Raise your hand if you thought leaving your hair to air dry was good for your hair…

So many clients tell me they leave their hair to dry naturally and I understand; drying your hair is a lot of effort (especially for those of us with hair extensions)! We’re told about the dangers of heat styling all the time, so why not just leave your hair to dry by itself or even dry while you sleep??

Well, letting your hair air dry may be causing a lot more damage than you think!

When our hair gets wet it swells. Hair can absorb up to 30% of its weight in water! That swelling puts pressure on the hair cuticles making it significantly weaker when wet, and the longer that swelling takes place, the more pressure it puts on the cuticles. Hair is especially vulnerable to damage at this time, as washing hair strips it of its natural oils. Therefore, by leaving your hair wet for a long period of time, you risk broken and split ends.

And leaving your hair to dry while you sleep overnight is an even bigger no no! As you toss and turn throughout the night, friction will cause the hair to snap! Also, the combination of warmth and dampness allows bacteria and fungi to multiply on your scalp, leading to all of ours worst nightmare - dandruff. Not to mention the tangled bedhead you’ll be greeted with in the morning! One of the most important investments you can make to reduce these effects is to sleep on a silk pillowcase instead of cotton. This material is smoother, which means less friction and hence less breakage and less frizz!

So, you’ve been told to stay away from heat styling and now told not to air dry your hair either! What should you do??

Excessive heat does damage your hair, but the key is adopting the right blow-dry technique!

Start by removing excess water when towel drying! Then, begin blow drying on a low heat, as your hair begins to dry you can increase the temperature until finally styling your hair on the highest temperature.

Most importantly, don’t forget to apply product to your damp hair! My favourites are Olaplex no.6 and no.7! Olaplex no.6 is a leave-in smoothing cream which strengthens and moisturises hair! While Olaplex no.7 is a reparative styling oil that protects against UV/heat and increases shine and softness of hair!

And this applies to men too! Male hair isn’t any stronger and its a lot quicker to blow dry! Its important we all take a little more time for ourselves and our hair, try this hair drying technique and see the improvement in your locks!