How to Use a Hair Dryer

Wet hair can be an annoyance, being difficult to style and making you cold. Furthermore, it can take a long time to dry if you have especially thick or long hair. To accelerate the drying process, a hair dryer can be used. Not only do hair dryers facilitate drying but they can also be used to style and shape hair due to their accelerating effects and control of temporary hydrogen bonds inside hair strands. 

1. Towel dry your washed hair so that it is damp. You don’t want it too wet where it is dripping on the hair dryer, but you will want it wet enough so that there is enough moisture in your hair to allow your hair to be styled with the hair dryer. Never rub your hair with your towel as this can cause damage in the form of split ends and frizz. Try to squeeze the water out by wrapping your hair in the towel and then wrapping your hand around the towel and squeezing.


2. Divide your hair into sections. Most of the time four to six will be sufficient, but if you have extra thick hair, you may need more sections. Use clips or ponytails to keep sections separated. 


3. Work with one section at a time and begin blow drying the hair at the roots. Be sure to keep the hair dryer at least six inches away from your scalp so you don’t burn yourself. If you feel your scalp becoming too hot, lower the setting on the hair dryer or hold it further away.


4. Use a downward blowing motion as you work your way down the hair. You can use a barrel brush with a metal core to control the hair or add some curls or body as you blow dry it by wrapping the hair around the brush. It is good to constantly be moving the hair dryer to ensure you don’t burn your hair.


5. Blow-dry your hair until it is slightly damp. If you use a hair dryer to dry your hair completely, you will literally dry out your hair, resulting in damage. 


6. Move on to the next section of hair and repeat the process.


7. Turn your hair dryer to the cool setting if it has one, and blow dry your hair briefly on this setting to seal the cuticle. This will help the hair keep its style and remain shiny.


8. Apply any hairsprays, gels, anti-frizz serum, or moisturizers when you are finished blow-drying to keep your hair looking great throughout the day.