Today, let's talk about the seemingly inconspicuous but actually hidden "knowledge" problem of washing and drying hair in life - after washing your hair, is it better to dry it naturally or with a hair dryer? Many people may not have seriously thought about this question and think that it is convenient to come, but in fact, different hair drying methods have different effects on the health of hair and scalp.
I don't know if you have ever had such an experience: in the morning, you went out to work in a hurry, after washing your hair, you wiped it with a towel casually, and rushed out with your wet hair. As a result, I was blown by a cold wind on the road, my scalp was cold, and I didn't feel well all day. Or, after taking a shower at night, it is too sleepy, too lazy to use a hair dryer, so I go straight to bed with wet hair, and when I wake up the next morning, not only do I have a headache, but I also find that my hair has become rough and knotted, which is particularly difficult to comb. I believe many people have encountered these situations, but have you ever thought that there is actually a problem of improper hair drying behind this?
Let's take a look at drying your hair with a hair dryer first. Have you ever noticed the changes in your hair when you use a hair dryer? When the hot air from the hair dryer blows towards the hair, the outer layer of the hair dries faster because it is in direct contact with the hot air. It's like putting a quick-drying "coat" on your hair, and the outside dries out quickly. However, the medulla and cortex inside dry more slowly because they are blocked by the outer layer. It's like a person, the clothes on the outside are dry, and the clothes on the inside are still wet, and the body will feel uncomfortable. The same is true for hair, where the inconsistency of the internal and external drying rates creates a pressure difference within the hair.
Over time, the elasticity of the fur will decrease. Imagine that the fur is originally like a tightly packed set of small scales, which have good elasticity and protect the internal structure of the hair. But now, because of the effect of the pressure difference, its elasticity has deteriorated, just like a spring that has lost its elasticity, and it cannot function well. At this time, the hair becomes more prone to breakage. You may find that every time you blow your hair with a hair dryer, you get a little more hair breakage on your comb, and a large part of this is due to the damage caused by the hair dryer.
Let's talk about natural air drying. Natural air-drying may sound like a good option, without the "invasion" of hot air from a hair dryer, and it feels like your hair will naturally regain its dryness. Indeed, natural air-drying can help protect hair and scalp health to a certain extent. Because it is not stimulated by external heat, the moisture inside the hair can be dissipated more evenly, reducing the damage caused by the difference in drying speed between the inside and outside.
However, natural air-drying is not perfect. For example, in the cold winter, if you choose to air dry your hair naturally after washing and go out with wet hair, it can be a problem. The cold temperatures act like icy "claws" that directly irritate the scalp. You can clearly feel a chill on your scalp, which is not a refreshing sensation, but an uncomfortable stimulus. If this happens for a long time, it may trigger a cold, make you cold and fever, and feel uncomfortable. More severely, it can also cause migraines. The feeling of a headache is like a small hammer pounding in the head, which makes people restless.
Also, at low temperatures, the cuticle on the surface of the hair closes quickly. The cuticle is like a "little shield" for the hair, and normally, it is slightly open, allowing the hair to retain a certain amount of moisture and look soft and shiny. But once it encounters a cold stimulus, it will quickly shut down and lock in moisture. But in this way, the hair becomes brittle and brittle. Coupled with the fact that the cold wind blows away the moisture from the surface of the hair, the hair becomes drier, like a straw that has lost moisture, dry and brittle.
There is also a situation that many people go to bed with wet hair after washing their hair at night because they are too tired or too late to use a hair dryer. Don't underestimate this habit, it can do a lot of damage to your hair. When we sleep, our heads are constantly turning, and our wet hair rubs against our pillows repeatedly. It's like sandpaper sanding something, and every time you rub it, the cuticle of your hair is damaged. Over time, the cuticle is severely damaged, and the hair becomes frizzy, dull, and prone to split ends.
Seeing this, you may ask, "Both of these drying methods have drawbacks, so which one should you choose?" In fact, the choice of which hair drying method depends mainly on your individual needs.
If you have more time, don't rush to go out, don't need to do any special styling for your hair, and you are very concerned about protecting the health of your hair and scalp, then natural air-drying is undoubtedly a more suitable option for you. You can find a warm, ventilated place after washing your hair and let your hair dry naturally. For example, on a sunny afternoon, sit by the window and let the gentle breeze and warm sunlight help your hair dry slowly. This is a great way to enjoy a leisurely time while taking care of your hair.
But if you're busy at work, have a fast-paced life, often work overtime late, and are exhausted after taking a shower at home, and don't have much time to wait for your hair to dry naturally, then using a hair dryer is also a good choice. Especially for those who have to play with their mobile phones after taking a shower at night and don't wash their hair until before going to bed, if they fall asleep with wet hair, it is easy to catch a cold and damage their hair. At this time, you can avoid these problems by drying your hair quickly with a hair dryer.
However, if you decide to use a hair dryer, there are a few tricks to it. First of all, the distance between the hair dryer and the hair should be grasped and kept as far away as possible. In general, it is more appropriate to keep it around 15 - 20 cm. This not only allows the hot air to blow evenly on the hair, but also reduces the direct damage to the hair from the heat. Also, the stronger the wind, the better, too much wind may over-dry the hair and damage the hair. When you start blowing, you can choose moderate wind and adjust the wind according to the situation when your hair is a little dryer.
The order in which you blow your hair is also important, first drying the roots and then the ends. Because the hair roots are close to the scalp, if you don't blow dry them first, the wet hair roots will keep the scalp in a humid environment all the time, which is easy to breed bacteria, causing problems such as scalp itching and dandruff. When blowing the roots, you can use your fingers to gently separate the hair so that the hot air can fully blow to the roots and speed up the drying process.
Wait until the roots are basically dry, then blow the ends. When blowing the ends of your hair, you should blow in the direction of your hair, just like you would with a comb, and move the hair dryer from the roots to the ends. This reduces knots and tangles in the hair, leaving it smoother. Also, control the degree of blow drying according to your hair volume. Generally speaking, when you see that the hair strands are naturally loose and parted and still have a hint of moisture when you touch them, you can switch the hair dryer to the cold setting and continue to blow until the hair is completely dry. Cold air can help shrink the hair cuticles, making hair smoother and shinier and reducing static electricity.
These small details in life often have an important impact on our health. Take the small matter of washing and drying hair as an example, choosing the right way to dry hair can keep our hair healthy and strong, so that we can have a healthier lifestyle.