12 Tips For Drying Your Hair Without Damaging It
Our hair deals with a lot of damage. Even if you don't balayage or straighten your mane, your hair is constantly exposed to pollution particles which can lead to drier, duller, more damaged strands over time. The least we can do to keep our locks healthy is learn how to dry hair without damaging it further.
Although damage from heat styling is unavoidable, these hair drying tips can help you seriously cut down on the amount of heat damage your hair incurs. From what temperature your blow dryer should be to the best drying technique for your texture, here's exactly how to use a hair dryer to style hair in a way that decreases damage - and increases good hair days.
Use A Dryer That Reduces Heat Damage
If you need to blow dry your hair (and let's face it, most of us do), the first step to cutting down on heat damage is to invest in the right tools. Make sure you have a hair dryer on hand that works to reduce heat damage, like the Dyson Supersonic.
This smart dryer measures its temperature 20 times every second, so your hair never overheats. The Supersonic stays cool to the touch (so you don't burn your hands) and includes negative ions that eliminate static. Also, its motor is unbelievably quiet, making for a much more relaxing morning routine.
Treat Your Hair With Protein Before and After
Fun fact: your hair is made of protein. By using a protein-rich conditioner before you heat style your hair, you can help strengthen each strand and keep it protected from damage. Try a conditioning mask, and look for ingredients like rosehip oil to maintain hydration and B vitamins to improve your hair's texture.
After drying, follow up with a keratin-rich styler - it helps reduce breakage and repair dry, brittle hair.
Use A Low Heat Setting
This is fairly obvious, but more heat equals more heat damage. Most hair dryers have "low" and "high" settings, so make sure you blow dry on the lowest setting to keep your hair as healthy and damage-free as possible.
If you want a more high-tech and strand-safe experience, try the Dyson Supersonic. It includes four precise heat settings, from 212 degrees for fast drying to 140 degrees for gentle drying. It also provides a constant blast of cool air to keep strands from overheating.
Use A Heat Protectant
It's important to build a barrier between the hair cuticle and the heat from your blow dryer. The best way to do this is with a heat protectant, which you can apply to damp hair pre-blow dry.
Opt for a heat protectant that shields your hair from both heat damage and UV light. The best heat protectants also replenish moisture with lightweight oils, which also gives your hair a nice shine. With a protectant, all you need to do is add a few a drops to your strands before you blast them with the blow dryer, then use the product to touch-up your style the next day.
Blow Dry Damp Hair - Not Wet Hair
If you have a tendency to grab your blow dryer as soon as you step out of the shower, listen up. Blow drying damp hair - as opposed to straight-out-of-the-shower wet hair - can help keep your hair at its healthiest.
Adding heat to soaking-wet hair is basically the equivalent of frying it - way too harsh. Also, by allowing your hair to air dry a bit before blasting it with heat, you'll cut down on the amount of time you need to be under the dryer, and less dry time means less damage overall.
Use The Right Hair Brush
Don't add unnecessary damage to you hair by brushing it with the wrong hairbrush. Some brushes have the tendency to pull on damp hair, leading to breakage - which is the opposite of what you want.
Opt for a brush with ionic properties instead. Ion-charged haircare tools allow for even heat distribution, which is essential for preventing heat damage. Bonus: these brushes are safe to use on all hair types.