Reasons why you should limit air drying your hair and use the dryer
When your favorite hairdresser or beauty Instagrammer tells you to avoid combing your hair regularly with heat, you listen. While many of us limit the styling of our braids, we also skip the use of a hair dryer after washing our head. And while you may feel kind to your mane, there’s a strong chance it’s not exactly the right way to do it. Wait, so hot styling is bad for your hair, but air drying is bad for you too? In this beauty jury, we discuss air drying hair and how to find the perfect balance between air drying and blow drying.
3 reasons why you should limit your hair drying to air and use the hair dryer
Before we get into the details of finding that perfect balance, let’s discuss the damage air drying does to hair. This can help to understand more fully why we need to achieve the perfect balance between air drying and hair drying.
Dehydrated locks
When you air dry your hair, it naturally lets it stay wet for a longer period of time. This prolonged period of water retention in the locks can lead to dry, dehydrated hair when exposed to varying weather conditions, such as colder temperatures.
Long-term damage
Another major drawback of the maximized water retention period in the hair is the long-term damage. This causes the hair membrane to swell and can weaken hair health over time. This is why hair strands are weaker when wet and regular air drying can cause hair to lose its body and shape over time.
Accumulation of bacteria
While you think you did a great job of not plugging in the hair dryer, you may be turning a negligent eye towards the bacteria you might be attracting. Keeping your hair wet for long hours causes bacteria to grow and completely destroys the health of the scalp.
Finding a balance
The possibility of the disadvantages discussed above of air drying hair for an extended period of time is addressed. However, when included in your hair care routine in a balanced meaning, air drying can work wonders too. Try to achieve balance by incorporating both blow-drying and air-drying into your routine!