Using a Hair Dryer Without Damaging Your Hair

Using a hair dryer is important to many hair styles. Styling damp hair as you dry it helps the style to hold and creates volume. Not only does it help you style your hair, but blow drying allows you to dry your hair faster than if you were to leave it to air dry. A hair dryer is a convenient hair styling tool that is quick and easy to use.

There is one problem with using a hair dryer frequently, however. Subjecting your hair to the hot air of the hair dryer can actually hurt your locks and leave you with dried out, damaged hair.

It would seem that the most obvious solution to the problem of heat-damaged hair would be to stop using a hair dryer altogether. But for those of us who don't have the time or patience to air dry our hair, here are some tips for keeping your hair healthy and protected against a hair dryer:

• First of all, it can be a good idea to blow dry your hair with the nozzle of the dryer facing downward, drying the hair down from the roots. This will help keep your hair from frizzing and tangling as much as other drying methods.
• Spray your hair with a heat-protection spray. This product helps minimize heat damage and guards your hair against the intense temperature of your hair dryer.
• Keep you hair moisturized. Deep condition your hair every week or so, or use special conditioning products to help your hair retain moisture. This can help keep your hair from drying out and becoming frizzy or damaged.
• A hot oil treatment is an excellent way to help get your hair moisturized. Doing this at least once a month will help stop split ends from forming and will help prevent hair from drying out.
• Don't start to blow dry your hair when it is still really wet. If you don't wait until hair is a little dryer, any product you put in your hair to protect it can just drip out. Don't blow dry hair straight out of the shower—wait several minutes first.
• Don't over-blow dry your hair. Too much heat for too long can have harmful effects on your hair. Blow dry the hair until it is just dry enough, then stop so your hair does not become damaged.

Using the right products and techniques while blow drying your hair can help prevent damage and over-drying, leaving you with healthy, moisturized hair.