Is it Better to Blow Dry Your Hair When it’s Wet or Dry?

By Leah Williams •  Updated: 07/03/22

Blow drying hair takes a lot of effort and you must know the right technique to avoid hair damage. Maintaining hair health is vital to prevent hair breakage and other types of damage.

There’s always been confusion about the best time to blow dry hair. There are also mixed opinions on how to do it right to achieve perfectly dried hair.

If you’re asking… is it better to blow dry your hair when it’s wet or dry, Lucky Curl has the answer.

Keep reading to find out!

Is it Better to Blow Dry Wet or Dry Hair?

First off, blow drying sopping wet hair is a no-no! Wet hair is prone to breaking and blow drying it while still dripping can lead to damage.

Blow drying soaking wet hair or dry hair can result in heat damage, frizz, and dullness.

For that reason, it is highly suggested to blow dry slightly damp hair. It’s the best time to blow dry your hair if you want to achieve a cool hairstyle without worrying about hair damage.

In other words, you should let your hair air dry before exposing it to direct heat from the hair dryer. You can also use a microfiber towel and pat it on your hair gently for it to dry quicker.

Important: The less time you expose your hair to heat from blow dyers the better for your hair health. 

Can Blow Drying Be Bad For Hair?

Any form of hairstyling that involves heat exposure can be harmful to your hair. However, blow drying your hair properly using the right tools and products promise positive results and minimizes the damage.

A blow dry could be bad for your hair if it’s already brittle or heat-damaged. If this is the case, opt for low heat settings on your styling tools and always use a heat protection spray or serum.

5 Blow Drying Mistakes You Should Avoid

It’s time to stop doing these blow drying mistakes to keep your hair healthy:

#1 Blow Drying Wet Hair

It can be tempting to just blow dry your hair right after you get off the shower especially when you’re in a hurry.

You shouldn’t blow dry your hair when it’s dripping wet. Rough dry hair first before start blow drying. Wait until your hair is at least 80% dry before you begin blow drying.

To speed up the drying time, use a wide tooth comb to allow better airflow on your hair sections while you rough dry your hair.

#2 Wrong Hair Products

Wrong hair products could be the reason why you got frizzy hair after blow drying. You shouldn’t just apply anything to your hair!

If you want to keep that hair shiny and healthy-looking, you should take time to choose the right products for it.

Make sure to use a heat protectant spray and apply a leave in conditioner before you start blow drying. The heat protectant spray can help minimize damage due to blow dryers while the leave in conditioner can help dry your hair faster.

#3  Wrong Brush

The wrong brush could also be the culprit for why your hair isn’t at its best despite all that blow drying effort.

Bear in mind, the wrong brush can make your hair flat too! You’ll need to use the round brush if you want to achieve that voluminous wave.

Picking the right brush for your hair type and styling preferences can make a huge difference in your hair.

#4 Dirty Blow Dryer

If you can’t even remember the last time you clean your blow dryer, then it’s the reason why your hair is a mess your after your blow dry.

Getting rid of the dirt and filth at the back of your blow dryer is a must. You don’t want the dirt going into your hair or scalp as it can lead to another problem.

Important: Keep your blow dryers squeaky clean for less hair drying time and better blow drying results!

#5 Blow Drying Hair in Wrong Direction

Drying your hair in one swoop is a mistake. Surely, you haven’t seen a hairstylist doing such a thing!

You should dry your hair in sections using the claw clips to make sure they dried out fully.

It’s the best way to ensure your hair dried out properly without exposing it to too much heat from the blow dryers.

Final Thoughts

There’s a perfect time for drying your hair – not when it’s dripping nor too dry!

The best way to blow dry any hair type is when it’s slightly damped as the hair won’t be too prone to breakage.

That said, Lucky Curl recommends the rough drying method before starting to blow dry and avoid any technique that is too risky for your hair.

Consult experts to ensure hair health. Check out our articles for pro tips on how to blow dry hair.

Leah Williams

Leah Williams is the founder of Lucky Curl and has been in the hair care and styling industry for the last 15 years. Since then, she has developed incredible expertise and a deep understanding of how to treat and style the most difficult hair types and is passionate about sharing her knowledge with the readers of Lucky Curl.

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