Is Air Drying Hair Unhealthy? Hairstylists Weigh In

Whether or not or not it’s because of we’re attempting out a fluffy new kind or realized we washed our hair a bit too close to bedtime, most of us have used a blow-dryer on our hair ultimately 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 effectively being.

Typical information holds that air drying is preferable to using heat in nearly every state of affairs. Nonetheless is that mainly the case? Could 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. Study on for what they wanted to share regarding the professionals and cons of air drying, along with probably the most safe choice to do it.

Can Air Drying Set off Hurt?

Air drying does not normally set off direct damageSirianno says—nonetheless it’ll in all probability contribute to factors over time relying in your hair kind and setting. “If hair stays moist for extended intervals, the hair shaft can swell, making it additional weak to breakage,” he explains. “The slower evaporation may 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 Superior (CMC) binds the cuticle layers collectively, participating in an essential place in hair’s elasticity and energy. Air drying might trigger hair to absorb water for extended intervals, in all probability weakening the CMC. “When this building is compromised, hair turns into additional susceptible to frizz, break up ends, and breakage,” he explains. “Fixed moisture retention from air drying may disrupt the lipid steadiness, leading to dryness and brittleness.”

The Benefits of Air Drying

That being acknowledged, there are nonetheless many benefits to air drying. They embrace a lot much less heat publicity, retention of pure texture, and time monetary financial savings in your day-to-day routine. Yates notes that air drying instead of using scorching styling devices may assist limit damage to the hair’s cuticle layers.

Learn the way to Air Dry Appropriately

When air drying:

• Yates advises eradicating additional moisture from hair (significantly on the roots) to reduce drying time and limit any need for heat. This methodology helps defend the cuticles, sustaining a clear ground that retains hair shiny, healthful, and supple. Consider using merchandise designed for air drying, like a microfiber hair towel.
• “It is usually very important to avoid excessive brushing and brushingas this may increasingly stress the cuticle,” she offers. “Since moist hair is additional fragile, aggressive pulling must be minimized.”

The Benefits of Blow Drying

“In some cases, blow-drying the hair on a lower heat setting can forestall damage attributable to excessive water publicity, defending the CMC layer,” says Yates. “However, regular publicity to extreme heat might be harmful.”

Sirianno concurs, citing analysis demonstrating that managed blow-drying on a low-heat setting might 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 affordable heat publicity evaporates moisture sooner, serving to to guard the hair’s integrity and reduce breakage,” he says.

Learn the way to Blow Dry Appropriately

Ought to you choose to blow dry:

• Right devices and strategies make a serious distinction. Using the perfect temperature and styling merchandise can seal the cuticle, resulting in smoother, healthier-looking hair.
• Heat protectants are essential for minimizing damage, 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 wish to advocate if any heat is being utilized to the hair,” says Sirianno.
• “Diffusers are good for curly or wavy hair,” Sirianno says, as they help distribute heat evenly, lowering direct contact with strands whereas preserving the pure curl pattern. Furthermore, using a nozzle attachment is crucial, as a result of it directs airflow for a smoother cuticle. With out a nozzle, airflow disperses in quite a lot of directions, sometimes leading to elevated frizz.

The Final Takeaway

Whereas evaluation signifies air drying can negatively affect hair as a consequence of prolonged water publicity, it’s critical to don’t forget that is a can—not a will. Do you have to select to air dry, use devices and merchandise that help dry the hair utterly and scale back the time it stays soaking moist. In some cases, blow drying on a low heat setting can forestall damage from prolonged water publicity, nonetheless repeated publicity to extreme heat can nonetheless set off damage. So in case you select blow-drying, hold cautious (and on a regular basis use a heat protectant).