Hair Care

Is Air-Drying A Good Option For Your Hair?

Air-drying hair is tough. Some ladies prefer it because it quickly dries their hair, while others think it’s the worst thing they can do to their hair. So, is air-drying bad?


Written by Shagun Sharma

On Apr 15, 2023 – 12 minutes read

Is Air Drying Your Hair Bad

Air-drying your hair can be tricky sometimes. Some women like it because it allows them to dry their hair quickly, while others despise it because they believe it is the worst thing they can do to their hair. So, let us find out the real truth about Is Air Drying Your Hair is Bad?

Is Air-Drying Your Hair Bad? Know More In-Depth

Air drying your hair can save you a lot of money, but it can also harm your hair if done incorrectly. Air-drying your hair may cause it to grow dry and brittle, resulting in split ends and breakage. It may also make your hair frizzy and perhaps even unmanageable. 

Is Air-Drying Bad For Your Hair?

Furthermore, prior to air-drying your hair, use a wide-toothed comb or brush to unravel it. This will help minimize breakages as well as the damage that air drying can cause.  

Finally, use a leave-in conditioner or moisturizer to keep your hair hydrated and healthy. Air drying can be an excellent way to save a lot of money than blow drying, but it is critical to take the necessary precautions to avoid damaging your hair during the procedure.   

The Benefits Of Air-Drying Hair 

Air-drying your hair is an excellent approach to maintaining it in good condition and looking its best. It is a simple and delicate method of drying your hair that does not involve heat, which may harm and dry out your hair. It’s also an effective way to conserve both energy and time because you’re not using a blow dryer or similar heat-styling products.  

Is air-drying your hair bad? This is a common question that typically comes into every woman’s mind when they aren’t using the blow-drying method. So, let’s continue reading to find out the truth about this!

Avoiding Heat Damage

The use of blow-drying tools can cause damage to your hair’s outer layer. Damage to the hair’s outermost layer might result in inflammation and the breaking of the entire hair. That is surely not a good sign for the condition of your hair. In these cases, air drying is most applicable for people who is suffering from heat damage.

Air drying is an excellent approach to preventing heat damage.  Prolonged usage of heated styling appliances, such as blow dryers, causes heat damage. Using these tools can make hair fragile, dry, and more susceptible to damage.  Air drying is an excellent approach if you want to avoid this type of damage. 

Maintaining Hair’s Natural Moisture

Another significant benefit of air-drying your hair instead of blow-drying it. That is why more people prefer to air dry their hair rather than blow dry it because the intense heat produced by the blow dryer can damage the hair. 

Air-drying is an excellent approach to maintaining its natural moisture content. Air-drying helps retain natural oils and moisture that may keep it strong and nourished. With the increased moisture content, you’ll notice better hair growth and fewer hair fall issues. If you use a blow dryer, the intense heat may take away your hair’s natural oils and moisture, making it lifeless and fragile. 

Cost-Effectiveness

Most people find out that air drying is a much more inexpensive way to dry than blow drying. Because few of the blow-drying tools can perhaps be expensive sometimes. Air-drying is a low-cost way to keep your hair looking healthy and nourished. 

It is a great alternative to utilizing a blow dryer, which may be costly. This is especially useful for people with thin and straight hair, as blow drying and styling can take a long time. So if you’re searching for a cost-effective way to dry your hair, then air-drying must be at the top of your priority list.   

The Drawbacks Of Air-Drying Hair  

Why Is Air Drying Your Hair Bad?

Is air drying bad for you? Yes, it can be at times! Air-drying hair is a preferred hair-drying procedure since it is an effortless and cost-effective approach to attaining a desired appearance. However, there are several disadvantages to air-drying that ought to be addressed before using this method.  

Takes Longer Time 

Air-drying is an excellent method to maintain it in good condition and make it appear at its finest, but it has some disadvantages. One of the main disadvantages of air-drying is that it takes longer than blow-drying. 

According to the length and thickness of your hair, the drying time might range from 30 minutes to more than an hour. If you’re in a hurry to get ready for work or an event, this could be a huge hassle.

Can Result In Frizz And Tangling

Is air drying bad for your hair? Many people think this is the reason why it is bad! 

If you fail to utilize the right kinds of products, air drying might be detrimental to your hair. Your hair could grow weak and dry if you don’t use the right products, resulting in split ends and breakage. Considering such reasons, whenever you air-dry your hair, it’s essential to utilize the proper products and practices.  

