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Keeping your hair healthy goes beyond the products you use. If you are struggling with thinning hair, you should take a look at every step in your haircare routine, including your styling tools. Unfortunately, many of the most common styling tools lead to heat damage that can cause longterm hair problems, especially if you are using them regularly. In particular, blow dryers are one styling tool you may want to stop using on a daily basis.
Blow dryers can cause heat damage
If you use a blow dryer regularly, it might be time to take a break. According to Self, "Blow drying causes a 'flash drying' effect that not only removes the surface moisture but also removes water that is bound to the hair, which is called water of hydration. The effect of this flash drying is that the cuticles become dry, rigid and brittle. When the hair flexes, the pressure causes the cuticles to crack."
Plus, when you brush your hair as you blow dry, this effect is exacerbated. "Combing hair with this degree of cuticle cracking causes significant breakage," the article continues.
Although blow drying on occasion will probably not cause too much breakage, if you're doing it on a regular basis, it can definitely play a role in the overall health of your hair. Additionally, there are some mistakes you may be making as you blow dry that can make this worse. With that in mind, keep reading for what to avoid.
Holding the blow dryer too close
Éprouvage global stylist Sam Lavella told Health, "Begin blow drying your hair using your fingers, and direct the air flow from your scalp out through your ends until it's about 80 percent dry. Then, you can bring styling brushes into play, but be sure to the dryer far enough away to prevent damage."
So how should you hold your hair dryer? Jonathan De Paca, a stylist at Frederic Fekkai Palm Beach, told Prevention, "Keep the blow dryer around 12 inches away from the hair to avoid damage."
Forgetting heat protectant
Heat protectant is a crucial step in your haircare routine, especially if you are using a blow dryer. It can help keep your strands protected from the damage, brittleness, and dryness that result from too much styling.
Make sure to put the protectant in your hair while it's still wet. Celebrity hairstylist Michael Dueñas tells Insider, "Use heat protectants, products for humidity, products for volume and hold, all while wet, then blow dry. This disperses the products evenly throughout, then you can re-apply when finished."