One of the best ways to show who you are is through your hair. Because there are so many ways to style, color, and play with it, it becomes an important part of how we show the world who we are. But this ability to change often comes with a price: loss. When I get a new, bouncy haircut, I feel like I can do anything. It boosts my confidence and gives me the energy to do it. That being said, my long hair might not be as excited after an hour of heat style and pulling. To keep things in balance, I try to keep my blowouts going for as long as possible and switch between days when I let my hair air dry or do very little styling.
Still, I often wonder if air drying is really better for your hair. In what situations might heat treatment actually be helpful? April Kayganich and Hana Chong, two hair stylists, helped us answer these questions. This is everything they said about this old hair care argument.
Talk to the Experts
April Kayganich is a groomer on Hair Story Network who has worked in the field for years.
Hana Chong is a top stylist at The Team Hair Salon in New York City.
Is letting your hair air dry really better for it?
The short answer is yes, drying your hair in the air is usually better for it. “Since there is no heat, there is no damage,” says Chong. Both my own experiences and science research have shown that too much heat can damage and weaken the hair cuticle. Heat brushing your hair too often can dry it out, break it, and cause split ends over time.
Not that easy, though, as most things in life aren’t. The good thing about air drying depends on the type and structure of your hair and how you handle the process. Here are some of the good and bad things about each method.
Why and how to air dry things
Pros:
Healthier Hair: When you air dry your hair, it does not occur into contact with heat, which helps protect the surface and stops heat damage.
Low Maintenance: “It requires a lot of work or time,” says Kayganich. This can save the day for people who are always on the go.
Accepts Natural Texture: Letting your hair dry naturally lets its natural pattern show. You can improve and define your skin without using heat tools if you use the right products, such as a light balm or curl cream.
Not so good:
Time-consuming: Air drying your hair can take hours or even a whole day, depending on how thick and curly it is.
When hair is wet, it is at its weakest, which makes it more likely to break while air drying. When you comb or touch your hair right now, be careful.
Possible frizz and unevenness: Frizz or an uneven look can be caused by things outside of the hair, like humidity or a drying environment which is not regular.
Why and how to blow dry hair
Pros:
Control Over Styling: Blow drying gives you a lot of options and accuracy, making it easy to get looks that are sleek, full, or polished.
Improves Shine and Smoothness: Blow drying can give your hair a smooth, shiny finish if you do it right.
Quick Drying: Blow drying is much faster than air drying if you are short on time.
Not so good:
Damage from heat: Blow drying your hair too much or not right can dry it out and make it brittle. Using high heat without safety makes the damage worse.
Frizz Risk: If you use a bad blow dryer or do not do it right, your hair could become curly instead of smooth.
Dependence on Products: To get a healthy blow-dried look, you may need to use heat protectants and styling products, which can make your process longer.
Who Should Dry Their Hair in the Air?
Air drying is great for anyone who wants to keep damage to a minimum, but it works especially well for
People with damaged or weak hair: If your hair is easily broken or has been chemically treated, letting it air dry can help keep it from getting worse.
People who are proud of their natural skin tone: Kayganich says, “You can set your hair with something like hair balm and let it dry on its own.”
Fans of low-maintenance hair care: If you like to keep things easy, air drying is a good choice.
Who needs to blow dry their hair?
There are some good things about air drying hair, but there are also some bad things about blow drying hair. It works best for:
People Who Want to Get a Certain Look: Blow drying gives you more control and accuracy, so it’s great for finished or styled looks.
People Who Are Short on Time: Blow drying your hair is the fastest way to get it dry.
Anyone Who Uses Heat Protection: Chong stresses how important heat protectors are. It has very important to use a product that heals, moisturizes, and protects from heat,” she says. Pick a lower heat setting to really cut down on damage.
How to Dry Your Hair in a Healthy Way
It is irrelevant what method you use; the most important thing is to use the right technique and take good care of your hair.
If you dry things outside:
Pick the Right Items: Use a leave-in conditioner or a light balm to keep the wetness in and get rid of frizz.
Be Gentle: Never dry your towel in a rough way. To get rid of the extra water, pat your hair gently with a cotton towel or T-shirt.
Take Care to Comb: While your hair is still wet, use a wide-tooth comb to get rid of knots.
When you blow dry your hair:
Protect Your Hair From Heat: To keep your hair from getting damaged, always use a good heat protectant.
Use a Good Dryer: To get rid of frizz, buy a blow dryer with ionic technology and various heat settings.
Dry in Sections: Dry your hair in small sections to make sure it dries evenly and avoid letting the heat hit it for too long.
Finish with Cool Air: Choose your style, and then switch to a cool air setting to finish the cuticle.
Which Is Better: Blow Drying or Air Drying?
Which way is better then? In the end, it depends on your hair type, your goals, and how you live your life.
Air drying is better for your hair, especially if it is damaged or fragile. For days when you are unwilling to do much or when you want to embrace natural textures.
Blow drying is best for getting certain looks or when you lack much time. Blow drying can still be pretty safe as long as you take the right safety measures, like using heat protectants and good tools.
Weight is important. To keep my hair healthy, I switch between air drying and blow drying. You can also find a practice that works for you. No matter what you choose, make sure you protect and feed your hair every day to keep it looking and feeling great.
Key words:
How to dry hair, the pros and cons of air drying vs. blow drying, how to avoid heat damage, natural hair structure, hair care tips, air drying vs. blow drying, hair styling techniques, healthy hair habits, and heat protectants.