When we want to dry hair fast, we normally reach for a hairdryer, often with some remorse for all the blow drying hair damage we are going to cause. What if I told you that I know how to make hair dry faster and with less damage at the same time?
Read on to see some ‘healthy hair drying’ myths busted and to adopt the best drying routine.
Does Blow Drying Damage Hair?
The short answer is yes, it does. Hairdryers expose your hair to heat, which makes it rough and brittle and causes split ends. Here is how it happens.
Your hair remains strong and shiny when its outer layer, the cuticle, is safely protecting the inner cortex containing water. Too much heat damages the cuticles and makes the trapped water form bubbles and break the hair.
Is cold blow drying bad for hair then?
You might have guessed right, it’s not. The sad part is that it won’t let you dry your hair fast either. Thus, while cold air drying does miracles defining shine and setting naughty strands in place, blowing cold air through your soaking wet mane is both vain and unpleasant.
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Air Drying vs. Blow Drying
Before you ditch your hairdryer and start sacrificing time to air dry your hair instead, please be informed that it is not always better to let your hair dry naturally.
Adam Reed, ghd global ambassador, warns that hair absorbs much water while washing, and waiting for all the water to evaporate in the air takes much time. The problem here is not only that nobody has time for that; the longer time the hair stays wet, the more the cortex swells and cracks, causing permanent hair damage.
Recent research carried out in Korea confirms that a long-lasting wet stage is as harmful as exposure to high drying temperatures. More than that, researchers suggest that the right blow drying technique brings much better results than natural hair drying.
5 Steps to Drying Your Hair Quickly Without Damaging It
Thankfully, a healthy hair drying routine exists, and the process is not long or painful. Just follow these 5 steps and learn to avoid the mistakes women are prone to make.
1. Use Hair Conditioner
I can almost hear you saying that applying a conditioner is part of washing your hair, not drying it. But hear this: Hair conditioners not only nourish your hair and prevent breakage making it easy to detangle your hair after washing, but they also actually help your hair dry faster.
The secret is that conditioners create a gentle coating that repels water and prevents excessive soaking of your tresses. If you have curly hair, using leave-in conditioners will also let you stop hair frizzing after washing.
2. Be Gentle and Use the Right Towel
Drying hair with a towel is not a good way to dry your hair fast without a blow dryer. Instead, it is another myth that needs to be busted. The fact is, wet hair is very susceptible to damage, so rubbing the moisture out can seriously harm the cuticles.
To make your hair dry faster, use a super-absorbent hair-drying towel to blot excessive moisture or, if you have long thick hair, wrap it up, turban-style. Soft microfiber towels work best here, but you can also dry hair with a cotton T-shirt, piling your hair on your head for 10 to 20 minutes.
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3. Fluff the Roots of Your Hair
Roots remain wet longer than the ends and leaving them half-dry can be dangerous, especially in cold weather. This is why so many women prefer to be safe than sorry and blow dry on high heat, running the risk of fried hair.
To dry your roots fast without causing damage, make sure they get as much airflow as possible. Shake your head from side to side, turn it upside down, or run your fingers through hair strands, thus opening up the roots. Needless to say, do this outside the humid bathroom where you have just showered.
4. Comb Your Hair
Note that brushing hair when it’s wet is one of the damaging hair habits stylists recommend to avoid. Still, using a wide-tooth comb to separate some hair strands will promote airflow and make your hair dry faster.
Another option is to use a microfiber brush with soft bristles that soak water. The brush does not damage the cuticles but allows getting down to hair styling faster.
5. Use Protective Blow-Drying Techniques
Now, when your hair is rough-dried, blow dry it to get the necessary volume and styling. To blow-dry hair without damage, follow these simple rules:
- Stick to cooler temperatures;
- Use an ionic hair dryer that dries hair faster even on cooler settings;
- Hold the blow dryer 6 inches away from your hair;
- Move the blow dryer around letting separate strands cool down a bit before a new round of heat;
- Apply heat protectant products.
You may finish styling with cold hair blowing; this will help close the cuticles and make hair smooth and shiny.
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A Bonus Speed-Drying Hack
A tricky way to save time drying your hair is not washing it at all. In fact, there are many good reasons to stop washing hair daily, and escaping the chance to stress your hair with the drying routine is just one of them.
Wash less frequently or use dry shampoos every other day, and your hair will be more than grateful.
Bottom Line
Drying your hair fast does not need to harm your tresses. Blot the moisture and rough-dry your mane, then blow dry it with warm air, holding the hairdryer at a distance and moving it around. Finish with some cold air blowing to fix your hairstyle, and here you are, ready to go out sporting your gorgeous, healthy and shiny hair.
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