How to Blow Dry Hair ... For Dummies!
We blow dry our hair every day! If you use blow-dryer improperly, it can cause severe damage to your hair. Blow drying can cause hair's cuticle to lift up, releasing moisture and leaving shafts brittle. Hair is most fragile when wet so extra care should be taken when drying.
Using a blow dryer set on high heat is very damaging. Extreme heat causes the loss of the hair's natural moisture resulting in dullness, brittleness and breakage.
Blow Drying Tips
• Squeeze excess water out and then pat dry with a towel.
• Set your blow dryer on low or medium heat.
• Do not hold the dryer too close when drying hair.
• Keep the blow dryer about six to eight inches away from your hair.
• Section your hair up and start with the under sections.
• If you dry your hair upside down, start at the nape, move on to the sides and dry the crown last.
• Aim the airflow from your dryer along the hair in the direction of the ends.
• Use a blow drying lotion to dry hair more quickly.
• Use your blow-dryer's nozzle attachment.
• Use a faster speed rather than a higher heat setting.
• To prevent heat damage, use a thermal protector according to the product instructions. It adds body and shine.
• To control static in your hair, spray hairspray on your hairbrush and brush it through your hair from the roots to the ends.
• Begin styling the hair when the scalp is completely dry and 80% of the hair is dry.
• Get rid of any blow dryer older than five years. The older the blow dryer, the higher the chance that the temperature gauge is damaged.
• Give your hair a break once in awhile and let it just dry naturally.
How to Blow Dry Hair Straight
How to do it - step by step instructions:
1. Shampoo and condition;
2. Detangle your hair using a wide toothed comb;
3. Start when your hair is 80% dry;
4. Begin with the hair in the nape;
5. Section off a 5cm deep piece of hair;
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6. Use your brush to remove any tangles;
7. Draw your brush over the surface of the section from roots to ends;
8. Direct your hair down towards your shoulders;
9. Keeping tension in the hair;
10. Wind your hair around the brush back towards the scalp;
11. Do not bend the ends;
12. Use your other hand to smooth the hair as you wind;
13. Unwind the brush to reveal a length of hair to be dried;
14. You should have the tension that will get your hair really straight;
15. Pick up your hairdryer and direct the flow of air along the hair under tension;
16. The flow of air must be from scalp towards the brush but not on the brush;
17. Blow dry the hair that is pulled straight between the scalp and brush;
18. Keep the hairdryer about 3 to 5 cm from the hair;
19. Work down the length of your hair until only the ends are left around the brush;
20. Your next step depends on how you want your hair to look;
21. If you want your hair to be turned in or turned out simply bend the hair around the brush;
22. If you want the dead pan straight sleek look:
- Remove the brush and insert it underneath the ends;
- Use the airflow from the dryer to keep the ends against the brush but not around it;
- The ends should be in the same direction as the rest of the hair;
- Do not curl or twist your brush;
23. Let the section fall away and check that it is fully dry;
24. Move onto the next section without disturbing the one you just finished;
25. Repeat instructions 5 to 24 until all of your hair is dry.
Four more tips:
A styling product is necessary if you want your blow-dry to last.
Use mousse or one of the products designed specially to help straighten your hair and keep it that way.
To finish with, use a gloss or oil to smooth your hair and remove any frizzes.
Do not apply finishing products too close to your scalp.
