Blow drying your hair can turn into a nightmare if you don’t have time for it. And can cause damage to your hair as well. That’s why I prefer to let my hair air dry. However, when I am late, a blow dryer is the only alternative for drying my hair fast and getting ready on time!
I have discovered two methods that will help you dry your hair without using a blow dryer. If you wonder how long does it take for my hair to dry, it takes around 30 minutes to stop dripping. And if I let it air dry, it takes around 4 to 5 hours for my hair to dry completely.
However, it all depends on the type of hair you have and the weather. It’s natural for your hair to air dry slower in winter and faster in summer. Now: let’s discover how do you make your hair dry faster? I will share the two proven methods that I’ve previously mentioned.
How do you make your hair dry faster?
You don’t always have to use a blow dryer to dry your hair faster! Apply my tips and spare your hair the extra damage. I have discovered two proven methods to speed up the drying process. Follow these steps next time you wash your hair and share if they worked for you.
Method 1: Prepare your hair for air dry the right way!
Step 1: Apply your regular conditioner while in the shower
Using a conditioner will not only make your hair healthy and smooth but also help you repel water. Every conditioner provides a coating that sticks to your hair, now allowing the water to absorb.
If you have curly hair, apply conditioner over your hair. It helps fight the frizz while drying. If your hair is fine, apply some repair oil onto any dry ends and let it absorb.
Step 2: Remove as much water as you can before you come out of the shower
The main key to dry your hair faster is starting the drying process while you’re still in the shower! Gently squeeze as much water as you can and use your fingers and comb your hair. If you fluff your wet hair, the strands will separate. This will speed up the drying process.
Step 3: Flip your head upside down and use your fingers to lift the roots
Once you get out of the shower, shake your hair out for a few minutes. After, use your fingers in order to uplift the roots and speed up the drying time even more! Shaking your head will boost the airflow between the strands and help your hair air dry in record time.
Step 4: Use a microfiber towel to remove the water
Use a super absorbent towel such as microbial tower to remove the water. Avoid regular towels because they can cause breakage and make your hair frizzy. Remove as much water as you possibly can with the towel. However, split your hair into sections before you do so.
It’ll help you remove the water, just keep in mind that you have to use a dry section of the towel for each wet section of your hair. However, don’t squeeze or rub your hair too much.
Step 5: Focus on the roots instead of the ends
Instead of focusing on the ends while drying your hair, you should focus on the roots! Ends dry a lot faster. So, make sure that you have removed as much water as you could from the roots to speed up the process.
Flip your head upside-down to increase the airflow between the strands. Use your fingers to uplift the roots and fluff them. Next, comb your wet hair.
Step 6: Use a wide-tooth comb to comb your hair
Always use a wide-tooth comb for wet hair. Otherwise, you can cause damage to your hair. According to experts, it’s not smart to use a comb on wet hair. However, if you comb your hair with a wide-tooth comb, it shouldn’t be a problem.
On the contrary, a wide-tooth comb can keep frizz down. Separate the strands with your fingers and apply hair care products. You can add hair care products before/after you comb your hair. It’s all up to your choice.
Step 7: Let the air finish the job!
Step away from your hair and let the air finish what you’ve started, if you’re not in a rush, of course! As I mentioned at the very beginning, how long does it take for your hair to dry, depends on the thickness of your hair, the weather, and how much water you squeezed out.
You can also check out our full guide on How to Make Your Hair Dry Faster.
Just don’t forget to flip your head upside-down for a couple of times and boost the airflow through your hair. Also, you can comb your hair or run your fingers through your hair every 10 – 15 minutes if you feel like the drying process is taking more than you thought it would.
Method 2: Try out these few tips!
Tip 1: Wrap your head in a turban
Another way to speed up the drying is by wrapping your hair in a towel turban. Don’t buy a special turban but use a microfiber towel instead. Wrap your hair in a microfiber towel and move on with your day, if you’re not in a rush, of course.
Eat breakfast with your turban or do whatever you want. Check your hair every 15 minutes. Before you wrap your hair, make sure that you have removed as much water as you could. Next, try plopping your curly hair.
Tip 2: Try plopping your curly hair
If you have curly hair, plopping is an effective way to air dry it fast. Begin by applying a curl increasing cream or mousse. Take a soft cotton shirt and wrap your head. However, it shouldn’t be wrapped like a turban.
Twist the t-shirt and make each side appear like a roll. Hold the towel on your hair for about 30 minutes before pulling out and apply the next tip.
