Though there’s a growing trend of people turning to non-heat-based styling methods, using a hair dryer is still an extremely popular way to dry your hair after a bath or shower. But is blow-drying your hair bad, and can it cause damage? And what about air drying your hair, is it bad?
In this article, we debunk the commonly held myth that blow drying your hair is bad and explain in detail how to blow dry your hair correctly to keep it moist, healthy, and hydrated.
So, is blow-drying your hair bad?
Blow drying does not have a negative impact on your hair, provided that you do it correctly. However, if you use a low-quality hair dryer and consistently use hot air, you can damage your hair follicles, causing them to dry out and break.
Therefore, to blow dry your hair safely and correctly, you need to invest in a high-quality blow dryer that features adjustable heat settings. This means you can switch to low or medium heat to dry your hair, preventing accidental heat damage and keeping your follicles moist.
How to blow-dry your hair correctly
Like with everything, there’s a right and wrong way to blow-dry your hair. If you follow these simple steps, you can blow dry your hair expertly without causing any damage:
Wash your hair with a nourishing shampoo and conditioner
Using a nourishing, hydrating shampoo and conditioner will help your hair to retain its moisture when it comes to blow drying it. For instance, natural products with ingredients like coconut, avocado, and jojoba oil are hugely beneficial to your hair follicles and are much better than chemical-based products with ingredients like sulfates and alcohol.
Get into the habit of reading the bottle of your shampoo and conditioner before buying it and look for products branded “chemical free.” You will notice a significant difference when blow drying your hair as your follicles will be healthy and hydrated, which will reduce the likelihood of frizz.
Towel dry your hair first
Another trick is to use a microfiber towel to dab your hair dry as soon as you step out of the shower. Though most people rub their hair with a cotton towel, dabbing it dry with a microfiber towel prevents friction and reduces the likelihood of your hair breaking or falling out.
Moreover, when you towel dry your hair before using your blow dryer, you remove the excess moisture from your hair and scalp, which makes blow drying your hair much quicker and easier as a result.
Detangle your hair while it’s still wet
If your hair is tangled after you step out of the shower, you should always detangle it while it’s still wet. You can use a wide-tooth comb to gently detangle your hair, using your fingers to undo any knots that may have formed. It’s so important not to detangle your hair when it’s dry, as you will cause it to break and you may even end up pulling some of your hair out.
Invest in a high-quality hair dryer
The quality of your hair dryer makes a huge difference to the way you blow dry your hair. The Laifen Swift is an ionic hair dryer that generates negative ions to dry your hair quickly and efficiently. It also features adjustable heat settings, enabling you to dry your hair with low, medium, or hot air.
Moreover, if you order the Laifen Swift Special bundle, you will receive a diffuser, concentrator, and smooth nozzle as standard. And the diffuser attached to the dryer can help perfectly blow out your long hair. Salon-grade ionic dryers enable you to dry your hair efficiently without causing damage.
Dry your hair with cool air
One of the biggest issues with drying your hair is always using hot air. Though hot air dries your hair more quickly, it also causes the hair follicles to dry out and become brittle. You also risk damaging your scalp if you always use hot air, particularly if you have thin hair to begin with.
A simple way to protect your hair is to adjust the heat setting on your hair dryer and dry your hair on the cool or medium setting. Switching to a lower heat setting can make a huge difference to the health of your hair, as it saves your follicles from dehydration.
Use a heat protectant
If you have particularly thin hair, applying a heat protectant before picking up your blow dryer can make all the difference. Many heat protectants have nourishing and hydrating properties, which also help to achieve sleek and soft hair. Though you don’t necessarily need to apply a heat protectant, it’s a smart move if you’re worried about damaging your hair or scalp.
Dry your hair until it’s 80% dry
Finally, get into the habit of blow drying your hair until it’s approximately 80% dry. You can then leave it to air dry. The reason for this is that it helps with volume and texture, and prevents your hair from looking flat. Equally, leaving your hair to air dry after using a hair dryer will prevent you from overdrying your hair and will protect it from drying out.
Ultimately, blow drying your hair is not bad, provided that you follow the necessary steps to dry it correctly. Using a high-quality dryer and taking steps to protect your hair will ensure you can blow dry it safely, without it drying out and breaking.
Is it bad to blow dry your hair every day?
Is blow-drying your hair every day bad? First and foremost, blow drying your hair every day is unnecessary. If you’re not in a hurry to get off to work or school in the morning, it’s a good idea to let your hair air dry while you go about some other business.
Also, as you shouldn’t wash your hair every day, you can even wrap your hair when going for a bath or a shower to prevent it from getting wet. This way, you won’t need to dry it after bathing. Here: Know about how often to wash your curly hair.
To protect your hair, you should blow dry it 3-4 times per week, using low or medium heat and following the tips listed above. This way, you can safely dry your hair without it breaking or drying out.
The verdict: How bad is blow-drying your hair?
The bottom line is that blow drying your hair is not harmful or dangerous if you do it correctly. You must use a high-quality dryer like the Laifen Swift and set it to low or medium heat to prevent heat damage.
You can also make subtle adjustments to how you wash and towel dry your hair to ensure it is moist and hydrated as you blow dry it.
Feel free to dive into our FAQs below for more details on how to blow dry your hair safely to prevent it from drying out.
FAQS
Q1: Is blow-drying 4c hair bad?
It’s perfectly safe to blow-dry 4c hair, but you need to guard against heat damage, as 4c hair is particularly susceptible to frizz when it dries out. Therefore, you should always use the low or medium heat setting on your Laifen Swift dryer as this will prevent your 4c curls from drying out. Know about: How to detangle 4c hair and grow 4c hair.
Q2: Is blow-drying bad for curly hair?
No, blow drying curly hair is not bad. In fact, it’s the best way to efficiently dry curly hair, particularly if you use a diffuser attachment. A diffuser spreads the air throughout your hair effectively and ensures that you don’t just focus on one section of your hair. As a result, it can define and enrich your natural curl pattern.
Q3: Is blow-drying bad for natural hair?
You can blow dry natural hair without any issues. Hydration is key when drying natural hair, so use a hydrating shampoo to wash it and switch to the low or medium heat setting to prevent overdrying.
Q4: Is blow-drying your hair as bad as straightening it?
Hair straighteners tend to be more damaging for your hair, particularly if you use them frequently. The best way to protect your hair from heat damage is to apply a heat protectant and to use your straighteners sparingly, ideally no more than once or twice a week.
Q5: Is blow-drying hair with cold air bad?
No, blow-drying your hair with cold hair is a great option. This is the most effective way of blow-drying your hair consistently without causing it to dry out. If you feel that it’s taking too long, you can increase the temperature to the medium setting, which can also be highly effective.
