The blow dryer in your bathroom can be a useful tool or an instrument of torture for your hair. While blow drying natural hair can give you the sexy, voluminous look and shape you love, it can also damage your hair when done incorrectly. The heat, paired with the roughness of the force and pressure of the air, can leave your hair damaged, dry and frizzy. Using the right techniques to blow dry your hair ensures smooth strands and healthier hair.
Step 1
Pat your hair dry when you get out of the shower. When you rub your hair dry, you roughen the hair cuticle and make your hair more prone to frizz. Comb your hair carefully, starting from the bottom of the hair and moving upwards. Apply a heat protecting spray over damp hair before you begin blow drying. The heat protecting spray creates a barrier between the heat and your hair, leading to less damage.
Step 2
Snap the directional nozzle attachment onto the end of your hair dryer. It's a round attachment with a thin opening. If your hair dryer didn't come with one, a beauty supply store can help you find one to fit your make and model of blow dryer. It will help direct the air downwards on the hair for smoother results.
Step 3
Clip the top section of your hair on top of your head, suggests "Cosmopolitan" magazine. This will allow you to blow dry your natural hair in sections and see what you're doing better. As the sections dry, you can release more sections of hair from the clips to get the best results. Hold the blow dryer above your head and point it downward before you switch it on.
Step 4
Hold a round or paddle brush behind the section of hair that you're drying, and move it slowly down the section of hair as you move the blow dryer. The brush helps to shape the hair. Do as much styling with the blow dryer as possible, Michael Shaun Corby, global creative director for Alterna Hair Care tells "Redbook" magazine. It does less damage than a heated styling tool, such as a flat iron or curling iron.
Step 5
Release sections of hair as the other sections become 90 percent dry, says "Marie Claire" magazine. Avoid drying the sections completely, as it can cause scorching of the hair shafts. When finished, flip your head upside down and blast the roots for 30 seconds for extra volume. Then, flip right side up and switch your blow dryer to cool. The heat makes your hair flexible, while the cool hair locks in style and shine.
Step 6
Spray with a flexible hold hairspray.
Things You'll Need
- Heat protecting spray
- Towel
- Blow dryer
- Directional nozzle
- Hair clips
- Round or paddle brush
- Hairspray
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