Tip 3: Use a microfiber brush
This type of brushes has microfiber bristles. They’re intended for soaking up extra water in your hair. Comb your hair with a microfiber brush until you remove all the water. Shake your head to increase the airflow through your hair. Repeat the process after 10 minutes.
Tip 4: Flip your head upside-down
Use your fingers to uplift the roots and fluff the continuously. Shake your head upside-down for a couple of times. As I mentioned before, this will increase the airflow between the strands and speed up the process.
Just bend over and shake your head every 15 min. However, don’t get carried away. You can get dizzy if you shake your head for over 1 min.
Tip 5: Enjoy the sun!
Last but certainly not least tip is backing off. Enjoy the sun if you’re not in a rush and let your hair absorb direct sunlight. Doing this on a windy day is even better.
Sitting outside on a windy day will help your hair dry in record time. Now that I’ve shared my tips on how to make your hair dry fast, let’s find out if letting your hair dry naturally is healthy or not.
Is it better to let your hair dry naturally?
We constantly hear that letting your hair dry naturally is better for your hair. However, is it? If yes, why? And if not, why not and what’s the best way to dry your hair? According to a Korean recent study, air-drying isn’t the healthiest alternative to dry your hair anymore.
Using a blow dryer the right way can provide healthy drying for your hair as well. But why is air-drying not recommended anymore? I know that the two methods I have shared above include air-drying. However, let’s analyze the study and see if it’s healthy or not, together.
First, you should know that each strand of the hair is a tube with a protective outer layer known as a ‘cuticle’ and inner cortex. And they’re connected together by delicate proteins.
According to Jeff Donovan, a board-certified hair restoration physician and dermatologist based in Toronto, when they’re perfectly intact, your hair looks shiny and doesn’t break.
If you expose your hair to heat, it can damage the cuticle. How? Well, the water gets trapped inside the cortex and boils, eventually. This explanation makes you think: blow drying sucks.
You may be wrong! The Korean study has discovered that not using a hair-dryer can cause more damage to your hair than using one. If you use a blow dryer at the right distance and temperature, it can’t cause damage to your hair.
When hair comes in touch with water, it becomes heavy and swells. The longer this goes on, the more pressure it applies to the complex proteins that keep your hair intact. This might cause damage to your hair. The study says it takes 2 h on average for your hair to air dry.
That’s 2 hours of pressure that can result in breakage. So, what’s the best, healthiest way to dry your hair? According to studies, you should let your hair dry naturally but only 80% before you take over the control.
Next, set up your blow dryer on the coolest setting and blow your hair dry. Keep your dryer about 6 inches away from your hair to prevent damage.
How long does it take natural hair to dry?
According to the Korean study, it takes about 2 hours for any hair to dry naturally. But as I said throughout this article, it depends on other factors such as the weather, your hair’s thickness and the amount of water you didn’t remove after you have washed your hair.
I’ve researched the internet and found that some people need 15 minutes to dry their hair and I assume that they’ve got short thin hair. The thinner your hair, the faster it will air dry.
How long should you dry your hair?
The Korean study said that 2 hours are more than enough for your hair to dry naturally. It is not recommended to let your hair air dry for longer than 2 hours. I must admit that I do not apply this tip. Sometimes, I shower before I go to sleep and let my hair dry overnight.
However, I’ve found out that this is one of the biggest mistakes that people do, especially women when it comes to drying. Letting your hair dry overnight isn’t a smart choice.
The Korean study revealed that the proteins that keep your hair intact remain under pressure. Meaning, the longer the pressure, the bigger the potential breakage to your hair becomes.
Related Questions
Q: Does damaged hair stay wet longer?
A: Yes, damaged hair may not dry as fast as healthy hair because of the lack of moisture and proteins. However, you can fix this by following the tips I’ve shared in this article and prevent further damage to your hair. Avoid styling products, hair color, and products with harsh ingredients until your hair becomes healthy. Maintenance is the key to healthy hair.
Final Thoughts
Well, there you go, guys! I have shared everything I know about how long does it take for hair to dry. I also shared a few methods that will help your hair dry faster. I mentioned a recent study that recommends blow-drying instead of air drying, so make sure you check it out and share your opinion on the topic.
I sincerely hope that you find this article helpful and interesting. I’m open to any suggestions on how to speed up the drying process. Don’t be shy to share your knowledge and help people dry their hair fast when they’re in a rush!