Furthermore, air-drying may render it to be frizzy and unmanageable, especially if you happen to have curly or wavy hair. This is due to the fact that air drying fails to provide the exact same amount of warmth and control as blow drying.  

Without moisture or heat, hair may become fragile and brittle, resulting in frizz and tangles. That is far more upsetting to a person. If your hair becomes frizzy and tangled, you need a longer period of time just to restore it to its previous condition. Frizz and tangles are surely a negative sign for your hair’s condition, especially if you have curly hair. 

Might Not Be Suitable For All Hair Types 

People with thin, straight hair enjoy air drying. But people with curly hair surely hate it. Because air-drying curly hair is not suitable for people who have curly hair, this is one of the most important reasons why air-drying is bad. Not properly utilizing the method of air drying can result in frizzy, unmanageable, which is no less than a nightmare for people who have to maintain curly hair. 

How To Air-Dry Hair Properly?  

Air-drying is an excellent way to keep it healthy and looking good. It is also an excellent way to save time as well as funds. To effectively air-dry your hair, first towel-dry it to eliminate extra water. Then, untangle your hair with a wide-toothed comb. After detangling your hair, apply a leave-in conditioner that will safeguard it from being damaged by the intense heat of the air dryer. If you have naturally curly or wavy hair, a curl-defining mousse or cream may help emphasize your curls. Many people believe that blow-drying with cold air is bad, but it is not because it helps to dry your hair in the fastest way possible. 

Tips For Avoiding Damage And Promoting Healthy Hair 

Air drying is a delicate and natural way to dry your hair without using heat. But air drying is sometimes difficult, and it is essential to follow some basic precautions to avoid damaging your hair in the process of drying.

  • Skip the Shampoo: Several hairdressers recommend skipping the shampoo completely. Frizzy hair occurs when dry hair gets exposed to humidity in the atmosphere. Several shampoos might strip the hair of its natural oils, and can frequently aggravate the condition.
  • Remove Water While Air Drying Your Hair: Experts prefer microfiber towels compared to cotton towels because they make the hair smoother while also soaking up the water from it. One suggestion is to clean your hair in the late afternoon so that you may sleep on it the night prior to heading outside. This will soothe the hair while decreasing the chance of frizz.  
Tips For Avoiding Damage And Promoting Healthy Hair 
  • Detangle your hair gently: Another piece of expert advice is to avoid brushing your hair when it is damp. Rather, use the tips of your fingers to gently remove knots or a wide-tooth comb after using leave-in conditioners.

Steps For Achieving A Desirable Air-Dry Style 

There are only a few steps that you need to maintain if you want to air-dry your hair in the best way possible! If you don’t want to think again and again about Is air drying your hair bad? then you should surely follow these steps!

Here are some tips for you! 

  • Hydrate your hair in the shower: If you want your hair to air dry perfectly, use a hydrating (sulfate-free) shampoo and conditioner on it first. The glycerin(1) in the shampoo can hydrate your hair and prevent unnecessarily frizzy hair.

Wash with cold, gentle water: After applying shampoo to your hair, gently rinse it with cold water.

  • Try to dry off right away: A microfiber towel can be the best option for this. Because it soaks up the water from your hair without damaging it. 
Steps For Achieving A Desirable Air-Dry Style 
  • Apply leave-in conditioner: Now, to get your desired hair, apply the leave-in conditioner. This is the time to let your hair dry naturally; it may take up to 30 minutes or more to completely dry your hair. 
  • Comb away tangles from your hair: After you’re done gently taking off the water from your hair, now it is time to comb away the tangles from your hair to avoid frizz.

As a reminder, you should not harshly squeeze your hair with a towel to get the moisture out of it. Because of this, squeezing your hair harshly might cause damage to your hair. This will lead to a hair fall issue in the future! 

Alternatives To Air-Drying Hair 

Air drying is an excellent way to keep it healthy and looking as good as possible, but it takes time and may not always be the most convenient option. There are various alternatives to air drying your hair if you want to avoid it.  

So, instead of worrying about air drying your hair bad, try this alternative; it will undoubtedly produce the best results! 

