Does regular blow dry damage your hair?
We spoke with Dr. Wan Yi Chou, the director of a dermatology clinic, who told us that some people don’t like to blow dry their hair after hair washing, as they think that letting wet hair dry naturally is healthier for their hair.
But, in fact, doing this lets the moisture stay in the scalp for a long time, and can more easily cause headaches, stiff shoulders and necks, and even sleep disorders.
Traditional Chinese Medicine physician Dr. Li Ai Ling further told us that if you let your wet hair dry naturally, the accumulated dampness will not only affect your scalp, but also your body through your meridians, which may cause gynecological problems and even aches and pains all over the body. In addition, a damp scalp environment is also more likely to breed bacteria.
Therefore, blow drying your hair is actually very beneficial to health.
Elders often say, “If you don’t blow dry your scalp, you may get a headache.” They know that a headache is, like rheumatoid arthritis, something that can be triggered by climate and seasonal changes.
4 Tips to Dry Your Hair Without Damage
1. Before blow drying, first use a towel to dry off excess water. If you blow dry fully wet hair, you'll end up applying direct heat to it for a much longer period of time, which means you’re more likely to cause damage to the scalp and hair.2. Do not use heat settings that are too high. Use a temperature of 120 degrees to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Also alternate between hot and cold hair as you work your way through your hair.
3. Don’t hold the blow dryer too close to the scalp. Keep it at least 6 inches away from your head.
4. Move the dryer evenly back and forth, and avoid drying blowing at one point for more than 10 seconds. The temperature will rise to about 70 degrees after 10 seconds, which will cause damage to the scalp.
