30 July 2012

Why I Stopped Blow-Drying My Hair and Why You Should Too

She told me to never leave my hair wet after taking a shower or I could catch a cold. Why wouldn't I trust her? She was my mother. She knew better. And still does. Because all mothers are made to take care of their little girls and I was the obedient one.

I sure did question some of the practices in the house but only silently, in my head. Anyway, blow-drying my hair has never been on the list of questions until the day I mentioned it in a post on Green Living Ideas.

It was a cold and drizzling October day and nothing seemed more outrageous than suggesting that one should keep their hair healthy in the winter by letting it dry by itself. And I didn't. On the contrary, I boldly stated the following belief:
With the summer months over, it is out of the question to let your hair dry naturally or sleep with wet hair. That is why you can dry it on the cool setting. This method will take you longer but it will keep the moisture in your hair and prevent it from breaking.

The summer months make an exception to the rule. In the extreme heat it is quite safe to let your hair dry naturally without getting stuffed nose or even meningitis. But only if you're old enough. Children get sick way easier. Or so she said. 

Photo: Paulo Alegria


The comments shunned my statement as odd. I kept my grounds, of course, but the thought never went out of my head:

There are people out there who've never even owned a hair-drier? 

Or who sleep with wet hair? 

Ridiculous!

At first I thought these readers were crazy hippies. I checked their profiles, I wanted to know if they live a weird life or something. Anything to prove them wrong. Nothing. Normal, good-looking people with long hair who don't blow-dry because they don't want to damage their hair with the heat.

That made sense in a way. After all, in that very article I talked about the way dry air can damage your hair and even suggested washing it with cool water. Then could they be right?

9 months later, having safely delivered the offspring of my adventurous nature, I haven't blow-dried my hair a single time. I survived through winter, spring and summer without a single cold, despite the fact that I no longer use a hair-dryer. My hair is considerably thicker than before, it doesn't collect static during the winter months and I have less of those broken shorter hairs that come as a bonus of blow-drying.

And no wonder, the heat from the blow dryer removes too much moisture from the hair, causing it to become dry and brittle. In addition, it can also damage the outermost layers of hair strands whose function is to protect the hair from damage. But the heat can make them weak resulting in dull hair that is prone to be damaged when combing or brushing.

So, thank you GLI readers who aired your opinion and made me change my mind. I feel I've made a step ahead. But anyway, don't dare hope I will sleep with wet hair ever. 

Fun fact: Did you know that before the invention of the hairdryer, it was actually common for men and women to dry their hair using a vacuum cleaner?

Now tell me, do you blow-dry or air-dry? Why?



56 comments:

  1. I loved reading your post Sonya!

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  2. I air-dry my naturally curly hair. If I'm in a huge rush to get somewhere I sometimes give it a small shot of air on low to give it a a head-start.

    Colletta

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    1. I believe air-drying is perfect for curly hair because it lets the curls take their natural shape. Am I correct?

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  3. I air-dry my hair not so much because I wouldn't want to damage my hair, but more because I'm lazy when it comes to styling my hair. :P the only exception was after my swimming trainings in the winter, but even then I wouldn't fully dry it.
    maybe my hair is in good condition because I don't blow-dry it. I'm happy that you joined us "crazy hippies"! ^_^

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    1. Haha, Maša, so you were a secret hippie too! I've noticed though, that depending on the country, or even regions of the same country, the water has a different effect on my hair - it sometimes dries straight, and other times gets some curls. So, that is another fun side of air-drying!

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    2. interesting! my hair always dries straight - so boring!

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  4. I air dry unless I have a show. Then I usually blow it dry to make it fluffy. This fluffiness is all in my head, unfortunately, but psychologically compelling.

    I lost SO MUCH HAIR when my son was born 4 years ago, and have been trying so hard to get it back... I figured blow-drying was just another way to prolong that process. My hair is SO MUCH NICER now.

    BTW: This post is hilarious.

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    1. FYI: I'm wearing extensions in my avatar because at the time this photo was taken I basically had bald spots on my temples. Thank you, son. I love you!

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    2. I am so glad you liked my post :) I never suspected you were with extensions! How did you revive your hair, it looks so healthy now, surely it was not just quitting the hair-dryer? By the way, your son is so cute!

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  5. Good for you! I haven't blow dried my hair in years, except on the rare occasion where I'm running late for something important and don't want to show up with wet hair. It's easier and much more natural!

