To Dry or Not to Dry: Breaking Down Air vs. Blow Drying for Healthier-Looking Hair
When it comes to your hair care routine, finding the right drying method is key to maintaining strong, long, happy hair. But deciding between air drying or using a blow dryer comes down to more than convenience and style - you must also consider potential damage. To help you determine the best approach, today we’ll break down the pros and cons of air drying versus blow drying and the best practices for each.
Air Drying: Low Heat = Less Damage
Allowing your hair to air dry is the most gentle, low maintenance drying method. By letting your hair dry naturally without any applied heat, you avoid adding additional wear and tear that could lead to dryness, frizz and breakage over time.
Air drying takes significantly longer than blow drying, so it requires more planning ahead. However, air-dried hair tends to leave your hair with a nice, soft texture and natural movement.
If opting to air dry, be sure not to rub or tousle hair vigorously with a towel - this can cause added friction and breakage. Instead, gently squeeze out excess moisture and wrap your hair in a microfibre towel.
Blow Drying: Faster Drying but Hot Tool Caution Ahead
In contrast to air-drying, blow-drying uses concentrated hot air to considerably speed up drying time. Our Sonic Dryer, in particular, was designed with a powerful 110,000 rpm motor that dries in a fraction of the time of a traditional dryer, with less noise and a lightweight body for comfortable styling.
However, the use of any hot tool introduces higher heat levels that can affect the hair over time. To protect your strands, ALWAYS use a heat protectant spray before blow drying. Our best-selling Heat Protect Spray contains potent actives that protect the hair up to 450°F/230°C while improving split ends by 86%*
Additionally, we recommend limiting blow drying to 1-2 times per week max, and avoiding extremely high, constant heat on any one section of your hair by keeping the dryer moving constantly.
Make an Informed Choice for Your Hair
As you can see, air and blow drying come with unique advantages and considerations. Ultimately, there isn’t a “better” method - it comes down to your hair’s needs and personal lifestyle factors.
Now that you know the key benefits and best practices, you can make an informed choice!
* Based on an in vitro study on hair tresses using a hair straightener at 450°F/230°C
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