We love hairdryers! They don’t just blow-dry wet hair quickly; they also help give it direction, style, and volume. So, what’s the deal about them being damaging? Well, hairdryers can actually prove a menacing threat to your hair’s health when used incorrectly. In some cases, they can even cause your hair to thin and break, which leads to subsequent hair loss.
Correct usage of a hairdryer, especially a quality hair dryer, should make for fewer hairstyling woes. Still, the fact is that a single mistake could be all it takes to singe your gorgeous locks. Let’s find out what these mistakes are so that you can avoid them.
Hair Dryer Mistakes That Can Damage Your Hair
Technically, even when you are careful with your hairdryer, you might still end up damaging your hair. That’s because you’re applying heat, of which any form could create tiny holes in your hair’s outer protective layer. Unless you’re an experienced hairstylist, there are chances you could be pressing a little too hard or too long on some areas and breaking off the cuticle.
That brings us to the factors that often result in hair damage. Granted, some of these are relative to the strength and health of your hair. Even so, they could place your hair’s condition in peril.
1. Time
Timing is crucial when using a hairdryer. Your decision might only be between blow-drying soaking wet hair and towel-dried hair, but that still matters immensely. Dry your hair when it’s too wet, and it could cause breakage and eventual hair loss. Remove excess water from the shower by towel drying your hair first before subjecting it to your hairdryer.
2. Temperature
Trust us! You don’t want to go overboard with the temperature. While a higher temperature might lead to faster drying, it could also result in hair becoming brittle. Most of the time, you want to keep it to medium-heat and fast-speed. This should give just the right amount of heat exposure to the strands without breaking off the cuticle.
Hot air concentrated on an area for too long not only leads to hair breakage but can also damage the roots and affect the scalp’s health. Remember, overall hair health starts with scalp health.
3. Heat Protectants
The industry recognizes that hair dryers could end up damaging your hair regardless. That’s why some companies offer heat protectants to ensure you have your cake and get to eat it, too. These specific products protect both your hair and scalp from heat, in general, but especially from concentrated dry-air heat.
4. Technique
Timing and temperature also tie into technique, as both factor into helping you achieve a specific hairstyle using your hairdryer. Some techniques are more hair-friendly than others, such as those that involve keeping the hairdryer moving to prevent heat from concentrating on just one area. These methods also prevent you from burning your roots and scalp.
5. Combs and Brushes
Combs and brushes seem harmless to a lot of people, but they can actually be pretty destructive on hair. The type of hairbrush and manner of hair brushing will factor into how much damage hair drying causes when you combine them.
Regardless of the comb and combing technique used, there will always be a certain degree of breakage that results from tugging on wet hair. Thus, you want to reserve this activity for when your hair is near-drying. That way, you can smoothen out, give direction, and plump up your crowning glory without risking its structural integrity.
6. Cold Air
What does cold air have to do with a hair drying session? Well, it’s actually the finishing touch that reseals the cuticle to protect the hair shaft’s inner layers.
Drying sessions tend to break off the cuticle’s proteins and lipids to dry the hair faster and provide better shape. As such, a cold blast of air offers the perfect finish, reinforcing protection from environmental damage and boosting the hair’s shine.
7. Hair Dryer
Not all hair dryers are created equal. Cheaper, flimsier hair dryers are not as trustworthy as higher-quality models, even when you do use them correctly. There is only so much you can do with limited features and poor configurations.
Pick a hairdryer that uses innovative technology to supplement scalp and hair with added moisture, maintain visible hair smoothness and shine, and prevent dryness. The market should spoil you for choice with the most sought-after brands and models, so you won’t have a problem selecting the right hairdryer.
Should You Fear a Hair Dryer?
Not at all—not even in the long run! There’s a reason why these products are still popular and sought-after. Also, issues of hair and scalp damage usually revolve around incorrect usage and cheaper products. Hence, you shouldn’t have to worry too much about damage if you have the right hairdryer and knowledge of its accurate operation.