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    1. You people surprise me! How come so many of you didn't blow-dry your hair and you never told me! :)

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  6. fabulous post as usual !! I am a " half and halfer " ... I blow dry it a bit ..then just fluff it the rest of the way !!

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    1. Thank you, Elaine! I think half-doing it is another good solution because you keep the moisture in your hair.

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  7. I air dry. Blow drying makes me crazy. It takes forever and makes my hair static-y. My hair isn't that great to begin with, so why would I want to damage it further?

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    1. You are right, the static is especially visible in winter months when blow-drying adds to a number of other factors.

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  8. I almost never dry mine. I used to keep it really long, and it stays healthier for so much longer when you skip all that damaging heat, right?! I keep a straightening iron on the low setting to smooth over the occasional bump but barely ever plug that in, anyway.

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    1. The factors that contribute to low hair health are so many that it takes time singling them out! Your hair is beautiful!

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  9. I never use a blow dryer or even a curling iron anymore! Back when I used to I was always fighting with my hair and using a ton of products to put shine and life back in my hair. I have naturally wavy hair and I decided to just let it be free over a year ago and it's the healthiest it has ever been. All I do is towel dry it and scrunch in some leave in conditioner just to keep fly-aways at bay. Why didn't I do this sooner? And no I wouldn't dare go to bed with wet hair either, I hate a wet pillow!


    Blogging Buddies Team

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    1. Yes, the same question I am asking myself: Why didn't I do that earlier? I don't even use a leave-in conditioner. Or any conditioner. Just ACV.

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  10. I have always air dried my hair ever since I was little, mostly out of laziness. I always thought blow drying was such a time consuming and annoying part of a morning beauty regime, hehe. I actually bought a blow dryer last year because I started growing my hair out, and I keep it on hand for emergencies (I have a 3 year old so sometimes I am totally behind getting ready for appointments, dates, etc). I towel dry first, then just blow dry it until it's no longer sopping wet, and then let it naturally dry the rest of the way while driving/walking. And even though I do it so rarely, I still find it annoying, I don't know why.

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    1. I guess it's because you're not used to that time with the blow-dryer. But anyway, why should you get used to it? And I thought those 10 - 15 minutes blow-drying were necessary..

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    2. Only 10-15 minutes? Oy, when your hair's long its more like 30 minutes. Total waste.

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  11. Yeah I love not blow drying my hair--it's so much softer. But if I have work or something early I blow dry it out, so 50/50

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  12. i think as long as you have all the products to keep your hair healthy blow drying your hair is not damaging. use salon purchased shampoo and conditioner. one with protein and moisture. use a leave in conditioner & thermal spray. They must be salon purchased though, walmart and grocery store products will damage your hair more than the blow dryer. also use a deep conditioner as often as needed. i do one or two a week.

    i only let my hair air dry when i am too lazy to dry it. but i do use the medium-cool setting rather than the medium-hot setting.

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    1. Thanks for your input, Tere. I have strong doubts that salon-purchased shampoo and a pleiad of substances can make your hair healthy though. It may look like they're doing the job but you can be sure they are really healthy only if you check their ingredients.

      I personally threw most of my cosmetics and beauty products after I learned what their ingredients were able to do to my body.

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  13. i let mine air dry on the weekends, but m-f i blow dry mine. i have extremely healthy hair and use all natural styling products. i would let mine air dry during the week, but (1) it looks ridiculous because one half of my hair is wavy & other is straight and (2) my hair takes all day to air dry and it drips all over my clothes.

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    1. Your hair must be difficult to handle but it's great that you've found a way to treat it right!

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  14. I haven't used a blow dryer on my hair in at least 20+ yrs-maybe longer if I think about it!! My grandmother also use to used rain water to wash our hair and thus I just grew up practicing natural things. We own a blow dryer but only so the grandkids can play hair salon!! I don't actually let them heat dry anything!!

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    1. Wow, you are a veteran! I would love to see how your hair looks! Now that you mention it, I think I've heard about people washing their hair with rain water in the past. I wonder what the rains bring nowadays and if it can be a healthy practice!

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  15. Drying hair with a vacuum? Now that sounds crazy!! I try not to as often as possible, season doesn't matter in my choice. BUT, my hair gets wavy- frizzyish, so if I want to wear it down I have to bite the bullet and blow dry or flat iron. I know they are both damaging, but hopefully one day I'll figure out another way as I'm not so into product either.

