Blow Drying Natural Hair Made Easy

Blow drying natural hair is not that easy. It is particularly difficult when you have curl types 3 and 4. Water gets confined to the hair because of the curls and may consume more time to dry up.

Protecting your curly and kinky hair while blow-drying to prevent heat damage is important. Hair can turn hard and brittle if proper care is not taken while using heating equipment. Moreover, blow-drying hair in winters takes much more effort and time. But, fret not! This article provides a step-by-step guide of what hair products and hair tools to use and how to blow-dry natural hair. Read on.

Quick Tip

Before hair dryers were invented, using a vacuum cleaner to dry hair was a common practice!

How To Blow Dry Natural Hair Without Damage

Things You Need 

• Herbal oil (olive, almond, or argan oils)
• Organic shea butter
• A good heat protectant
• Blow dryer (preferably with a brush attachment)
• A comb
• Clips or hairbands to hold hair sections

So, how to go about the process? Below is a convenient method to blow dry your hair.

Easy Natural Hair Blow Drying Tutorial

Step 1:

Start with shampooed and towel-dried hair.

Step 2: Oil the hair roots and strands.

Step 3: Apply shea butter to moisturize the hair strands and smoothen the cuticles.

Step 4: Part your hair into two sections and coat each strand with the hair moisturizer.

Step 5: Secure one hair section with a clip or hairband.

Step 6: Spray a heat protectant on the other section, covering each strand.

Step 7: Blow dry a small section of your hair on a medium to high heat setting. Use a brush blow dryer with a brush attachment to make it easy. You can also use a traditional blow dryer and comb.

Step 8: Pass the blow dryer through each section quickly to prevent heat damage.

Step 9: Apply more shea butter to each hair section and the scalp.

Step 10: After a quick pause, run the blow dryer through your hair one last time.

Step 11: Lightly comb your hair.

Final Result: Voila! Your hair is dry without heat damage!

Before And After Blow Drying Natual Hair

This is the safest way to blow dry your curly hair. It has multiple benefits. 

Benefits Of Blow Drying Natural Hair 

• Prevents Tangles: Curly hair is fragile, and detangling the knots often causes hair breakage and split ends. Blow-drying curly hair can prevent tangles and keep your hair knot-free. However, it is best to limit it to once a week.
• Easy To Maintain: Blow drying your hair keeps it smooth and minimizes frizz. This keeps your hair healthy, soft, and shiny.
• Adds Volume And Length: Curls can shrink as much as almost 75% of their true length. Blow drying can affect hair texture as it volumizes it, adds length, and makes it appear straighter. It is an easy way to add oomph to your hairstyle.
• Prevents Damp Hair Problems: A damp scalp is a breeding ground for microbes, which may cause scalp odor and weaken the hair follicles. Damp hair is also breakage-prone. Blow drying your hair can help prevent all these issues and improve hair health.

Alicia, a blogger, started using heat in her hair care routine two years into her natural hair journey. She sums up her experience as follows, “As long as I have been using heat, I have not seen any setbacks with my hair. I started using heat in my second year and at year four hit waist length. This is not the case for everyone! As far as heat training (is concerned), that is not my intention or ultimate goal, but I do understand regular use of heat can alter the curl pattern. For over two years, I have not noticed a change in my curl pattern (i).”

You can reap these benefits only if you blow dry your hair safely. Here are some more tips to blow dry your hair without incurring heat damage. So scroll down for some important hair care tips.

More Tips To Blow Dry Natural Hair Safely 

• Wash your hair with a moisturizing shampoo.
• Use a microfiber towel to dry your scalp and hair.
• Use your fingers to untangle big knots and a fine-toothed comb to detangle smaller knots.
• Always section your hair and secure each of them with clips or bands.
• Apply a natural hair oil and a hair moisturizer (preferably shea butter) for extra hydration.
• Use a good heat protectant to prevent heat damage.
• When blow drying, work on smaller sections to ensure you cover each hair strand.
• Apply a light oil for shine and smoothness after blow drying.
• If you wash your hair twice a week, use a hair mask once a week.
• Use a leave-in conditioner to smoothen frizz and nourish damaged and dry hair.
• When at home, secure your hair in a bun and wrap a scarf around. You can use the scarf to protect your hair from UV damage.
• Always massage your hair with coconut oil the night before you wash and blow dry it.