  • Gently wrap your hair with a towel: If your hair feels stiff and hard to manage after washing, it might be due to excessive loss of moisture throughout the drying process. Instead of simply letting your hair air dry naturally, cover it up with a towel or other absorbent material after washing it. After you have washed your hair, you need to soak up the water with a towel. Thus, you will need to dry your hair. Many people like this process as an alternative to the air-drying method. 
  • Sleep on a satin pillow: If you’ve just washed your hair and are worried that a quick nap in your bed will give you a fever, No need to worry; here’s a solution for you! A satin pillow reduces irritation in your hair while you nap on it. The smoother texture reduces knots and makes hair shinier. So sleeping on a satin pillow can help you dry your hair, even while sleeping comfortably. And you won’t even catch a cold!   
  • The air-drying method takes a long time to absorb water from your hair. Whereas, squeezing your hair gently with a towel speeds up the process. And in the air-drying process, you might experience hair loss issues. When you’re gently squeezing out water from your hair, you don’t have any issues like that.
  • Sleeping on a satin pillow is another beneficial alternative. The advantage of this process is that your hair can dry on its own when you are sleeping on a satin pillow. However, air drying doesn’t have that benefit.

FAQ 

What is the healthiest way to dry your hair? 

The healthiest approach to drying your hair is to gently press out the extra moisture with an absorbent towel or perhaps even with a cotton t-shirt. Afterward, let the hair air dry, squeezing off the remaining moisture. This will keep the healthy oils in the hair and prevent damage. 

Is it healthier to dry your hair or let it air dry? 

This is determined by what kind of hair you’ve got as well as how much spare time you have available. If you have much time on your hands, let the air naturally dry your hair. But if you are in a rush, blow-drying is the best option available for you! 

Does air drying damage hair? 

Dry, fragile, as well as frizzy hair, may happen from air drying. This is the case since air cannot absorb the same amount of wetness as a blow dryer. Because of an absence of heat, the air may also result in split ends and breaking. Furthermore, air drying your hair may cause it to grow out entangled and knotted, making hair styling difficult. 

What is the best way to dry your hair? 

Combining air drying with blow drying is the most effective approach to drying your hair.To begin air-drying your hair, lightly towel it to eliminate extra water. Following this, untangle your hair and eliminate any knots with a wide-toothed comb. Allow your hair to air dry naturally after it has been detangled. You could speed up the drying procedure by using a blow dryer at a setting with a low temperature. To avoid damaging your hair, keep the dryer at least 6 inches away from your scalp. 

Is it good to let hair dry naturally? 

Allowing your hair to dry spontaneously is an excellent way to keep it in good condition and looking its best. Natural drying enables the hair to maintain its own inherent oils and moisture, keeping it smooth and silky. It also aids in reducing the severity of harm that results from hair styling appliances like blow dryers. 

Conclusion 

Air-drying hair is becoming a popular alternative to using a blow dryer or other heat-based styling products to dry hair. This strategy has both benefits and drawbacks. 

The primary benefit of air-drying hair is that it is much healthier for your hair than using heat-based styling equipment. Heat-based styling equipment may result in damage to the hair, resulting in split ends, breakage, or dullness. Air-drying hair preserves the original oils found in hair, keeping it well-maintained and nourished. Furthermore, air-drying hair is far easier and more efficient than utilizing a blow dryer. It additionally helps in the reduction of frizz and static electricity created by the use of a blow dryer.  

One of the drawbacks of air drying is that it takes a long time, typically 30 minutes to several hours. And it is not suitable for those who have curly hair. 

But people with thin, straight hair really do love air drying. And if you want to try it, give it a shot. It is definitely much more beneficial than blow-drying. Remember to follow the steps we discussed before to get your hair frizz- and tangle-free. 

  1. International Journal of Toxicology.(2019).Safety Assessment of Glycerin as Used in Cosmetics. Available at

    https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1091581819883820

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shagun sharma

I’m Shagun, a writer by passion and I strongly believe that when one follows his passion, it is a great recipe for career success. I love to explore things about health and lifestyle. I enjoy using my skills to contribute to a healthy lifestyle. I believe that better health can be acquired through better living. Though I am a big foodie and I am always curious to try new recipes. I am also a fitness freak and believes in doing exercises, Yoga asanas and various other aerobic exercises every single day. My goal is to push each and every individual to take very good care of themselves so as to live a healthy lifestyle.

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