size oil or a drop of pomade on your palm and rub your hands gently. Rub your hair with your hands and allow the curls to flow from your hair. This will add fullness to your curls.
Recommended Hair Dryers to Blow Dry Curly Hair:
Important tips to avoid damage to your hair while blow dry hair
To have a professional blow dry looks, you don’t have to be at the salon every time. With little tips and techniques, you can be a pro in blow-drying at home too!
Also, use low heat as much as possible as high temperature can damage your hair structure and texture. There are many essential tips on blow-drying to avoid damage to the hair.
The below listed tips are discussed and shared by professional hair stylists:
- Begin gently. Squeeze out excess water before blow-drying.
- Use a wide-toothed comb always to detangle the hair.
- Dry the hair for 15 minutes before you begin the blow-drying.
- Always set the temperature of blow dryer to a level that your skin can manage.
- Use a dryer that has a thermo protect feature to protect your hair from excess heat exposure.
- Hold the hair dryer at a distance of 15 cm away from your hair. Also, hold it downwards always.
- Read the manual that you receive with the blow dryer thoroughly. Every blow dryer will have separate settings and some distinct features.
Common mistakes to avoid during Blow Dry Hair
Before we leave you with your blow dryer, take a look at some of the most common mistakes to avoid in blow-drying:
1. Using the wrong hair comb/brush
The hair is wet before blow-drying and thus it stretches much. Using a paddle brush may not be the right choice.
2. Not allowing the air to air dry
Many people don’t do that! Allowing the hair to air dry can prevent the hair from future damages due to blow dry. By naturally air drying the hair, you will speed up the blow-drying process.
3. You are blow-drying from tip to roots
The right way to do it is from root to tip and not vice-versa. Always begin from the front and crown and then go down to the roots of your hair.
4. Setting the blow dryer at high temperature
Most of us often make this mistake as we don’t wish to run late to reach the office. Setting the blow dryer at a high temperature can lead to hair loss and extreme hair dryness. Keeping the temperature on medium or low is a wise thing to do.
5. Skipping to use a good heat protectant
Most hairstylists will apply a good heat protectant on your hair before beginning the blow-drying process. You have to do the same!
Recommended Heat Protectants:
Final Words:
Now that you know the entire process of blow-drying, keep these handy and continue with confidence. We have already shared the risks and precautions involved with blow-dry.
We still suggest you avoid the frequency of blow-drying and stick to air drying or natural drying as much as possible. Buy the right tools and attachments for healthy and shiny hair. For any other in-depth information related to blow-drying and hair, you can also consult your hair expert.