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    1. I am sure that your hair will react differently on different water. At least mine does. Sometimes it dries flat and other times, or rather "other places" it gets curly.

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  16. I usually air dry my hair (which is curly) but i found that using a good quality hair dryer helped. Bought a karmin g3 salon pro professional from beyas.ca which is AMAZING for curly hair (of course, getting a diffuser for it is even better). It depends on what works for you really, my hair is still looking healthy.

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  17. Great info here! I've recently stopped using the hair dryer because I've been waking up too late and didn't have time to dry it before taking the kids to school. But it totally makes sense to let it air dry to keep it healthy. Just this week I've been brave enough to go natural without straightening it. It's getting curlier after having kids... But I actually got a compliment on it today - with my natural waves. Buh-bye heat damaging tools!

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    1. Stefani, that sounds great! I too used to straighten my hair on a regular basis but I can see the difference now. And the most exciting is when you receive a compliment and you know the reason is not something artificial but your true natural beauty!

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  18. I rarely blow dry. My hair is dry and very curly and I generally go with it.I have it cut to work with my curls. I wash and condition (some days only rinse and condition I only use shampoo 1-2 times a week!) comb w/ a wide tooth comb, add mousse and put it up in a towel while I finish getting ready..scrunch it a few times and let it air dry. I may scrunch it again when almost dry to give it more volume and break up the mousse a bit. I only blow dry when I straighten it which is rarely. I like it straight but I have a short attention span and tons of hair..by the time it is blow dried and the front is straight I am out of steam! (BTW..not a hippie!) I have been eyeing that Wen "shampoo"...

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    1. Haha, I loved reading your comment! Curly hair has a natural tolerance to air-drying it seems! By the way, have you considered going shampoo-less?

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  19. I blow dry my bangs because they go completely wonky if I don't. I air dry the rest and, if I shower too close to bed time, I sleep with it wet with a towel on my pillow. I have always done this.

    Hair dressers frequently complain that, when I do go in for a style for a fancy event, my hair won't hold because it is not damaged enough and they suggest I colour it to rought it up a bit.

    However, despite not blow drying, my hair is EXTREMELY static-filled AND brittle in the winter. I get a shock from the car evertime I enter or exit and I shock my husband when I get home from work to give him a kiss.

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    1. Hair dressers really do that? I can't believe how irresponsible people can be! I am glad you haven't succumbed to their suggestions!

      By the way, did you read my post about how to deal with static hair?

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  20. i have always aridried my hair. the only times i get my hair blowdried is after a haircut in the salon. it just takes too much time and energy for blowdrying, not to mention damaged hair. we also have a silly belief in the Philippines that if you sleep with wet hair you'll get blind! but here i am, having slept so many time with wet hair and still with 20-20 vision!

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    1. Wow, you are a breaker of old beliefs it seems!

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  21. I blow-dry my hair about 2/3 of the way dry each time I wash it (which is every other day). I use the lower heat setting, and I just do enough to stop my hair from dripping all over the place. I've found that my hair is easier to manage the less I do to it.

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    1. I think that's a good solution because you manage to keep the moisture in your hair!

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  22. I'm surprised no-one has mentioned the main reason (in my opinion) for not blow-drying - and that is the amount of power needed to use a hair-dryer!
    Having lived 'off-grid' for many years, owning a hair dryer was never an option for me, it uses way too much power! I have never even owned one until recently some-one gave me one, now that I'm somewhere with mains electricity. But even so I very rarely use it, and consider it a luxury, and mostly unnecessary item, on a par with a tumble drier, that I would only use if really necessary.

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    1. I guess it's because we first think of ourselves :D but you are 100% right. Use of electricity is a major point here. By the way, I think a few ladies mentioned their concerns about that as well.

      I love your critical way of thinking. There is much to be learned from you!

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  23. Nice post! I'm half and half. I have curly hair and I sometimes blow dry, but it helps having a salon blow dryer. My one is the Karmin G3 salon pro professional so it doesn't damage my hair or dry it out too much.

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  24. I haven't blowed dried my hair in years (in fact it is wet right now and I'm about to doze off into dreamland). I do use a straightener on my bangs so I don't look like a crazy person, but that's it! I do have brittle hair, but that is more so related to stress I think.

