Yes, indeed, a quick blow-dry can instantly help you avoid a bad hair day, making your hair smooth and manageable. However, blow drying also exposes your hair to heat which can cause damage.
According to experts, blow-drying the hair evaporates the inner cortex’s water molecules, and alters the structure of the hair, allowing you to style the hair effortlessly. The extreme heat from your hairdryer causes the water under the outermost layer of the hair (the cuticles) to form bubbles, which can result in hair breakage, brittle hair, and split ends. Though you can quickly dry your hair with the blow dryer to create a great look, the fact remains that the heat exposure is quite damaging to your hair.
So how do you minimize the risk of heat damage when blow-drying your hair?
6 Tips on How To Use Hair Dryer Without Damaging Hair
Good News! The light at the end of the tunnel is that you can significantly minimize heat damage by taking preventative steps.
Here are some ways you can reduce the effects of blow-drying your hair.
1. Use a high-quality hairdryer
First, you have to invest in a high-quality tool. It is best to use a high-end, sophisticated hair dryer with separate controls for speed and temperature. Your dryer shouldn’t have only one setting. Instead, it should have cool, warm, and hot settings.
In fact, some of the high-end dryers have a dial that gives users precise control over the temperature. Ensure that you use attachments such as a flow diffuser to spread airflow across a large expanse of hair and a nozzle for even distribution of airflow.
In addition, you should use an ionic hair dryer to dry your hair faster. These dryers have the technology that creates negative ions thus reducing the amount of time that heat touches your hair. They also help make hair shine and reduce frizz.
2. The Right Temperature
The best hair dryer temperature for your hair is a medium-to-low temperature. Never expose your hair to too much temperature. For fine dry hair, a low temperature is best.
However, if you notice that you are not getting the desired results, you should increase the power and airstream not the temperature. You might be inclined to turn the dryer to its highest heat setting to quickly get the job done, but don’t. Using the lowest temperature will reduce the damage.
3. Always Use a Heat Protectant
You should never apply a blow dryer to your hair without first protecting it. A heat protectant product will serve as a protective barrier between your hair cuticles and the soon-to-be-applied heat, thus reducing damage to your hair. These products can come in the form of a cream or spray. Choose a product that contains silicone which is an excellent hair protectant. Plus, the heat protectant will also smoothen your hair cuticle, ensuring that your hair feels soft and looks good.
To find the best heat protectant, you should consider factors such as;
- Hair Type: What is your hair type? The answer to this question will help you find the best heat protectant product. For instance, if you have fine hair, a spray is a better option as a serum is too heavy.
- Ingredients: Next, you should compare the ingredients list of some of the products. Select one that has silicon in addition to nourishing ingredients such as extracts and natural oils. It should also contain ingredients that reduce water evaporation, such as propylene glycol and glycerine.
Before blow-drying your hair, apply the selected product by using your fingers or a comb to distribute it evenly.
4. Slightly Damp, Not Soaking Wet Hair
Do not use a blow-dryer right after shower. That is, do not use the dryer on your hair when it is sopping wet. This will increase the chances of your hair getting frizzy. Beyond this, wet hair will take more drying time, leading to more heat exposure.
READ: How To Dry Your Hair Without Making It Frizzy
After washing your hair, pat it down with a towel lightly, and then let it air-dry naturally for about 15 minutes. When the hair is only slightly damp, and most of the water is out, you should detangle it with a wide-toothed comb.
If you attempt to blow-dry the hair without proper detangling, the hair will knot and take longer to dry. It would help if you also used a detangling spray as it will also minimize damage by reducing moisture loss as you blow-dry. Once you’re done detangling, you can now use the dryer to smoothen and style your hair.
5. Hold the Dryer Away from your Hair
While drying your hair, remember to keep the nozzle of the dryer as far away from your hair as possible. The closer the dryer is to your hair, the more damaging the heat is. Maintain 6 inches distance between your hair and the dryer.
Work in sections. Start by drying the sides and back of your hair first, before working towards the front. By moving the hairdryer from one part of your hair to the other, you’ll be able to cover every strand without placing too much heat concentration in one particular area.
6. Be Fast
Slow and steady just won’t do it in this case. To reduce the risks of damage, use the dryer for only a short period of time.
Using a hair dryer for a short time will reduce the amount of heat on your hair, and it reduces the risks of hair damage. Once you’re done with the blow out, you should apply a good hairspray spritz to preserve your shiny locks.
RELATED: The Right Way to Air Dry Curly Hair
An improper blowout session can give you a bad hair day for days, and it can also result in long-term hair damage. This makes it worth it to take your time in applying these tips and techniques to blow dry and minimize damage.
Most ladies suffer from a frizzy, rough and damaged hair because of they are guilty of some of these blowdrying mistakes. As much as it is true that the heat from a blow dryer can damage the hair, you can greatly reduce the the risks of damage by using the blowdryer the right way.
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Image Credits: Deposit Photos
I really do appreciate this post on how to properly use the hair dryer without damaging one’s hair.