Quick Tip

Natural hair needs more moisture and tends to be more delicate than other hair types. Therefore, it is best to limit blow drying sessions to once per month.

How Long Does The Blow Dry Last?

A blow dry can last for 1-2 days. Blow drying only dries your hair, while blowout helps in hair styling and straightens the curls. As long as you comb your hair and prevent friction by securing it with a scarf while sleeping, your blowout hair will stay as fresh as newly washed hair.

Some prefer air drying their hair. But how is it different from blow drying? Know more in the next section.

Blow Drying Vs. Air Drying

As we saw, blow drying involves the use of hot air from a dryer. This approach helps dry hair quickly. However, the heat could damage the hair in the long run.

Air drying, on the other hand, does not involve the use of hot appliances. This method is gentler since it reduces the risk of heat damage and maintains your hair’s natural texture and shine.

Air drying your hair is simple. Once you are done with your shower, gently squeeze out the excess water from your hair and wrap it in a soft towel for a few minutes. You can then leave your hair open for air drying.

The only challenge with air drying is it takes longer to dry your hair completely. So, patience is key.

Infographic: Blow Drying Natural Hair: A Step-By-Step Style Guide

You may be concerned about the negative impact heat styling tools have on your natural hair. However, you might need to turn to blow drying if you want to improve the look and feel of your tresses. Check out the infographic below that highlights how to blow dry curly hair without damaging your tresses.

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it okay to blow dry natural hair?

Yes. As long as you take necessary precautions before blow-drying, follow the correct steps, and provide proper care to your hair, it is safe to blow dry natural hair.

Is it better to blow dry natural hair wet or dry?

It is recommended to avoid blow-drying when the hair is too wet. Blow-drying damp hair is fine, or you may air dry it for 30 mins to an hour before blow-drying.

How often should you blow-dry natural hair?

If your natural hair is in a good, healthy condition, you can blow dry it once a week. However, if your hair is damaged, it is better to limit blow-drying to once a fortnight.

Can I put coconut oil on my hair before blow-drying?

Yes. Applying a small amount of coconut oil on your hair before blow-drying can protect it from heat damage.

Can you blow-dry natural hair without a heat protectant?

No. Using heat protectants will shield your hair from heat damage. Therefore, do not miss this step in the process.

Learn how to maintain stretched and kinky blow-dried natural hair for weeks. Get tips on how to keep your hair looking fresh and healthy by watching the video below.

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Reviewer Author Editor Fact Checker

Florence NangaTrichologist

   

Dr. Nanga graduated as an Associate Trichologist from the World Trichology Society in 2019. She has 14 years of experience and is also a socio-esthetician in oncology and a specialist taking care of cancer patients who lose hair during chemotherapy.

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Arshiya SyedaCo-Editor-in-Chief

 

Arshiya Syeda is the Co-Editor-in-Chief of StyleCraze with 8 years of experience. Prior to that, she was a content writer who combined her writing and research skills to write over 200 high-performing articles on hairstyles, hair care, and skin care.

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Ramona SinhaEditor

Ramona is an editor at StyleCraze with 11 years of experience in writing and editing. She has authored over 200 articles on skin and hair care. She graduated from the University of Calcutta, West Bengal, and did her post-graduation from the University of Kalyani, West Bengal.

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Medha DebCommerce Editor

Medha Deb is a commerce editor with a master's degree in applied linguistics from the University of Hyderabad, which has allowed her to develop a deep understanding of language and its application in various contexts. She specializes in the areas of beauty, health, and wellness and is committed to ensuring that the content on the website is of the highest quality.

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