How To Dry Your Hair Without Causing Damage?

How To Dry Your Hair Without Causing Damage?

Are you noticing strands of hair on your towel every time you dry it? Chances are you could be drying your hair the wrong way.

Irrespective of whether you are towel drying or blow-drying your hair, an improper method can weaken your hair shaft, causing it to stretch and snap. However, with simple hair hacks, you can minimize the damages and keep your hair healthy.

Scroll down to know the right ways of drying your beautiful tresses without damaging them.

What Happens If You Don’t Dry Your Hair?

Your hair will naturally air dry if you leave it like that after a shower. However, if you need to comb, style or tie up your locks, it is better to do so when your hair is dry. Damp hair is fragile and gets easily damaged with friction or wear and tear. The upper cuticle layer opens up when there is excess moisture in your hair. This increases your hair’s porosity and elasticity, causing it to stretch more with a slight tug. So when you pull damp hair in a tight updo, it stretches too much, causing immense damage to the hair shaft.

Moreover, leaving your hair wet for longer periods is likely to give you some damp hair problems. When your hair shaft is not allowed to dry entirely, there is unwanted moisture and sebum build-up. This makes your scalp the perfect breeding ground for bacteria and fungus, which may cause scalp infections such as Folliculitis, Ringworm. It will also leave your hair smelling musty and damp. Therefore, hair experts recommend drying your hair completely every time you wash it.

How To Dry Your Hair With A Towel?

woman drying her hair with towel

If you have been vigorously rubbing [1] your hair with a towel to dry it, you might be severely damaging your hair strands in your attempt to rid your hair of excess moisture. When hair is wet, the upper cuticle layer swells and opens up. It automatically closes when your hair dries. But, when open, it leaves the hair shaft vulnerable and prone to damage. When you rub your towel against an already risen cuticle, the hair can get deformed or break leading to frizz and split ends.

Make sure to avoid rubbing your hair when you towel dry it. You can simply squeeze out the water from your hair in a gentle manner, post your shower and then lightly dab and blot your hair and scalp to remove excess moisture. This way you prevent the risk of ruffling your cuticle layer.

Your selection of the towel material plays a key role in minimizing damage to your hair. Opt for a towel that is soft and easily absorbs water. Pure cotton towels or bamboo yarn towels with 360 or more GSM is a good choice. Such towels are gentle on your damp hair, and all you need to do is merely wrap. You could also go for a soft microfiber hair wrap that snugly fits around your head and eases the process of drying.

It’s a common belief that hair dryers are bad for your hair. However, if you keep the heat and speed low, it is way better than air drying your hair which keeps the hair wet for a longer time causing damage to the hair shaft.

How To Dry Hair With A Hairdryer Without Causing Damage?

woman with hair dryer

Drying your hair with a hairdryer [2] looks easy when done by a professional, but you might require a bit of practice to get that salon-like perfection. If done wrong, you might end up with frizzy hair that is full of split ends. Before using a dryer, it is advisable to use a heat protectant spray or leave-in-conditioner to prevent thermal damage to your hair shafts. Excess heat on damp hair will dry out your hair’s natural oils, leaving it brittle and prone to breakage. Conditioner or spray forms a protective layer over your cuticle to seal in the required moisture.

5 Easy Steps to Blow Dry Your Hair

1. Partially dry your hair before using a hairdryer.

2. Use a heat protectant spray or serum to minimize damage.

3. Part your hair into 4 or 5 sections for better drying.

4. Keep the heat to a minimum or select the cool air option.

5. Comb your hair with a round brush. Begin drying from the hair roots and go down to the tips, keeping the nozzle of the dryer facing downward for a smooth look.

Vedix Tip: Frequent use of hair dryers can strip your hair of its natural oils and give a dull appearance. Ayurveda recommends massaging your hair and scalp with Ayurvedic oils such as Coconut, Sesame, Hibiscus, Amla and Bhringraj to combat heat damage and bring back your hair's lost shine.

How To Dry Your Hair With A Diffuser?

woman makes herself hair curly

Investing in a diffuser, especially if you have curly or wavy hair, is a good decision. A diffuser also minimizes heat damage by diffusing the hot air from the dryer, resulting in a smoother, frizz free look. While a direct blow dry might deform the shape of your curls, a diffuser will add volume and bounce without distorting your hair’s natural curl pattern. So if you are aiming for hassle free, natural curls, do it with a diffuser.

