Is air drying your hair bad? Is it better or worse to let your hair air dry over time?
You’ll find a wide range of different responses if you Google this question, and social media like TikTok will give you all kinds of answers as well.
Ever since I got into hair care (my formerly bleach-fried hair is thankful), I’ve tried many different methods and researched what works and what doesn’t.
What I found it? Your particular hair type will probably determine whether you should air dry your hair or if you’re better off using heat tools.
Table of Contents
Is air drying bad for your hair?
The main downside to heat drying your hair is that the heat dries out your hair. With air drying, there’s no heat to dry out your hair. So why is there a debate going on on if air drying your hair is bad?
You can extend the time that your hair retains moisture by letting it air dry. Even though it might seem like this would be good for your hair, it actually has the potential to damage it over time. When your hair is wet, it will swell and be more prone to breakage. So while heat tools damage your hair’s surface, air drying your hair actually damages its cortex (source).
Don’t panic just yet. How much air drying can actually damage your hair depends on your hair type.
Some types of hair are more susceptible to being damaged by air drying your hair. For example, thick hair can absorb a lot of water and therefore be prone to more damage, as it stays wet for longer. But thin hair is less likely to absorb water for a long time, therefore it is less prone to air drying damage.
Is air drying better than using heat tools?
Like explained before, air drying your hair and heat drying your hair cause a different kind of damage.
Heat-styling appliances, such as a hair dryer, can eventually harm your hair. Intense hot temperatures can dehydrate your hair. Dehydrated strands are more brittle. The higher the temperature, the more chance of damage. Therefore, always use a heat protectant while using heat tools.
The longer your hair is wet, the longer it is expanded and the longer is can easily get damaged as well.
If you have thin or fine hair, though, your hair probably dries pretty quickly. This means less time for damage to occur while air drying. If you have thick hair, the opposite is true.
For those with thicker hair, I recommend letting it air dry for about half an hour to an hour, and then using a hair drying to dry it completely. Don’t forget to use heat protection!
How to air dry your hair without causing damage
It takes time and a few key techniques to air dry your hair in a way that prevents weakened strands. No matter what kind of hair you have, you should start by giving your hair a good wash with a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner or a hair mask. Don’t skip the conditioner or hair mask. This can prevent frizz from forming.
Then, dry your hair as gently as you can with a cotton t-shirt. You can dry it with a towel as well, but towels tend to be coarser and can cause damage on your soaking wet and vulnerable hair. If you’re using a towel, be extra careful. Whatever you use, avoid rubbing your hair roughly. Instead, gently blot until your hair is damp – not wet.
After this, you can just continue your routine while letting the air dry your hair.
How to prevent frizz when air drying your hair
Keeping your hair hydrated is the most crucial thing you can do to avoid frizz. While your hair is still damp from the previous step, gently add in some hair oils or leave in coditioner. Learn here what hair oil is best for your hair type.
If I don’t have to go anywhere, I always let my hair air dry fully. I have fine hair, but I have a lot of hair. After an hour or two of letting it air dry, I like to put two very loose braids in my hair. This prevents my hair from flapping about and gives it a frizzless, nice wave when I take it out.
If I do have to go out or if I want to go to bed, I let it air dry for a while first and then use heat tools (and a heat protectant!) to fully dry my hair. Don’t sleep with wet hair!
I hope you enjoyed reading this blog post and found it helpful. To summarise, you can extend the time that your hair retains moisture by air drying your hair. However, hair is in a fragile state while wet, so you have to be careful with it during this time. Therefore, for those with thick hair, it might be wise to combine air drying with heat tools to avoid spending an entire day with wet, fragile hair in exchange for retaining moisture. Use hair oils often and heat protectants every time you use heat tools to minimize damage.
FAQ
Is it healthy to let your hair air dry?
The main drawback of heat styling is that it dries out your hair. Your hair won’t dry out with heat when you air dry. However, air drying could eventually cause damage to your hair as well. Your hair will swell and become more brittle when it is wet. The longer it is wet, the more damage can be done.
Is it better to let your hair dry naturally?
This depends on your hair type. Your hair type will determine how much air drying will actually harm your hair. There are some hair types that are more vulnerable to harm from air drying. For instance, thick hair can absorb a lot of water and is more vulnerable to harm because it is wet for a longer period of time. However, thin hair is less likely to retain water for an extended period of time, making it less vulnerable to damage from air drying.
What is the healthiest way to dry your hair?
Drying your hair with heat versus air drying causes various types of damage. Hair styling tools that generate heat, like a hair dryer, can eventually damage your hair. Your hair may become parched in extremely hot weather. Strands with less moisture are more fragile. The likelihood of damage increases with temperature. The longer your hair is wet, the more it expands and is also more susceptible to damage.
However, if you have thin or fine hair, it likely dries fairly quickly. This implies that damage can happen less frequently while air drying. The opposite is accurate if your hair is thick. For people with thicker hair, I advise allowing it to air dry for 30 to 60 minutes before using a hair dryer to finish drying it. Don’t forget to protect yourself from heat!
How long should you air dry hair?
For people with thicker hair, I advise allowing it to air dry for 30 to 60 minutes before using a hair dryer to finish drying it. Don’t forget to protect yourself from heat! For those with thinner hair, you can air dry until it is completely dry.
How do you air dry your hair without touching it?
I like to put two very loose braids in my hair after letting it air dry for about an hour or so. As a result, my hair doesn’t fly around when I’m out and about and I don’t constantly want to tuck it behind my ears.
How long to air dry hair before blow drying?
For thick hair, 30 to 60 minutes. For thin hair you can wait up to 30 minutes or just not blow dry at all.
