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How to blow dry your hair properly
It turns out that blow-drying is less harmful to your hair than natural drying, and if you go to bed with a wet head, your hair will start to split.
Cambridge professor Tim More, a Ph.D. in microelectronics and a leading technician at GHD Hair, has devoted his entire life to learning how to dry and comb your hair properly.
As a true scientist, he starts his explanation from the basics – the molecular structure of hair. It turns out, like nails, hair consists of a complex structure of keratin protein. They are covered with an outer film of hardened keratin, which makes them hard. Inside the hair is an elastic keratin bark, which makes the hair strong and resilient.
Each of us has from 100 to 150 thousand hairs on our heads. Asian hair is the thickest and strongest, has a round diameter and a thickness of 80 to 100 microns. African oval and thinnest, about 50 microns. The hair of the white people is in the middle, has a thickness of 50 to 80 microns and a slightly elliptical section. On average, we lose 50 to 100 hairs every day.
Water is a natural disaster for hair
Many people find it best to let your hair dry on its own rather than blow-dry it. The professor argues that this is not true and that perhaps this is how you are doing the most damage to your hair. As soon as water hits the hair, it penetrates through the outer film into the bark, which swells and becomes weaker. The film acts like a roof tile: water seeps into the gaps. Hair can absorb approximately 30 percent of its own weight in water. The longer they stay wet, the worse, as the bark continues to swell and crack, causing irreparable damage to the hair. It is much better to blow dry your curls quickly with a hairdryer.
A wide variety of shampoos and conditioners have been studied, ranging from economical to luxury. It turned out that the price does matter. However, it turned out that the most expensive products are not worth the money spent. The best products were found in the middle price range.
First, gently blot your hair to remove excess water. Do not rub, because this can damage the hair weakened by washing, quotes the Daily Mail advice.
Brush wet hair slowly, and not with a brush, but with a comb, in order to minimize possible damage to hair weakened by water.
Don’t go to bed with a wet head
Perhaps you want to save time and only half-dry your hair before you go to bed. The professor calls this a “terrible mistake.” When you roll your head over the pillow, your weakened hair can be damaged by friction.
Don’t leave home with a wet head
Your already water-weakened hair can be adversely affected by atmospheric moisture or chemical pollutants in the air, leaving your hair dull and dry.
You blotted your hair with a towel and combed it with a comb. It’s time to turn on the hairdryer. Use the lowest temperature and speed first to keep your hair from overheating. Pat dry your hair. Ideally, hold the hair dryer about 15 cm from your head and move continuously.
Once your hair is warm it means it is 90 percent dry and you can increase the temperature.
Finally, be sure to turn on the cold air jet in order to restore the internal structure of the hair and fix the hairstyle.
Some people blow dry their hair upside down to increase volume, but this is not necessary. Volume is created by increasing the angle between the hair and the head, and for this you should keep the hairdryer as close to the head as possible.
For hair to shine, it must be aligned in one direction. To do this, divide them into sections and dry one section at a time, directing the hair dryer as far down as possible. This will allow the hair to straighten and fall in one direction. The narrow nozzle is especially effective for this.
Curling iron only for dry hair
Use curling irons or straighteners only on completely dry hair. The heat from the tongs is a disaster for wet hair. The water contained in them turns into steam, which expands and breaks out of the bark, causing irreparable damage to it. If you want to fix your hair, apply polish after drying and before using tongs.
The weather can affect the drying result. It’s not rain or sun, the professor explains, but the amount of moisture in the air. If there is a lot of it, then the hairstyle will quickly sag. This effect can be reduced by using a protective spray.
The ideal weather for a perfect blow dryer is a dry, cold, sunny day with zero temperatures. That’s why we get our best hairstyles in winter, not summer!