How To Blow Dry Curly Hair And Precautions To Take

Blow dry your beautiful curls effectively to save them from breakage and frizz

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• Mar 15, 2024

Everything You Need To Know About Blow-Drying Curly Hair

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Blow drying curly hair is a Herculian task. It requires extra care, patience, and lots of love. Because when it comes to curly hair, it can become dry and brittle and break easily. Many women with curls do not know the right way to blow-dry curly hair. But, your worries end here. Learn all the details about how to blow-dry your curly tresses and style them without breakage or tangles right here.

The first thing to learn to know how to dry curly hair with a blow dryer is that there are different curl types. And each type of curls comes with a set of issues. That is why they need a specialized blow-drying routine.

Here are all the blow-drying methods. Read on to know which one is suitable for your naturally curly mane. Scroll down!

In This Article

Blow-Drying Methods Based On Your Curly Hair Type

1. Normal Hair

This type of hair is neither too thick nor too fine. It also does not suffer from a lot of breakages and is relatively moisturized. If you find yourself agreeing with this description, follow these steps to blow-dry your short or long curly hair:

Start by gently dabbing your wet hair with a soft cotton T-shirt. Cotton is a gentler fabric terry cloth and removes excess moisture from your hair without damaging it.
Spritz some heat protectant spray on your curls. It will prevent your hair from drying out.
Divide your tresses into 8 sections and hold them in place with some clips.
Blow-dry your naturally curly hair one section at a time until all your curls are dry.
Finally, apply some leave-in conditioner to give your tresses an extra dose of moisture. And, you are good to go!

2. Coarse Or Thick Curly Hair

While gorgeous to look at, thick and curly hair can be a little tough to deal with at times. This is especially true if you attempt to dry your ringlets without the necessary information required for proper care. So without further ado, try these tips to blow-dry your thick, curly hair.

Start by washing and conditioning your hair.
Once done, apply some smoothening cream to your coils immediately.
Divide your hair into 8 sections and clip them in place.
With the help of a paddle brush, stretch the first section taut and blow-dry your thick, curly hair from the tips to the roots.
Repeat this process on all the sections until your hair is completely dry.

Due to your hair’s thickness, it is important to keep it as wet as possible as this will make dividing it easier. You also need to blow-dry your hair without a diffuser for this method to work. Make sure to use a nozzle attachment with the blow-dryer: it will concentrate the heat, which smoothens your hair.

3. Dry Hair

If you have dry and damaged hair, don’t worry! You can still blow-dry your curls. That said, you need to give them an extra bit of love and care to prevent any further damage. Here’s how you can blow-dry your curly hair with a diffuser:

Start by deep-conditioning your hair to ensure that your curls get an extra boost of moisture.
Gently dab your wet locks with a T-shirt to remove the excess moisture.
Divide your hair into 8 sections and clip them up. Leave out the first section of hair that you want to dry.
Start the blow-drying process by placing the diffuser at the end of the section of hair. The diffuser should be facing toward your scalp.
Repeat this process for every section until all your hair is dry.
Apply some leave-in conditioner to rejuvenate your curls.

Do note that the pace at which you blow-dry your curly hair needs to be fast as your hair be exposed to as little heat as possible.

4. Fine Curly Hair

This is another hair type that requires a diffuser attachment when blow-drying. Your tresses are extra vulnerable to breakage and, hence, need to be treated with the gentleness that it deserves. You can do this by blow-drying your fine curly hair the following way:

Start by deep-conditioning your hair. Ensure that the conditioner stays on for at least 30 minutes before washing it off. This will allow the moisture to really seep into the curls.
Once done, remove as much water from your hair as possible with the help of a T-shirt.
Apply some heat protection spray or cream to your hair. This will prevent it from getting burnt during the blow-drying process.
Divide your hair into 8 sections.
Place the diffuser over the roots of the first section and blow-dry it.
Blow-dry the rest of the strip without the diffuser attachment.
Repeat this for all the sections.
Once done, apply some leave-in conditioner to replenish the moisture in your locks and go about your day.

Both the regular blowdryer and the diffuser attachment will lift your curly hair and give it some volume.

5. Frizzy Hair

Blow-drying your frizzy, curly hair is not the same as drying other types of curly hair. It requires a lot more product to ensure that it remains manageable. Mentioned below are the steps you need to follow when blow-drying your curly hair without frizz:

Start by conditioning your hair. In this case, you can skip deep conditioner and work with a normal conditioner.
Remove the majority of moisture from your hair by dabbing at it with a cotton T-shirt.
Apply some holding gel to your strands to tamp down any frizz and flyaways.
Finish your prep by applying some heat protectant spray to your curls.
Attach the diffuser attachment to the blowdryer and dry the roots of your tresses.
Remove the attachment and dry the rest of your strands.
Finish off your routine by applying some hair serum to rejuvenate your curls and retain frizz control.

