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How To Dry Hair Without A Blow Dryer

Last Updated on November 30, 2021

How To Dry Hair Without A Blow Dryer

You’re probably reading this and wondering to yourself, do I really need to know the ‘right way to dry your hair without a blow dryer?

It’s self-explanatory after all, right?

Well, this is where you’re actually wrong; the technique you use to dry your hair without your blow dryer, such as going to sleep with wet hair, may be causing more damage than you may think.

In reality, many people often forget that hair is most fragile while wet, hence most prone to damage, so if you’re leaving your hair to “naturally” dry, then brilliant use the right technique.

Don’t let it put you off, though; I’m here to help.

To make things easier for you, I’m here to share with you how to dry hair without a blow dryer without causing damage to your strands with some top tips and tricks!

Letting your hair naturally dry without applying the right products or using the right technique can cause a whirl of frizz and damage as your hair dries.

So stay tuned; you won’t want to miss this.

hair towel

How To Dry Your Hair Fast Without A Blow Dryer– Top Tips and Tricks

When it comes down to air-drying your strands, there are a few key steps you’ll want to take; this will help protect your hair from any environmental damage.

You won’t need your blow dryer after this!

Tip One:

Deep condition your hair before leaving it to air dry. Maintaining a good deep conditioning routine is super important for strengthening your strands and promoting healthy hair.

Your hair is weakest while wet, so make sure you deep condition regularly; it will also help to protect your stands against any styling tools or rough materials you’ll use on your hair.

While silicones are brilliant for providing a protective layer over your hair cuticles, they tend to leave a plasticky film over your strands, which can leave a greasy residue.

Silicones can’t be broken down without sulfates, either, so if you use a sulfate-free shampoo, make sure to avoid silicones.

Many brilliant products create a seal over your strands to help tame frizz and protect hair from damage without silicones.

Or even if you would much rather go for a natural alternative, olive oil acts as a brilliant barrier.

Remember on your wash days to do two shampoos, the first one will break down the oil and product buildup, and the second will remove it.

Tip Two: Use The Right Products For Your Hair Type:

There is nothing more important than using the right products for your hair type and hair porosity. Such as with low porosity hair, you may benefit from lightweight products that won’t sit on top of your hair.

By knowing your hair type, you can help your hair find the proper balance your hair needs to thrive and hold in hairstyles.

If you have particularly frizzy locks, you may also benefit from a product specifically designed for that as it will help dry your hair without a blow dryer– no more frizzy mess.

Tip Three: Give Your Head A Little Shake:

Another brilliant way to remove any excess water without damaging your hair strands is to flip your head upside down and give it a little shake.

Use your fingers to lift the root, and this should help remove as much water as possible without damaging the hair strands.

Tip Four: Start With The Roots:

The best way to air-dry hair fast and safely is to start with the roots because your roots become in less contact with air, and that is where the water collects.

Pat your roots to prevent any drops from falling to the ends; they also have the longest drying time when you get out of the shower, so starting with them first should help your hair dry naturally faster.

dry hair

Tip Five: Use A Microfiber Towel:

So you’ve probably been using a regular cotton bath towel your whole life? Using it for all your towel drying needs, including your hair.

What if I told you that drying your hair with a cotton towel is the reason for all your frizz? Your cotton towel is actually worse for your hair more than many of us realize.

But why?

Well, because of the coarse texture and dryness of the cotton, this can cause extreme damage to the hair; it can worsen split ends and cause small caters in the hair shaft, which weakens the hair.

Cotton towels can also soak up all the moisture, including natural moisture on the ends of your hair, leaving your hair looking dry and frizzy. But frizz isn’t just caused by moisture absorption (despite this being a massive contributing factor).

Rubbing a cotton towel against your head can cause friction along your hair shaft, and since wet hair is most fragile while wet, this can cause breakage and split ends as well as causing a whirl of frizz.

Instead, I would recommend that you dry your hair using a microfiber towel instead. A microfiber towel uses a much gentler fabric than cotton; it absorbs more water and results in less damage.

You should scrunch your hair dry in sections using a microfiber towel or even tie your hair up in a microfiber towel to dry your hair faster and protect hair while drying.

Tip Six: Use A Cotton T-Shirt Alternatively:

You can also use a cotton t-shirt to help your hair dry faster. Unlike cotton towels, cotton t-shirts are much softer in texture and softer on hair.

T-shirts don’t have rough grooves as a standard towel; the flat surface allows water to sink in and slide over the hair instead of roughing it up, making it ideal for hair plopping and gently drying hair. 

Many curly girls use either a cotton t-shirt or a microfiber hair towel to dry their hair, but anyone can make the switch; it will leave hair looking shiny and frizz-free. 

So stick to using a cotton towel on your skin but switch to a microfiber towel for your hair!

Tip Seven: Don’t Go To Sleep With Wet Hair:

So you know I mentioned earlier that you shouldn’t use a cotton bath towel on your hair? Well, the same concept goes for sleeping with wet hair, especially on cotton sheets.

As you toss and turn in your sleep, you are causing friction on your hair strands; you can also tug and pull, causing unnecessary breakage and cuticle disruption.

Instead, you should only go to sleep once your hair is 100% dry; I would also recommend opting for a silk or satin pillow and/or wearing your hair in a protective hairstyle.

how to dry hair without a blow dryer 1

Tip Eight: Use A Wide Tooth Comb:

If your hair is prone to frizz, it may be best to only comb your hair through while it is wet, as brushing while dry will only cause frizz.

Although many professionals recommend that you don’t brush your strands while wet as this can cause snagging and pulling, those with textured, frizzy, or curly hair have no choice.

If you’re air-drying your hair, you should apply your leave-in products first while your hair is still wet and use a wide-tooth comb to detangle– as your hair will have most slip after applying these products.

These products should also help with the detangling process and protect your strands when it takes for your hair to dry.

What Leave-In Products Should You Apply To Hair?

If you want to dry your hair without using a blow dryer, then the most important factor to consider is the products you use on your hair.

For starters, you should still apply your heat protectant as many of these heat protectants provide a protective seal over your hair strands to lock in moisture, tame frizz, and protect hair from the environment.

You should also remember to use a leave-in conditioner when leaving your hair to dry naturally. This will help moisturize and strengthen strands to protect them during wet such as from the brush.

Some leave-in conditioners also help provide hair with the elasticity it needs when drying to prevent snagging or pulling on strands.

If you have waves or curls, you may also want to consider adding a gel, styling cream, or mousse to your routine, as this will help promote the natural texture and protect your strands while drying.

Some products will also help hair dry faster, especially if you have low porosity hair.

microfibre towel

Summary:

So there you have it, my top tips and tricks to drying your hair naturally. No more needing to use heat or to blow dry your hair.

Hopping out of the shower, giving your hair a little squeeze, and applying your products are so much easier than doing the full haircare routine.

If you use the right products and take extra care during the drying process, you can boss the naturally dried look.

Top tip of the day: I would recommend opting for a microfiber turban; they usually come with a button, making it easier to attach to your head. Check out my full guide for top recommendations here.

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