Towel-drying your hair is important to help remove water, so hair can dry faster. Yet, the wrong technique can result in extra frizz, tangles, and poufiness. The right ways to air dry hair include gentle drying techniques. It's best to use your towel to squeeze water out from your hair.
The results documented in the published paper referenced above show that letting hair dry naturally causes the cortex (the thickest layer of hair) to swell and become weaker, as the swelling puts pressure on the delicate proteins that hold hair together.
The best way to dry your hair is to let it air dry under the fan as much as possible. However, some experts believe combining air and blow-drying is healthier than just air drying. It is good to let your hair air-dry seventy percent of the way and then blow-dry till they become dry ultimately.
Drying your hair is essential to the health of your hair. Using a cotton towel to dry your hair is one of the worst ways to dry your hair. The cotton will pull at your wet strands and weight hour hair down. It's better to use a different method to dry your hair.
You want to gradually dry your hair instead of sucking out every bit of moisture. Always keep your hairdryer six inches away from your scalp and keep moving it around for the best results. Or you could add a diffuser attachment to your hairdryer as it spreads out the heat and creates an even air stream.
“What tends to happen, particularly in humid weather, is that the cuticles don't seal properly, which leads to frizz.
“Don't run your hands through your hair or brush your hair excessively as it dries,” says Tricomi. “This will cause the hair to frizz.” But if you must, just use product before touching your hair.
"Air-drying your hair first not only cuts down on drying time with a blow dryer, but it also allows you to limit the amount of time you're using heat to style your tresses," Johnson says. "I'd suggest starting with detangling and air-drying and then moving on to blow-drying with a heat protectant product applied."
Usually, it takes an hour or two for damp hair to dry completely. However, this time may vary depending on the hair length and porosity. Highly porous hair can take an entire day to dry. It's because porous hair quickly soaks water and takes longer to dry.
Drying your hair after a shower may seem like a simple task. However, it's a crucial step in maintaining the health and appearance of your hair. After showering, your wet hair is in a fragile condition. It becomes more vulnerable to breakages and other damages.
While excessive heat can cause damage to the surface layer of the hair, air-drying can cause trauma to that inner lipid layer, which will make your strands weaker as a result. Over time, something called hygral fatigue happens, i.e. repeated swelling of the hair.
Heat is damaging to hair, so blow drying with cold air is a healthier choice for your mane. It would take a long time to dry and style damp hair using only cold air, but cold air is great for touching up dry hair or setting a heat style.
Hair is at its most fragile when wet, so if you go to bed with it damp and proceed to toss and turn against a pillow, you run a higher risk of breakage. But aside from being rough on your delicate strands, hitting the pillow with damp hair puts you at risk of developing skin infections, primarily on your scalp.
Keep hair moisturized after shower
Moisture in your hair makes it easier to combat frizz and detangle any knots after a shower. Many hairstylists recommend hydrating with a conditioner before applying your oil of choice. If you have tight curls, use heavier emulsifiers like shea butter to loosen the knots.
Vázquez says the T-shirt will absorb excess water while preventing frizz. “Because T-shirts do not have rough grooves like a towel, the flat surface allows water to sink in and slides over the hair instead of roughing it up.” Another great alternative to using a regular towel is a microfiber towel.
“Air drying dense hair for extended periods of time can be more damaging than using a blow-dryer at low heat and at a safe distance,” says Longsworth. “But even low density [i.e. thin] hair that is washed or wet every single day is susceptible to damage.”
There are four primary factors that cause frizz: the environment, diameter of the hair fiber itself, level of curl, and the amount of damage. Avoid long and hot showers, excess exfoliation, and hot tools like traditional hairdryers and flat irons to prevent frizz.
Frizzy hair is caused when hair is dry or damaged. This dryness allows moisture from the air to enter the open hair shaft and causes it to swell, which leads to frizz. Here are some common reasons for why your hair is so frizzy: Dryness and dehydration causing your hair to absorb excess moisture.