There are numerous ways to dry your hair, and letting it air dry naturally is appealing to some people, particularly if you’re not in a hurry.
But depending on your hair type, air drying your hair could cause potential damage, and it may not be as straightforward as it initially seems.
So, with that in mind, this article looks at whether or not it’s bad to air dry your hair, and introduces you to some critical things you must consider if you want to dry your hair naturally. Before this, you may also want to know is blow drying your hair bad?
Is it bad to let your hair air dry?
An enlightening 2011 study found that air-drying your hair can result in “cortex damage,” which is essentially damage to your hair’s inner layer. When the cortex is damaged, your hair becomes highly porous and much weaker, which means it’s more prone to breakage and long-term damage due to environmental factors.
People with thick hair risk damaging their follicles if they let it air dry, because it is at its weakest when it’s wet. Conversely, if you have thin hair, it is less likely to absorb water, meaning that your cortex is less likely to get damaged.
Another potential downside of air drying your hair is that you have less control over how it dries, which can lead to frizz and flyaways, particularly if you have curly hair.
Really? Is letting your hair air dry bad? Pros and cons
You might be surprised to learn that leaving your hair to dry naturally might cause damage. After all, most people are aware that excessive heat styling can lead to damaged hair, but the fact that air drying your hair can cause damage is less known.
The key thing to realize is that air drying your hair, particularly once in a while, will not necessarily damage it. As with most drying methods, there are pros and cons that you need to consider, as we explain below:
The pros of air drying your hair
✅ Protection from heat damage: If you have thin hair, allowing it to air dry offers the best form of protection against heat damage. Blow-drying your hair or using curling irons or straighteners can cause your thin hair to dry out and become brittle. Opting for air drying provides automatic protection from heat damage and is a way to relieve your hair once in a while.
✅ Moisture retention: If you’re concerned that your hair is dehydrated, laying off the heat styling for a week or so is a good option. We recommend dabbing your hair dry with a microfiber towel, before leaving it to air dry over a few hours. This will enable your follicles to retain much of its moisture, particularly if you have used a hydrating or nourishing shampoo to wash it.
✅ Fewer split ends: When you blow dry your hair and concentrate the hot air into one area, you’re increasing the likelihood of split ends, as you force more air onto the shaft. Of course, this isn’t an issue when you let your hair air dry, as you’re not adding any heat to your hair shaft. So air drying your hair can help avoid split ends.
The cons of air drying your hair
❌ Mold and mildew can grow: Air drying your hair overnight can lead to the formation of mold, mildew, and bacteria on your hair. This can happen when you go to sleep without drying your hair fully, and your strands compress against your pillow. This can lead to a bad odor coming from your hair, and it may even result in a dry and itchy scalp.
❌ Increased vulnerability: Water can cause your hair to swell, which can damage its membrane. Moreover, hair is at its most vulnerable when wet and styling can be more difficult. So, make sure you give your hair sufficient time to air dry before going to bed, as failing to do so can lead to breakage during the night.
❌ Higher risk of oily hair: Another potential issue with air drying your hair is that it’s a higher risk of becoming oily. When you leave your scalp moist for too long, you might experience an overproduction of oil as your hair’s defensive mechanisms kick in. If you don’t take steps to manage your air’s oil content, it will end up looking greasy.
Is it bad to let your hair air dry overnight?
The best time to let your hair air dry is during the day. If you wake up in the morning and don’t need to rush to the office or to school, you can leave your hair to flow naturally. Depending on its texture, length, and thickness, your hair should be dry in a few hours, particularly if you dab it dry with a towel first.
The main issue with letting your hair air dry overnight is that your hair will be resting on your pillow and it won’t be free to air dry completely. As mentioned above, that can result in mold and mildew growing on specific sections of your scalp as you sleep.
So, if you want to leave your hair to dry at night, we recommend having your bath or shower a few hours before going to bed. Your hair should be as dry as possible before hitting the pillow to ensure that your hair is healthy when you wake up in the morning.
Is air drying your hair good or bad? Getting the balance right
As you have probably deduced, air drying your hair is not necessarily good or bad, as it depends on numerous factors. For example, if you have thin hair, air drying it can be a better option than using a hair dryer, as it prevents heat damage and ensures that you don’t burn your scalp.
However, if you have thick hair, air drying may damage your hair’s cortex, so it’s not a good idea to air dry your hair with any regularity.
Therefore, we recommend getting the balance right and working out a solution that works for your hair type. You might find that air drying it one or twice a week can work well, while using a blow dryer the other days is a suitable option.
What’s the best way to dry your hair?
Heat-based drying tools can lead to accidental heat damage, while air drying your hair can cause numerous potential issues, particularly if you have thick hair. So, what’s the best way to dry your hair?
Well, using a hair dryer that eliminates heat damage is your best option. For instance, when you dry your hair with the Laifen Swift Special, you can adjust the heat setting to blow dry your hair with cool air. This solves the potential issue of heat damage. The diffuser attached to Swift Special will help you blow dry hair with curls deftly.
Moreover, the Laifen Swift Special features ionic technology, which helps to break down the positive ions in water molecules more quickly. It also prevents frizz and helps you to achieve a sleek and smooth blow out.
If you decide to air dry your hair, at least from time to time, removing the excess water from your hair first is crucial. The best way to do this is to dab your hair with a microfiber towel. Alternatively, you can wrap your hair in a turban and scrunch it to remove the excess water.
Then, leave your hair to air dry for a few hours, ideally in the morning as you go about your other business. It’s much easier to air dry your hair during the day than it is overnight.
The verdict: Is it bad for your hair to air dry?
The bottom line is that it is not inherently bad to air dry your hair, just like it isn’t necessarily bad to use a hair dryer. The key starting point is to determine your hair type and to discover which method is best suited to your styling preferences and goals.
As illustrated throughout, there are pros and cons to air drying your hair. On the one hand, it can provide some much-needed relief if your hair has suffered damage from heat-based styling, but on the other, if you go to bed with wet hair in the hope that it will air dry, you risk mildew and bacteria growing on your scalp.
So, our advice is to strike a balance between air drying and blow drying your hair, incorporating both into your hair care routine. We also remind you to remove any excess water from your hair before leaving it to air dry, as this will make things much easier and will help your hair dry much more quickly.
