Rule 1: gently wipe out your hair with a towel.
First, remove excess moisture from your hair. Large amount of moisture leads to fragility of the hair and increases the risk of split ends. The shorter the contact with water, the better it is for the hair. Use a towel made of soft material, such as microfiber. Also, if you rub your hair too hard, it loses smoothness and shine. The best way is to gently press the towel against your hair and squeeze moisture out of it.
Rule 2: do not give up using a hair dryer.
It may sound strange, but using a hair dryer is a better solution for hair health than drying it yourself. The longer the hair is in contact with moisture, the more the hair structure is disturbed.
Rule 3: use thermal protector.
If it is an indelible product – spray, mousse, foam, fluid, cream – it should be applied to clean, well-dried hair. Such products as special shampoos, conditioners are applied immediately after shampooing. However, this option is less effective, since the main ingredients are on the hair for a short time, leaving it with the water.
Thermal protective agents contain special components that activated when heated, and can protect hair from the effects of hot styling and strengthen the keratin layer.
Rule 4: dry with cool air.
Hot air has an undeniable advantage: it quickly evaporates excess moisture. Hair dried thus becomes over dried, but it perfectly keeps the shape that given to it. Therefore, drying with a hot hair dryer is indispensable if you plan to do a hairdo.
However, elevated temperatures also have an obvious disadvantage: hot air evaporates not only excess moisture, but also necessary moisture, which leads to hair damage. Besides, by evaporating, the moisture lifts the cuticle scales, which means that the hair becomes more brittle and less shiny.
Rule 5: use a narrow hair dryer nozzle.
Such a nozzle directs the airflow exactly where you want it, rather than randomly scattering hair in all directions. Thus, the hair dries faster. In this case, keep the hair dryer not too close to the scalp so as not to overdry the skin. It is best to dry your hair in the direction of its growth – from roots to ends. It smoothes the cuticle, giving the hair shine.
Rule 6: divide your hair into zones and dry each separately.
This makes the drying process easier and faster. As a rule, the hair is divided into four parts: vertically – along the hair parting; horizontally – from ear to ear along the back of the head. It is recommended starting drying from any of the zones in the back of the head.
Rule 7: Leave your hair slightly damp.
This rule will help you not to overdo it and not to overdry the hair, damaging its cuticle. It is best to turn off the hair dryer when you realize that your hair will dry naturally in 5-7 minutes, no more.