To Blow Dry or To Air Dry?

By Anna Lynn C. Sibal
http://free-beauty-tips.glam.com/blow-dry-air-dry.html

Should the hair be blow dried or air dried?
It is a matter of preference, actually. Some people do not have much time to devote to styling their hair, or want to achieve the maximum styling they can get for their hair, so they opt for blow-drying it. On the other hand, there are some people who think that blow-drying is a waste of electricity and is the quickest way of damaging the hair, so they opt to have it air dried.

Which is better, you may ask?
Both ways of drying the hair have their advantages and disadvantages, and there are proper and improper ways of doing both. Read on and find out what these are.

Air drying. Air drying is usually done by people who have short and low-maintenance hairstyles, or by people with curly hair. There are also people who have long hair yet have their hair air dry, as air drying does not subject the hair to excessive heat. Therefore, the hair is not as susceptible to damage as hair that is blow dried.

If you are going to have your hair air dried, it is very important to remember that the hair is at its weakest when it is wet. So, take care not to rub your hair dry with the use of a towel. The friction caused by rubbing the hair with a towel will make the hair brittle and eventually break. Rather than rubbing it, you should instead blot the moisture out of your hair with the towel. Also, be careful not to tug or pull at your hair that much when it is still wet. Once the water is blotted out of the hair, fluff it out with your fingers.

Blow Drying. Blow drying the hair is the most convenient way of doing it, and because most people live fast-paced lives, blow drying the hair is the way most people want to do it. Moreover, drying the hair using a blower adds volume to the hair. But inasmuch that blow drying is very convenient, it is also dangerous to the hair, especially if overdone. It can make the hair very brittle.

If you blow dry your hair, make sure that it is not soaking. Blot the water out with a towel first. Do not hold the dryer too close to your head; keep it at least six inches away from your hair and move the dryer constantly around your head. Protect the outer strands of your hair from being over-dried by bending over and blow drying your hair with your hair hanging upside down. Also, try not to dry your hair completely with the blow dryer. Stop while the hair is still slightly damp.

Whether you air dry your hair or you blow dry it is completely your own choice based on your own lifestyle and preferences. But whatever you do, always remember that the hair is fragile. Be careful while handling it.

Styling your Hair

Calming Bang Cowlicks
One of the most effective techniques for dealing with cowlicks at the bang area is to try drying the bangs forward with a vent or round brush so that the cowlick will be weighted down. Another technique is to have a hairstyle that incorporates the cowlick into the style thereby creating lift at the cowlick. Use styling tools to support either styling technique.

Curling Iron Styling
If you want a longer hold when you style with a curling iron try spraying hairspray BEFORE curling hair.

Styling With Hot Rollers
When using hot rollers spray dry hair first with a "working" hairspray. Take your first section and comb it smooth, spray with hairspray and then twist the section before wrapping on the roller. This will give a spiral look to your curls. After rollers have cooled take out rollers and spray with a "working" hairspray. Finally turn head upside down and run your fingers through your hair.

Hair Splits At Crown Area
This problem can be treated by utilizing the correct styling tools and drying the problem area in the opposite direction to redirect the hair and give it more lift. Don't dry the hair flat to your head as it magnifies the split in the crown area. Instead use a vent brush to lift the hair at the scalp. If the hair is sticking up in the crown area and you have a short cut, try growing the hair longer. You should find that the weight of the hair will weigh down the crown cowlick.

Using a Blowdryer and Brush To Turn One Length Hair Under
After drying hair 70% dry use a round brush or rounded vent brush begin drying hair under. Use a working spray and spray on the ends of your hair while the brush is in a turned under postion in your hair. Aim the blow dryer at the hair that is in the brush for 15 seconds then let the hair cool for 5-10 seconds and then remove brush. You may have to turn the dryer off and put it on the counter until you get used to applying the technique. The key factor is spraying the hair, then using a blowdryer set to "hot" to act like a curling iron then allowing the hair to cool before removing the brush. Repeat until all the hair is dryed under. If you have a lot of hair try pinning the top layer up and working first on the underneath layer.

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