Is there something easier after a shower than blow-drying and styling your hair? While it appears to be a straightforward operation, it turns out that it has its own set of tricks. The distance between the blow-dryer and the hair, the temperature, and even the airflow direction are all important factors.
1. Just use hot air to blow dry your hair.
Almost all hair dryers have a cold air flow feature, and this isn’t a design flaw. To correct the effects of your styling, change the button to cold mode. The evaporation of moisture would be slowed by cool air, resulting in longer-lasting curls. By the way, it’s a great way to avoid split ends in the first place.
2. Making a mistake with the airflow direction
Blow-dry your hair in the direction of hair development, from roots to ends. Otherwise, the scales that make up the cuticle would open up, causing frizzing and making it easier to tangle. When you blow-dry your hair from roots to ends, the scales will join together to give your hair a natural shine.
3. Holding the blow-dryer incorrectly
Many people hold a blow dryer in their dominant hand, which seems to be very normal. However, this is incorrect because the strength and dexterity of this hand are needed for styling and distributing hair strands. It will allow you to better manage the operation, work with the comb more effectively, and save time overall.
4. Hair is pulled downward.
When blow-drying your hair, brushing and blowing it downward eliminates the opportunity for length. Instead, raise your hand, comb the tips of your hair, and guide the warm air stream to the strands. This will help you achieve a hairstyle that is voluminous, “lively,” and smooth.
5. Using a blow-dryer that is too close to your head
Not only can holding the blow-dryer close to your head make your hair brittle, but you will also burn the skin on your head. The gap between the blow-dryer and your head should be held at least 12 inches. How are you going to quantify it? Simply place the dryer at arm’s length from your spread out arm.
6. Not sectioning the hair
We sometimes blow-dry an entire head of hair by simply rotating the blow-dryer back and forth. If you divide the hair into 4-5 zones and secure each with duckbill clips, the process will be faster and more successful. Make two partings: one vertical (from brow to neck) and one horizontal (from ear to ear) (from one ear to the other one).
7. Too much time spent with hair wrapped in a towel
Dry your hair for no more than 30 minutes with a towel, particularly if it’s made of cotton. The particles in this fabric cause friction, making hair more vulnerable to drying with a blow dryer. Choose a softer microfiber towel and wrap your hair in it for no more than 10 minutes. A key distinction: before using a blow dryer, thick and dense hair should be about half dry, while hair of thin or medium thickness should be about 80 percent dry.
8. Ignoring the importance of thermal safety
This tip would come in handy for anyone who use a blow dryer at least once a week, if not more often. Apply thermal insulation to your hair to protect it from potential harm when it comes into contact with hot air. This type of product can be used as part of your wash routine or as a leave-in conditioner after you’ve washed your hair. Shampoos and hair conditioners with thermoprotective properties fall into the first category, while sprays, creams, and oils fall into the second.
Select thermal protection that is appropriate for your hair type. If you have dry hair, stay away from alcohol-based items. Avoid oil-based items if you have oily or normal hair.
9. Not using the concentrator nozzle
That flat nozzle piece that came with your blow-dryer is what we’re talking about. This piece aids in directing airflow to a specific area of hair. You’ll have less tangles and split ends as a result, and your hair will be covered from overheating as well. Also, directing the flow to the roots will give your hair more length.
10. Going outside too soon
Try to sit inside for a few minutes after you’ve finished blow-drying your hair. A sudden change in temperature can have an adverse effect on not only the volume of your hair, but also the skin on your head.
11. Using a diffuser, begin blow-drying.
Since wet hair is more brittle and the chances of traumatising it at a faster blow-drying pace are higher, this doubles the chances of having split ends and frizzy hair. Begin by using a standard nozzle at a low speed and an average temperature. You should then move to the diffuser after some time has passed.
12. Not paying attention to the nozzles
Metal, ceramic, and plastic are all popular materials for blow-dryer nozzles. The first group aids in more precise styling, but metal heats up more quickly and becomes an external element that can harm hair. As a result, save the metal nozzle for special occasions and use a plastic or ceramic nozzle for regular blow-drying. Furthermore, they are excellent at detangling hair and uniformly heating it.
13. Not cleaning the blow-dryer
Have you ever washed the net on your blow dryer? It’s past time you did this because dirt not only harms the device, but it can also damage your hair. Dirt, dust, sticky hair products, particles, and other debris accumulate in the vents. All of these things reduce airflow, which causes the temperature within the dryer to rise. It can catch fire or simply fail at some stage.
It is important to clean the blow dryer on a regular basis. Clean it once a month if you use it once a week. Clean it every two weeks if you use it more often.
14. Using the highest temperature to dry hair
One of the most common blunders is overdrying your hair, which causes it to become brittle. The maximum temperature will speed up the process slightly, but use it only in rare circumstances — for example, if you have difficult-to-straighten curls or want to do a complicated style. In all other cases, use an average temperature.
15. Holding the blow dryer in one place
While this error seems to be self-evident, some people dry their hair by holding the dryer in one place. The unit should be continually moving around the head, shifting angles and spinning. It will assist you in getting clean, dry hair or a stunning style much more quickly.
What other blow-drying life hacks do you employ? We’d love to hear from you in the comments section!
Illustrated by Alena Tsarkova
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