How to Dry Hair

Hair-drying methods can make a difference in hair health and appearance. Many people make the mistake of too frequently using high heat to dry their hair, which can lead to split ends and dull hair over time. Gentle hair drying can prevent damage and improve hair appearance. Certain drying techniques also allow you to style hair with less heat. Air-drying and blow-drying on low heat are milder alternatives to high-heat blow-drying. Learn two different hair drying methods to protect your hair from damage.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Mild shampoo Moisturizing conditioner Microfiber towel Leave-in conditioner Thermal hair protector product Wide-tooth comb Blow-dryer Four hair clips

How to Air-Dry Hair

1. Wash your hair with a mild shampoo. Massage the scalp with the fingertips to thoroughly clean the scalp. Rinse. Apply a moisturizing conditioner to the hair in sections and comb each section to remove tangles. Rinse out the conditioner. Clean, moisturized hair helps encourage shine and lessens tangling as the hair dries.

2. Place a microfiber towel carefully around your wet hair, leaving the hair hanging down. Gently press excess water out of your hair. Leave the microfiber towel on your head for ten minutes. Microfiber towels help hair dry faster and smoother without roughing up the cuticle as regular towels do.

3. Remove the towel. Divide your hair in four sections with a wide-tooth comb. Comb a leave-in conditioner through each section. The conditioner will make your hair more manageable and seal the cuticle, which will help your hair dry smooth.

4. Comb your hair into the desired style. If you have hair longer than shoulder length, you may want to use hair clips to secure the hair in place to hold a style. The hair clips help set the style as your hair dries.

5. Remove the hair clips when your hair is dry. Your hair should be soft and shiny. Comb or brush your hair and complete the hairstyle.

How to Blow-Dry Hair

6. Select a gentle blow-dryer that is 1800 watts or less. The wattage affects the heat intensity of the dryer. Use an ionic blow-dryer, if possible, because the ionic technology dries hair faster and helps seal the cuticle, leaving hair smoother and softer than traditional blow-dryers.

7. Comb freshly washed and conditioned hair with a wide-tooth comb to remove any tangles. Apply a leave-in conditioner and a thermal protector product. Both the conditioner and thermal protector will keep the hair moisturized and protect it from excessive heat damage. Divide the hair into four sections. Hold each section in place with a hair clip.

8. Set your dryer to a low, warm setting and turn it on. Remove the hair clip from the first section and begin drying the hair. Move the dryer around the section in a downward motion from roots to tips and use your free hand to rake your fingers through your hair. Keep the dryer moving and not fixed on one spot too long to prevent overheating the hair and scalp. Repeat the process on each section, getting the hair progressively drier as you move through the sections.

9. Return to the first section when your hair is partially dry. Turn the dryer to cool. Smooth the hair from the roots to ends with your hand as you move the dryer down the section. Repeat the process on the remaining three sections until the hair is dry.

10. Add one dollop of leave-in conditioner to your hair for extra shine. Your hair is now ready for styling.

Tips & Warnings

• Dry curly hair with a diffuser attachment or air-dry when possible. Scrunch or gently cup the hair to encourage curls and waves during blow-drying. Cream thermal hair protection products provide better coverage than spray versions. Some leave-in conditioners also provide thermal protection. Use a hood dryer instead of a blow-dryer as an alternative drying method. A hood dryer uses indirect heat and is gentler than a blow-dryer.
• Never blow-dry soaking wet hair because it will cause irreversible damage. Avoid blow-drying the hair until completely dry unless you are using cold air for the final drying. To prevent damage, only blow-dry your hair until it is 95 percent dry. Air-dry the rest.

References

• Hair Boutique
• Procter and Gamble Hair Care Research Center

Resources

• Advice for air-drying and blow-drying hair