Is Air Drying Hair Dangerous? Hairstylists Weigh In

Whether or not or not it’s because of we’re attempting out a fluffy new mannequin or realized we washed our hair barely too close to bedtime, most of us have used a blow-dryer on our hair in the end or one different. Whereas we (almost) all do it, it’s usually with a nagging little thought behind our heads: That’s utterly jeopardizing my hair nicely being.

Customary information holds that air drying is preferable to using heat in nearly every state of affairs. Nevertheless is that really the case? Would possibly it actually be air-drying that leads to frizzy, broken strands? To hunt out out, we went to hair consultants Kerry E. Yates and Jacob Sirianno. Be taught on for what they wanted to share regarding the professionals and cons of air drying, along with probably the most safe method to do it.

Can Air Drying Set off Harm?

Air drying does not often set off direct hurtSirianno says—nonetheless it’d most likely contribute to factors over time relying in your hair type and setting. “If hair stays moist for extended durations, the hair shaft can swell, making it further weak to breakage,” he explains. “The slower evaporation could weaken the hair’s inside building, notably if the hair is okay or porous.”

Digging in a bit, Sirianno says that each hair strand consists of three layers: the cuticle (outer layer), cortex (middle layer), and medulla (core). The Cell Membrane Sophisticated (CMC) binds the cuticle layers collectively, participating in an essential perform in hair’s elasticity and energy. Air drying could trigger hair to absorb water for extended durations, most likely weakening the CMC. “When this building is compromised, hair turns into further inclined to frizz, break up ends, and breakage,” he explains. “Fixed moisture retention from air drying could disrupt the lipid stability, leading to dryness and brittleness.”

The Benefits of Air Drying

That being talked about, there are nonetheless many benefits to air drying. They embody a lot much less heat publicity, retention of pure texture, and time monetary financial savings in your daily routine. Yates notes that air drying as a substitute of using scorching styling devices will assist prohibit hurt to the hair’s cuticle layers.

Strategies to Air Dry Accurately

When air drying:

• Yates advises eradicating further moisture from hair (significantly on the roots) to chop again drying time and prohibit any need for heat. This technique helps defend the cuticles, sustaining a clear flooring that retains hair shiny, healthful, and supple. Consider using merchandise designed for air drying, like a microfiber hair towel.
• “Additionally it is very important to stay away from excessive brushing and brushingas this may increasingly stress the cuticle,” she gives. “Since moist hair is further fragile, aggressive pulling have to be minimized.”

The Benefits of Blow Drying

“In some cases, blow-drying the hair on a lower heat setting can cease hurt introduced on by excessive water publicity, defending the CMC layer,” says Yates. “Nonetheless, regular publicity to extreme heat could also be harmful.”

Sirianno concurs, citing analysis demonstrating that managed blow-drying on a low-heat setting could also be a lot much less damaging than air drying as a result of it reduces the time hair spends in its most fragile, moist state. “Excessive water retention can stress the cuticle layers, whereas cheap heat publicity evaporates moisture faster, serving to to guard the hair’s integrity and cut back breakage,” he says.

Strategies to Blow Dry Accurately

Ought to you choose to blow dry:

• Appropriate devices and techniques make a giant distinction. Using the suitable temperature and styling merchandise can seal the cuticle, resulting in smoother, healthier-looking hair.
• Heat protectants are essential for minimizing hurt, even when robust drying hair with out styling. They create a barrier that reduces heat penetration and locks in moisture. “That’s the main product I prefer to suggest if any heat is being utilized to the hair,” says Sirianno.
• “Diffusers are excellent for curly or wavy hair,” Sirianno says, as they help distribute heat evenly, reducing direct contact with strands whereas preserving the pure curl pattern. Furthermore, using a nozzle attachment is important, as a result of it directs airflow for a smoother cuticle. And never utilizing a nozzle, airflow disperses in numerous directions, often leading to elevated frizz.

The Remaining Takeaway

Whereas evaluation signifies air drying can negatively affect hair on account of prolonged water publicity, it’s important to don’t forget that is a can—not a will. Must you favor to air dry, use devices and merchandise that help dry the hair completely and reduce the time it stays soaking moist. In some cases, blow drying on a low heat setting can cease hurt from prolonged water publicity, nonetheless repeated publicity to extreme heat can nonetheless set off hurt. So for individuals who favor blow-drying, maintain cautious (and always use a heat protectant).