How To Blow Dry Your Hair

Blow drying your hair is not the healthiest method for your hair. It is best to let it air dry. But in this day and age, blow drying is almost necessary. As long as you protect your hair from the heat with a good thermal protectant spray, and have a healthy hair maintenance routine, blow drying will not be that damaging.

1. Towel dry hair until it is about 2/3 damp.

2. Mousse or hair gel can be added to wet hair before blow drying to achieve a desired look.
3. Section hair in four even sections, for instance two sections on top and two in the back. If you have straight hair, use a blow dryer with a wide tooth comb attachment for better distribution of heat. If hair is curly, use a diffuser attachment to keep curls in place.
4. Dry one section at a time on high heat starting with the roots, which takes longer to dry. The drier the hair becomes, work down to the ends on a lower setting. The ends of your hair tend to dry faster, and if they are overheated they could become brittle and result in split ends.
5. Dryers should be at least 6 inches away from hair to prevent heat damage. If not using any type of attachments, make sure you wave the blow dryer back and forth to prevent scorching of the hair and burning of your scalp.
6. Another way to blow dry hair is by using a round brush on the bottom of hair, brushing in a downward motion while blow drying over the hair in the same direction. You can achieve a sleeker, straighter look using this method.
   Remember, though, never to blow dry in an upward motion because it could cause hair to frizz.
7. Blow drying frequently can dry out your hair. Take the steps to protect your hair from harm.
   • It is always a good idea to use a heat protectant serum on hair to prevent heat damage.
   • Once your hair is thoroughly dry, apply an everyday conditioner to counteract any moisture loss or damage caused by the heat of the blow dryer.
   • When blow drying naturally dry hair, always use a thermal protectant like ThermaSilk. Also, blow dry on the lowest setting possible to prevent over-drying and frizz.
   • To prevent blow drying damage for all hair types, never blow dry hair while it is soaking wet because it can scorch the hair. Always direct the airflow downward and in one direction to prevent frizz and split ends. Try not to blow dry hair more than once or twice a week.
   • Another protective measure is to use a shampoo with humectants. They are designed to bind moisture to your hair, which can protect it from blow dryer damage. The shampoo comes in oil-based and water-based solvents for different hair needs.

Try out different blow dryers and look for one that is designed to help protect your hair. If you blow dry often, make thermal protectants part of your everyday hair maintenance. But if you can, only blow dry when it's absolutely necessary.