How you dry and style your hair has a significant impact on its health. Using a hair dryer on high heat, for example, can damage your hair. So, how do you properly dry your hair to prevent split ends and breakage? Check out the tips in the following article.

Tips for properly drying your hair

Mistakes in drying and styling can lead to hair damage. When your hair is wet, the protective outer layer (cuticle) lifts slightly, making your hair more vulnerable to breakage. Drying your hair too roughly with a towel or using a high-heat hair dryer can exacerbate this issue.

Drying hair with a towel

Using a towel is one of the simplest ways to dry your hair. Use a microfiber towel, which absorbs more water and is gentler on your hair than rough-textured towels.

To dry your hair, gently squeeze any excess water from the roots to the tips. Next, gather some of your hair and gently pat it with the towel. Aside from patting your hair slowly, you can gently squeeze it until it is mostly dry.

Drying hair with a hair dryer

A hair dryer is one of the quickest and most practical methods to dry your hair. However, using a hair dryer with a high heat setting can increase the risk of hair damage.

Start using a hair dryer when your hair is damp, not soaking wet. Use a towel to remove excess water from your hair after washing it. Only when your hair is slightly damp, then use a hair dryer to completely dry it.

Start with the lowest heat setting. If the lowest setting remains too warm, stick with it to avoid damage. To prevent overheating, keep the dryer at least 15 cm away from your hair.

Air-drying

Air-drying your hair is the gentlest method if you want to give your hair a break from heat. However, avoid leaving your hair wet for too long as it can weaken the hair’s delicate proteins, especially if you have thick hair that absorbs water easily.

After washing your hair, dry it with a towel until it feels damp. To prevent breakage, do not rub the towel too hard. Allow your hair to air dry once it has reached 60–70% dryness. To avoid tangling, use a wide-tooth comb and consider applying hair care products like vitamins or hair tonics.

Tips for maintaining hair health

Several factors affect hair health, including how you style and care for it, as well as your diet. Some ways to maintain healthy hair include:

• Wash your hair regularly with a shampoo suited to your hair type and scalp.
• Follow with a conditioner to keep your hair moisturized.
• Wear a swim cap when swimming to protect your hair from chlorine.
• Avoid styling your hair while it’s still wet.
• Use a flat iron on medium heat, and only on completely dry hair.
• Avoid tight hairstyles, excessive hair ties, and hair extensions.
• Eat a balanced diet rich in iron, protein, vitamins, and omega-3 fatty acids to support hair growth.
• Manage stress effectively.
• Trim your hair regularly to prevent split ends.

How you dry your hair affects its health in the long term. If you have any questions about hair health, you can make use of the consultation features that are available in the Ai Care application by downloading the Ai Care application from the App Store or Play Store.

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