When
blow-drying hair there are basic steps that should be considered before
and after. Having fallen victim to hair loss and damage due to bad
blow-drying and not wanting the same to happen to you, here are a few
tips to guide you in blow drying your hair.
Tip 1: Before you even
begin to blow dry, you have to untangle the hair. When hair is wet it is
easier to untangle. Use a wide toothed comb like the one in the image
below and comb out your hair moving from the tips to the base of your
head. Combing the hair straight from the scalp would lead to clumping
which will eventually form tangles and break your hair. A useful tip in
doing this is to divide your hair into sections and use this as a grid
for blow drying the hair.
Tip 2: Do not rub your
wet hair dry or semi-dry with a towel. The friction created by doing
this removes nutrients that your hair definitely needs to be healthy and
sustained. Instead of rubbing, blot out the water with a towel while
pressing slightly to the scalp. This way you take out a bulk of the
water without draining the hair of its nutrients.
Tip 3: Metal brushes
are the last thing you want to use on wet hair while blow-drying. The
metal heats up fast, adding excess heat to the hair which promotes hair
breakage. Instead of this use a round brush with nylon or boar
bristles; they don’t conduct heat as easily but still get the job done.
Tip 4: It is paramount
that you treat your hair after you wash and before you blow dry. To do
this you can use a lightweight barrier like a leave-in conditioner,
anti-frizz serum or heat activated styling lotion to protect the hair
cuticle. This also boosts shine after blow drying.
Tip 5: If you have and
want to maintain curly hair, avoid blow-drying your hairline with high
heat; this straightens it out and even more so every time your blow dry.
For the hairline you should reduce the heat to low heat or low air
temperature and gently use a brush to brush it out. This would still
maintain the curl and get your hair dry.
Tip 6: It would seem
easier to point the drier at one part of your hair and leave it there
for a faster dry but in reality it isn’t. You have to keep the drier in
motion around your head at all times. Leaving it at one location
applies too much heat at once to the hair leaving it dehydrated and
difficult to work with.
Tip 7: In this case the
phrase “the closer, the better” doesn’t apply. Keep the drier at least 4
– 6 inches away from the scalp. Logically it seems the closer you move
to the scalp the quicker it will dry, but this only damages the hair.
In summary, the closer you dry to the hair, the faster the hair dehydrates and damages.
Tip 8: Blow drying hair
in all directions will not help your hair. Instead blow dry your hair
in a downward motion; this movement helps bend the cuticle flat, look
smoother and give off a shiny & neat appearance.
Tip 9: Give your hair a
blast of cool air after applying heat from the blow-dry. The heat from
the drier opens the holes on your scalp that hold the cuticles in place;
this leads to strands of hair falling outh leads to strands of hair
easily pulling out. Using cold air closes up these holes back up
securing them once again to the scalp.
As much as a trip to the salon leaves
you feeling pampered, there are parts of hair treatment that we should
know and practice. Got any tips on blow drying hair? Don’t forget to
share them.
