Many of you know that I encourage my clients to abstain from blow-drying for 6 months when they sign up to my hair course. This is not because I think blow-drying is awful. I blow dry my own hair!!!! However, I want those on my hair course to improve the condition of their hair quickly, learn to style their hair without always relying on blow drying and more importantly learn to blow-dry responsibly at the end of my course.
I think blow drying can be part of a healthy hair regiment, and in some cases, some people actually need it to help with manageability . There are pros and cons to blow drying and pros and cons to air drying. Neither is 100% safe. But let me focus this blog on the factors you should consider before reaching for that Dyson!!
5 things to consider before blow-drying
1. Hair Health and Condition
Source: Freepik
The health and condition of your hair is one of the most important factors. If your hair is already damaged, breaking or excessively dry, blow drying may exacerbate these issues because of the heat exposure. Air drying may be the best option until your hair health improves, as this is generally a gentler option that can help preserve your hair's natural oils and reduce further damage.
2. Hair Texture and Thickness
Source: Freepik
People with fine, thin hair may find that manipulating their hair with a brush or comb attachment whilst blow-drying is simply too much for their fine strands. I am always at pains to state that people focus so much on heat damage, but not enough on mechanical damage from the brush and combing and pulling of the hair whilst blow drying. On the other hand, some people with fine or thin hair with low density may find that air drying leaves their hair looking limp and lifeless. Blow drying can add volume and body to fine hair, so there is a trade off to be made and you must decide what is more important to you. I think there is a half way house of blowdrying on medium heat using the tension method as seen here. This method reduces mechanical damage to fine or thin strands.
In contrast, those with thicker and or coarser strands may struggle with prolonged water retention in hair (not great for hair health in the long term #hygralfatigue) or they may experience uneven drying when air drying, making blow drying a better option. Likewise, hair types prone to a lot of tangles may find manageability is enhanced with blow drying. So go back to point one on health and condition and answer honestly, is your hair in a good enough condition to withstand heat styling.
3. Time and Convenience
Air drying can take significantly longer than blow drying, especially for those with longer or thicker hair. And let's be real, some styles work best on blow dried hair. That said blow drying afro textured hair responsibly can also take longer too. You just have to choose which 'longer' you want to live with. However, if you have the flexibility, air drying can be a more convenient, hands-off approach.
4. Personal Preference
Ultimately, your personal preference and styling needs play a big role. Some people simply prefer the look and feel of blow dried hair, while others enjoy the natural, effortless look of air dried hair. Consider which style you find more appealing.
5. Environmental Impact
Because we are a responsible brand working towards sustainability, we must say, air drying is generally more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly than blow drying, which requires electricity. If sustainability is a priority for you, air drying may be the greener choice.
Wrap Up
By weighing these various factors, you can determine whether blow drying or air drying is the safer and more suitable option for your individual hair type and lifestyle. The key is to find the right balance between hair health, convenience, and personal style.