
To maintain beautiful hair, it is important to use a hair dryer correctly. Although the damage caused by heat from a hair dryer is undeniable, it can have a more beautiful effect on your hair. Here, we explain how to minimize damage from the hair dryer and make your hair beautiful.
How to use a hair dryer to maintain beautiful hair
Here are three tips for using a hair dryer.
The first is to thoroughly remove moisture from wet hair with a towel before using the dryer. This will reduce the amount of time the hair is exposed to the heat of the dryer.
The second is to direct the dryer’s airflow from top to bottom. The cuticle covering the surface of the hair overlaps in a scaly pattern from the roots to the ends of the hair, and this helps to close the cuticle without going against its flow.
Third, apply the hair dryer in a rocking motion to distribute the heat. Avoid rubbing the hair with your hands to distribute the heat, as this method damages the hair, which is vulnerable to friction.
Finish with cold air to condition cuticles.
The secret to conditioning the cuticle is to use the cold air function of your hair dryer wisely.
The cuticle acts like a protective armor for the hair. When the cuticle peels off or opens, the hair loses moisture due to runoff of ingredients. Conversely, a tightly closed cuticle makes hair smooth and easy to run your fingers through.
When hair is wet, the cuticle opens and is easily damaged, so it must be dried promptly with a hair dryer. However, cuticles also have the property of opening when heated, so after drying hair 90% with warm air, it is important to switch to cold air to close the cuticles.
Finishing with cold air will result in shiny hair with well-defined cuticles.
Heat from a hair dryer can damage hair
One of the disadvantages of hair dryers is the damage that heat can do to hair.
Heat is said to damage hair because keratin, the main component of hair, is denatured by heat from its natural state of α-keratin to β-keratin, which becomes hard and brittle.
The temperature at which hair denaturation occurs differs between dry and wet heat, but data shows that at 97% humidity, denaturation begins at 60°C. Therefore, when drying wet hair with a hair dryer, the risk of hair damage is considered to increase at temperatures above 60 degrees Celsius, using this data near humidity as a reference.
How to Reduce Disadvantages of Dryers
The disadvantage of hair damage due to heat from a hair dryer can be reduced with the right usage.
The area near the outlet of a typical hair dryer is hot enough to damage hair to a damaging level. To limit this damage, it is important to keep the dryer away from the hair and avoid excessively high hair temperatures. To avoid prolonging the high-temperature condition, you may alternate between hot and cold air.
Care should also be taken not to over-dry hair, as dry hair and scalp can cause breakage.
Hair dryers can damage hair if used incorrectly. However, if used properly, it can condition the cuticle and be a reassuring ally in obtaining beautiful hair.



