There are many people who believe that not using a hair dryer and letting hair air-dry is better for hair health. While it’s true that excessively high heat can damage the hair, leaving it damp for too long isn’t the best option either.
The key is to dry it, but in the right way. After all, a good drying isn’t just about removing moisture. As holistic trichologist Natalia Zablocka states, “how you dry your hair does make a difference.” In fact, the drying technique matters as much as the products you use, because a proper dry not only protects your hair fibre but can also enhance any treatment.
Steps to dry your hair properly
Drying hair “in a rush,” moving the dryer around the hair without any order or control, can lift the cuticle and damage it. You should dry it in the right direction and at the correct temperature, taking your hair type into account.
Before you start, however, you must prepare the hair for drying:
- Remove excess water from the hair by wrapping it in a microfiber towel and pressing with your hands. Do not rub the towel across the hair as you may break or tangle it.
- Ventilate the bathroom so the moisture leaves the room, or move to another room to dry your hair.
The most important thing to avoid damage is to always use the hairdryer at a medium temperature and medium speed, and keep it at about 15 cm from the scalp.
Next, let’s look at the steps Natalia Zablocka recommends for drying, depending on your hair type.
If your hair is straight
Using a heat protectant is essential for any drying that involves heat, regardless of hair type. This can be a leave-in conditioner with heat protection. In addition, the hair expert recommends applying a serum. Now comes the drying step:
- Start by drying the roots, lifting the hair with clean hands. This will give your mane more volume.
- Proceed with the rest of the hair and, above all, pay attention to the direction of the dryer: “dry from roots to ends,” the expert says, “this seals the cuticle and leaves the hair shinier and smoother.”
- If you want extra volume, dry your hair upside down, always directing the air towards the ends.
- To finish, when the hair is almost dry, using a brush will give a polished look and reduce frizz.
If your hair is curly
For curly hair, in addition to the heat protectant, you can apply gel or mousse and a serum. Next, define your curls with your preferred technique (finger coiling, brush coiling…) or simply by scrunching the hair gently.
To dry the hair, Zablocka recommends using a diffuser and always making gentle movements. Be patient; if you move the diffuser too quickly, you’ll only remove the curl definition.
Depending on the finish you want, you can employ different techniques:
- Volume and compact curls: use the diffuser with your head tilted down, placing the hair inside and pulling it toward the roots.
- Less volume and compact curls: with your head upright, use the diffuser from below, also placing the hair inside the diffuser and pulling it toward the roots.
- For loose curls and a natural result: hold the diffuser away from the hair.
The benefits of drying your hair properly
A proper hair-drying routine can bring many benefits to the hair, both in terms of appearance and health. These are the benefits highlighted by Zablocka:
- Helps seal the hair cuticle, which is important to prevent frizz and breakage, and to maintain shine.
- Avoids prolonged moisture on the scalp, which can lead to excess oil, irritation, fungi, itching or dandruff.
- Protects the hair fibre and enhances any treatment or product you use.
- Leaves it looking nicer: helps to define curls better or keep straight hair frizz-free.
Follow these tips and your mane will thank you. “Many of my clients didn’t believe it… until they started drying their hair properly with a hairdryer,” explains Zablocka, “and there they noticed: less frizz, more shine, longer-lasting shape and a healthier scalp.”