Pro Tip

You can also apply a small peanut amount of oil on the lower half of your hair instead of a serum to tame frizz.

Your blow-drying routine will also vary considerably depending on whether you want to blow-dry your curly hair into waves or straighten them. Learn more about these methods in the next section.

Blow-Drying Routines Based On How You Style Your Curly Hair

1. Blow-Drying Curly Hair Straight

Whether you have short hair or long, you can blow-dry your curly hair straight yourself. The main requirement for this curly hair blow-drying method is a round brush.

What You Need

Blowdryer
Straightener
1/2-inch round brush
3-inch round brush
Clips
Styling gel

What To Do

Start by dampening your hair and applying some styling gel to it.
Using a web comb, distribute the product evenly throughout your curls.
Divide your hair into 8 or more sections and hold them in place with clips.
Grab a 1/2-inch brush and place it under a strip of hair from the front of the hairline. Make sure that it is close to your roots.
Hold the blow dryer in the same spot where the brush is placed. Ensure that your curly hair fits snuggly in between the brush and the blow dryer.
Turn the blow dryer on and slowly move it down the strip of hair along with the brush.
Continue this process until the hair is straight all along the front of the hairline.
For the back of your head, where the curls are larger, repeat the same process with a 3-inch brush.
Using a straightener, straighten out any curly areas present at the crown of your head.
Seal the style by using the blow dryer on the cool setting.

This blow-drying method is a great way to straighten your hair without causing frizz. Additionally, it can be used to straighten both men’s and women’s curly hair.

2. Wavy Hair

If you want to tone down your curls but still retain most of their volume, you can blow-dry curly hair into waves with these steps.

What You Need

Blowdryer
3-inch round brush
Clips
Styling gel

What To Do

Start by letting your hair air-dry until only slightly damp.
Divide your hair into 8 sections and clip it in place.
Wrap the first section around a round brush and blow-dry it for 3-5 minutes before releasing it.
Continue doing this for all the sections.
Apply some holding gel to the waves to ensure that they stay in place.

Whether you wish to blow-dry your curly hair straight or wavy, not knowing the right precautions can damage your mane! Try the following tips to protect your curls from the dangers of blow-drying.

Precautions To Be Taken When Blow-Drying Your Hair

The hotter the setting, the drier your hair will become. So, make sure that your dryer is always on the lowest heat setting.
Do not go overboard with straightening. The blow-drying process is not equal to a straightener and will, therefore, never completely straighten tightly-coiled hair.
To avoid overexposure to heat, limit the number of times you blow-dry your curly hair to once a week.
Deep condition your curls weekly to replenish its moisture.

Pro Tip

Blow dry your hair when it is 60-70% dry. Since wet curly hair is porous, it can be easily affected by heat damage. Avoid holding the dryer close to your locks.

How you should blow dry your hair depends on two main factors. First, it depends on the texture or state of your curls, such as dry, frizzy, fine, thick, coarse, or regular hair. Second, it depends on the style you want to achieve, such as straight or curly hair. To keep your hair protected from heat damage, you should take some precautionary steps, such as using the dryer on a low heat setting. Limit how often you blow dry your hair as overuse could lead to serious hair damage. Deep condition your hair on a regular basis to keep your hair healthy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it better to blow dry curly hair with cold air?

Yes. Using cold air to blow dry your curls will prevent your hair from getting frizzy.

Should I blow dry my curly hair or let it air dry?

Air drying your curls is always a better option as it helps in maintaining curl definition. It also helps cut down on potential heat damage from blow drying.

What is plopping for curly hair?

Wrapping a cotton T-shirt over your head to dry wet curls is called plopping. This technique reduces frizz and helps in increasing hair definition.

What is a curly girl pineapple?

It is a hair tying technique for curly hair. It involves tying your hair up at the very top of your head. This technique is used while going to bed to prevent frizz, knots, and flattened curls.

Is it OK to blow dry hair every day?

No. Repeated heat exposure can severely damage your hair and follicles. It strips away the hair’s natural oils, leading to dry cuticles, frizz, and breakage. Thus, it is advised to protect your hair from heat as much as possible.

Does cold blow drying damage the hair?

Yes. Blow drying, in general, is damaging. Although using cold air is better than using hot air, avoid it as much as you can to protect your curls.

Key Takeaways

If you have thick, curly hair, using a blow dryer without a diffuser is a good idea. Instead, use a nozzle attachment.
If you have fine, curly hair, deep condition it and remove excess water with the help of a cotton T-shirt. Apply a heat protection spray before blow-drying it to avoid damaging your tresses.
This way, the blow-drying routine differs for each hair type. These routines also depend on how you want to style your hair.
Always use a blow dryer on the lowest heat setting to keep your hair from getting extremely dry.

Achieve salon-quality blowouts for curly hair at home with just a diffuser attachment and heat protectant. Check out the video to learn how to section your hair and use a round brush for bouncy and well-defined curls.

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