Do not dry dripping wet hair with any heat tool. After a wash, condition your wavy or curly hair to prevent frizz and dryness. Curly hair is more prone to damage and dryness as the curl pattern prevents your hair’s natural oils from spreading throughout the hair shaft easily. Detangle your curls with a wide toothed comb [3] while the hair is still wet. Squeeze out excess water and semi dry your hair before using a diffuser on it. Keep the heat to a minimum and follow a few easy steps for shiny, smooth beautiful tresses.

5 Simple Steps To Drying Your Hair With A Diffuser

1. Before using a diffuser apply a heat protectant spray to prevent drying out your tresses.

2. Opt for a slow drying process by minimizing the heat and speed of your diffuser.

3. Lift a section of your hair and place it on the diffuser to dry. Keep doing this for the entire hair body.

4. Begin from the tips and go up to the hair roots to maintain your curls.

5. Stop when your hair is almost dry. Over-drying will result in frizz.

How To Dry Your Hair With A Shirt?

Drying your hair with a shirt is one of the best methods, especially for curly hair that is recommended by hair experts. Unlike towel drying, which can cause hair damage due to friction, a shirt is gentle on your tresses. This method is considered even better than using a hairdryer or a diffuser, as there is no risk of heat damage and the process is equally fast. A shirt perfectly sets your curls without weighing them down, giving you natural beach waves throughout the day.

This is also called the Plop method where a cotton shirt or a t-shirt is used to dry hair quickly. Another benefit of using this method is it gives you curls without frizz. If you have limp hair this method adds volume as the hair dries above your head, giving your hair roots the necessary lift.

Place a long-sleeved shirt on a flat surface with its neck and sleeves facing you. The simple way is to toss your hair into it and wrap it around your head. Use the sleeves to tie a knot behind your head and keep it on for about 20 mins till your hair dries. Unwrap for beautiful bouncy curls.

Should You Blow Dry Hair Or Let It Dry Naturally?

While drying your hair naturally is always a preferred option, it is not advisable to keep your hair damp for a long time. Damp hair is prone to damage. Blow drying your hair with minimum heat reduces the risk of hair damage at the same time sets your hair for a professional look. If you have curls, air drying them may cause tangles and frizz. If done properly, a blow dryer can easily give you the desired look without hair damage. Just follow the below mentioned tips to keep heat damage away:

How to Blow Dry Your Hair Without Damage

1. Condition your hair to avoid dryness often caused by heat tools.

2. Semi-dry your hair before using a blow dryer.

3. Use a heat protectant spray or serum to protect your hair.

4. Use the minimum heat option or go for the cool air option on your dryer. Keep your dryer at a distance while drying.

5. Dry from roots to tips to avoid frizz.

5 Mistakes To Avoid When You Dry Your Hair

woman drying wet hair

1. Rubbing Damp Hair

Damp hair is fragile, so dry it gently. Aggressive rubbing with a towel will only give you frizzy damaged locks.

2. Using The Wrong Towel

Invest in a soft cotton towel that is gentle on your hair. Or plop it up with a cotton t-shirt for quick drying without friction.

3. Using the Heat Blast

Your blow dryer has a cool air option, use it. Excess heat will only strip your hair of its essential oils, making it dehydrated and prone to breakage. Minimize the heat every time you blow dry.

4. Ignoring the Heat Protectant Spray

If you are using a hairdryer, make sure to use a heat protectant spray or serum to prevent thermal damage.

5. Styling or Tying It Up Too Early

Avoid heat styling or tying up your hair when it’s still damp. The stretch and pull will cause your hair shaft to weaken and break overtime. Heat on still wet hair dries up the moisture within the hair shaft as the cuticle in damp hair is still open. It will also not allow your hair roots to dry completely and can give you scalp problems later.

The Last Word

Drying your hair is part of your regular hair care routine. But certain drying habits can damage your precious locks beyond repair. Therefore, you need to be mindful of the material or method you are applying to dry your tresses. Each drying method has its own benefits if done right. It is advisable to choose a method that best fits your hair type and texture for getting beautiful hair all day long. At Vedix, we mindfully curate personalized hair care regimen that addresses your hair needs.

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