Hello and welcome to another exciting hair care article from Conway Village Barber Shop! 😀 Okay maybe it will not be exciting but it WILL be informative. Today’s topic is how to properly blow dry your hair. For those of you with very short hair maybe you don’t use a blow dryer at all.
But for those who do it may seem like a simple process. Wash your hair, turn on blow dryer, point it at hair and blow it dry! However you may be damaging your hair or making it not look as good as it could be if you did it properly. So here are some tips to blow drying hair.
Don’t blow dry hair dripping wet
While the main point of blow drying hair is to get it dry, you don’t want to apply hot air on soaking, dripping wet hair. Getting hair wet makes it expand and absorb water. Blasting hot air over it makes very wet hair contract rapidly, causing brittle and rough hair.
Also because the hair is very wet you will need to keep that hot air blowing over it longer. Blasting hair with hot air for a long time damages the hair and is simply not necessary. Nobody likes a lot of hot air blown their way!
Instead you should pat dry your hair first with a towel, getting rid of excess water. Once your hair is 50% dry for thick hair and 60%-70% dry for medium thick hair then you can start blow drying your hair. Maybe 10 minutes wait time for short hair to 20 minutes for long hair.
Don’t hold the blow dryer too close
Most hair stylist agree that holding the blow dryer 6 to 8 inches away from your hair is best. Holding it too close dries it too fast, can heat up the hair too hot and tends to make it stick in whatever direction it is being blown. As my dates often say, don’t get so close! 😀
Also the high heat tends to cook the hair shaft, which damages the protective outer cuticle layer. That leads to dryness, frizz and split ends. Plus you can get scalp burns, redness and irritation. So hold that dryer further away rather than too close.
Brush your hair as you blow dry it
Brushing your hair while you blow dry it styles the hair to the shape and direction you want it. Round brushes are good for making wavy hair and curls. Vented brushes help to get your hair dry faster. Paddle brushes let you brush long hair quickly.
Keep it moving
While blow drying your hair, always keep it moving and don’t hold it in one spot too long. Staying in one spot heats up the hair too much, making it dry, brittle, and more likely to break and split. It also can irritate the scalp. A steady motion is always best.
Best heat settings for different hair
Most good hair dryers have three or more heat settings. Low heat (100–140°F) is best for thin, fine or fragile types of hair. Medium heat (140–190°F) is good for medium to thick or wavy hair styles. High heat (190–240°F+) is for thick, coarse or hair that is tightly coiled.
Some blow dryers also have a cool shot setting. This blows room temperature air. Use it when the hair is just about dry. It seals the hair cuticle and locks your finished hair shape in place. If in doubt always use a lower temperature setting on your hair.
Blow drying summery
Those are the basics when it comes to blow drying your hair. Let your hair dry naturally a bit, don’t hold the dryer too close, always keep it moving, brush your hair as you blow dry it and choose the correct heat setting for your hair style.
I hope you enjoyed this fascinating article on how to blow dry your hair correctly! Our barbers and stylist at Conway Village Barber Shop are waiting for you with their blow dryers ready, so stop in soon and get blown away with great haircuts and shaves! 😀