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  25. I missed this post while away on our UN-plugged vay-kay!
    I'm a let it dry naturally girl most of the time ( unless I have a dressy occasion then I fluff and primp ) I've got naturally wavy hair so air drying works well for me! Now, in defense of hairstylists everywhere ( having been one for 18 years )it is true that exceptionally healthy or 'virgin' hair can be more difficult to style due to a very smooth outer cutical layer. Couple that with stick straight hair and even the most talented hairstylist will find said healthy hair resistant to heat styling, and perms. The truth is, hair with some processing loves a curling iron, rollers, perm rods and color treatments! Not all hair is created equal hence the need for skilled hairdressers. I agree is is most rewarding to be able to utilize mostly all natural treatments for hair and skin... products can be expensive and don't always provide perfect results. Womens hormones play a very important role in the health of their hair as well. Having children, surgery, low thyroid, or navigating through the pre menopause years can wreak havoc with hair and personal image. Any conscientious hairstylist will fill his/her bag of tricks to the brim with the necessary tools to meet the challenges of an aging population that wants to look as good on the outside as they feel on the inside! All those years I spent ' behind the chair' helping people achieve healthy hair and styles that met their beauty, health and lifestyle needs were some of the most rewarding years of my career life... A time I will always look back on with gratitude and joy!
    As always Sonya, thank you for another fun and thought provoking post!!!
    Deb ( who went to bed with her hair wet last night )

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  26. I don't use a hairdryer very much because a:I am lazy and b: I think it's a waste of power since it takes half an hour to dry my fuzzy mess. In fact, the hairdryer usually only comes out if I'm trying to dry a wet patch on my clothes before work thanks to my 16 month old :)

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  27. i love this post. I am 51, of Norwegian descent, and had the most beautiful long blonde shiny locks as a teenager. Over the years, I dyed, bleached, curled, straightened my hair until is was like a fuzzy, fried, and broken off lifeless mess. With regular trimmings, my hair became shorter, but not healthier. My hair had stopped growing in some places. In early 2009, I read about harmful sulfates and parabens in shampoos, alcohols in conditioners, and the harmful effects of drying and straightening your hair. I went cold turkey. I stopped using harmful shampoos and conditioners, and stopped drying and straightening my hair. I waited until June 2012 before I went to see a stylist for a trim. She asked me the last time that I had a trim, and I told her 2008. She said that I didn't need a trim, that I did not have one split end. Today, my hair looks nothing like it did in 2008. My hair is half way down my back, full,and shiny, with soft waves that i wouldn't dream of changing. I get compliments all the time on my hair from people who don't know me or what my hair used to look like. I don't use any shampoo anymore. I condition with Aubrey GPB conditioner (this washes as well). I leave coconut oil on my hair overnight a couple of times a month. To get the oil out the next day, I wash with a homemade shampoo made from aloe vera leaves (gel from the plant) and a couple of drops of jojoba oil or baking soda and apple cider vinegar. Eating a couple of teaspoons of coconut oil everyday also makes your hair super shiny. Just one in the am and one in the pm. (The best deal is Trader Joe's coconut oil for $5.99 for 16oz.)

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    1. Hi Ana, thank you for sharing your dramatic story. To see your hair deteriorate must have been so hard! I am so glad that you have found a way to reclaim your beautiful hair and are today proud with it! Talking and writing about it you can change a lot of girls' lives! Isn't it funny how noone used to tell us there were harmful substances in shampoos? Or that washing your hair daily wasn't necessary... I am so glad you have found a way out! I have to check the Aubrey GPB conditioner, for more than a year now I have only used vinegar as a conditioner. When you leave the coconut overnight, what do you use to cover your hair?

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  28. I have gotten blowouts, colored my hair, keratin for several decades - What a disaster! My hair had never been so dry, brittle, and breakable as it was. I tried several of the different brands. In desperation, I decided to try Shielo.com, figuring that if the Shielo Hydrate Shampoo and Conditioner was as good as my colorist recommended, then it would be worth it. Your hair is EVERYTHING!

    My hair is finally getting healthy again, and noticing a BIG difference, as the Shielo shampoo is noticeably returning my hair to a soft, healthy-looking state once again. I highly recommend this product and wish that Shielo would let it return to the chain stores

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  29. I am 13 and I have almost never blow-dried my hair. I usually wear it in a pony-tail because i am so active. I take a shower before bed and I usually I sleep with wet hair. I rarely get colds. My hair gets curlier and bouncier than if I let it air-dry. I straighten its some days when wear it in a pony-tail and want to dress up a little bit.
    I love this post and now I know why I stopped blow-drying.

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