How to Blow Dry Your Hair Without Getting Damaged

Co-authored by Michelle Bebbington

Last Updated: May 4, 2023

Though blow dryers make your hair look great, all that exposure to heat is actually quite damaging to your hair. Your hair can end up dried out, frizzy, or with split ends, which are never a good thing. If you're worried that you're going to fry your hair with your frequent blow drying, there are some steps you can take to minimize the heat damage.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Preparing to Blow Dry Your Hair

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1
Buy a good quality hair dryer. If you can afford it, buy a high-end dryer from a beauty supply store — some of them are so sophisticated they have a dial that lets you control the actual temperature of the hair. Most people won't want to splurge like that, though, so just make sure you buy a dryer with cool, warm, and hot settings. Do not buy one of the low-end dryers that only has a single setting.^{[1] X Expert Source

Michelle Bebbington
Professional Hair Stylist Expert Interview. 3 August 2021.}
- Make sure you also buy attachments to help you style your hair, including a nozzle to distribute the air flow evenly and a diffuser to spread it out over a large area of hair.
- If you don't know where to find a beauty supply store, ask your stylist when you get your next hair cut.
Generally speaking, finer hair will overheat and burn more quickly, so you want to dry fine hair at a lower temperature. Thicker or curly hair might require a higher heat setting to get the job done, but don't over-expose any hair to heat.

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3
Pre-treat your hair with protection products before exposing them to the heat from your blow dryer.^{[2] X Research source} Use your fingers or a comb to distribute the product evenly throughout your hair.
- A trip down the haircare aisle at your local grocery store will give you more heat protections options that you know what to do with.
- These products come in a range of delivery methods, from creams to sprays — try out a few different kinds of products to figure out what works best for you.
- While you don't want to break the bank, you also don't want to skimp on these products. They're available in a wide price range, from $5-6 to $50.
- Look for products that contain silicone, which is especially good at protecting hair.

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Blow Drying Your Hair

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You don't need to physically separate your hair, but at least mentally plan out how to plan to dry your hair. You might begin with the hair on the left side of your face and work around the back to the right, or you might begin with the bottom layer of your hair and work your way to the outer layer.^{[3] X Expert Source

Michelle Bebbington
Professional Hair Stylist Expert Interview. 3 August 2021.}
2
Begin blow drying your hair at a low temperature. Make sure to work your way through the hair sections you mapped out in the previous step. Work through your hair until it's about 40% dry.
- Massage your hair at the roots to encourage it to take on volume.
- Flip your hair upside down by bending forward, and direct the air flow at the back of your head to more easily dry the bottom layer of your hair.
This will help spread the more intense heat over a larger area, in turn reducing the damage.^{[4] X Expert Source

Michelle Bebbington
Professional Hair Stylist Expert Interview. 3 August 2021.}
4
Continue blowdrying your hair on medium or high heat. A good way to use a diffuser is to drop your hair into its fingers and letting the air blow up through to the roots.
- Continue this until your hair is about 90% dry.
5
Let your hair cool back down. Cooling your hair back to a normal temperature keeps it from getting frizzy, and also feels great on your skin after you just blasted yourself with hot air for a while.^{[5] X Research source}
- Flip the heat setting on your dryer to cool, or use the frost-boost button if your model of dryer has one.
- Run the cool air through your hair until it is cool.
- Allow it to air dry the rest of the way.

Expert Q&A

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Question

How do you use a concentrator nozzle?

Michelle Bebbington
Professional Hair Stylist
Michelle Bebbington is a Professional Hair Stylist and the Owner of The Living Room Hair and Skin based in Great Falls, Montana. With over 20 years of experience, she specializes in hair education, coloring, and styling.

Michelle Bebbington

Professional Hair Stylist

Expert Answer

Start by drying off the root area and separating the hair into manageable, 2-3 in (5.08-7.62 cm) sections. Then, follow the blowdryer down your hair with a vent or round brush.

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What is the healthiest way to blow dry your hair?

Michelle Bebbington
Professional Hair Stylist
Michelle Bebbington is a Professional Hair Stylist and the Owner of The Living Room Hair and Skin based in Great Falls, Montana. With over 20 years of experience, she specializes in hair education, coloring, and styling.

Michelle Bebbington

Professional Hair Stylist

Expert Answer

The key is to keep the flow of air going down the hair shaft. This helps keep the hair shiny and the cuticle lying flat.

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Is it bad to use a hairdryer if I use heat protection?

Community Answer

The heat protection is here to protect you from your hairdryer. So if you use heat protection, it is not bad for your hair.

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Tips

Treat your hair well when you're not blow drying it. Use good quality shampoo and especially conditioner when showering to keep it healthy and happy.

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Make sure you do not keep heat on one spot for too long, as this will definitely damage that hair. Keep the dryer in constant motion by slowly shaking your wrist, directing the air flow up and down.

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Warnings

The best way to avoid heat damage is simply to avoid heat exposure. If you can help it, only blow dry your hair when you really need to. Let it air dry naturally the rest of the time.

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