My girlfriend recently came to me with an interesting proposal. She had seen a tutorial online for straightening hair with a dryer, and she wanted to give it a try. Now, I'm all for trying new things (within reason), but I wasn't sure about this one. However, after doing some research, I decided that it might not be such a bad idea after all. However, there are also a lot of facts to consider.
Here's what I found out.
The Pros of Straightening Hair with a Dryer
I know what you're thinking. "Really? A blow dryer? Won't that just frizz up my hair even more?" But bear with me, because there are actually some great benefits to straightening your hair with a blow dryer. For one thing, it takes less time than using a flat iron. And for another, it's much gentler on your hair since it uses heat to style rather than using chemicals or harsh treatments. Plus, it gives your hair a bit of volume, which is always a plus in my book.
So how do you go about straightening your hair with a blow dryer? First, make sure you have the right tools. You'll need a good quality blow dryer. May I recommend the T3 Micro Cura Digital Ionic Professional Blow Hair Dryer?
Once you've got your tools gathered, start by towel-drying your hair to remove any excess moisture. Then, divide your hair into sections and start blow-drying each section from root to tip. As you're drying, use the brush to smooth out any kinks or knots. And voila! You've got straight, shiny hair in no time flat. Just be sure to use some heat protectant before you start styling to prevent damage from the blow dryer.
The Cons of Straightening Hair with a Dryer
1. Heat damage is real, and it's not worth it.
When you use a hair dryer to straighten your hair, you're exposing your strands to high levels of heat on a regular basis. Over time, this can lead to heat damage, which manifests itself in the form of split ends, frizziness, and general lackluster appearance. If you want your hair to stay healthy and look its best, there's no need to put it through this kind of stress—there are other ways to achieve straight hair without resorting to a dryer.
2. It takes forever.
If you've ever tried to straighten your hair with a dryer, you know that it can be a time-consuming process. First, you have to blow-dry your hair until it's completely dry (no small feat if you have thick or long locks), and then you have to go over it with a flat iron to really get those sleek results. All told, you could easily spend an hour or more straightening your hair with a dryer—and who has that kind of time?
3. It's expensive.
If you're using a high-end hair dryer and flat iron combo to straighten your hair, you're probably shelling out quite a bit of money every month on electricity bills alone. Not to mention the cost of replacement parts like flat iron plates—which can get pretty pricey depending on the brand—and regular trips to the salon for trims (because of heat damage) can add up quickly. In the long run, opting for a less damaging method of straightening your hair can save you money.
4. You could damage your scalp.
Your scalp is just as susceptible to heat damage as your strands are—perhaps even more so since it's covered in delicate skin. If you use a dryer on high heat settings every day for years on end, you could end up damaging your scalp and causing things like irritation, redness, or even burns. Ouch! So next time you're reaching for the blow-dryer, think twice—your scalp will thank you later.
5. It can be tough to get the hang of it at first.
It takes practice to learn how to hold the dryer and brush in order to get the desired results. Additionally, this method is not ideal for African-American hair or very curly hair types. If you have either of these hair types, you're better off sticking with a flat iron or another straightening method.
Conclusion:
So, should you give it a try? It might seem like using a blow-dryer is the quickest and easiest way to get sleek, straight locks—but trust us when we say that there are much better options out there.
If you have spent hours upon hours of your life trying (and failing) to achieve bouncy, glossy locks with a blow dryer, it may be time to give up the ghost and find another way to get gorgeous hair. Luckily for you, we’ve written an article on the best blow dryers for natural hair that will help you find a tool that works for you and your tresses. So tap the button below to check out our findings:
Paula Spies
Paula Spies
