Thermal damage?

RJKY74

Hello my fellow curlies!

I have a weird blow-dry question. Do you think it makes a difference whether you air dry for some time and then finish up with a quick blow-dry vs blow-drying halfway first and then air drying to finish?

These are the things I ponder.

Guide 65

I think the temperature is what matters.  As long as you use the dryer on low/no heat or medium heat it'll be less damaging.  And I think using it on wetter hair would be less damaging, as it's drying the excess water from your hair.  If you don't have any excess water, then it's drying out your hair. 

I do both.  I start with diffusing right out of the shower, then air dry for a while, the finish with diffusing.  I have time constraints and need to make sure my hair is dry before I leave the house.  It's more damaging to my hair to allow it to freeze (in the winter) than to dry it with gentle heat.

Therese1

Hmm, I haven't done a controlled scientific experiment on myself, but I would guess that blow-drying first and air-drying to finish would yield better results. I think that the cuticle can get frizzy and the clumps can get blown apart when you blow dry just a little too much when the hair is almost dry. 

BrittanyM

Based off a very not scientific video I watched recently, water acts like a heat protectant. So I think blow drying first would be less damaging as well as not running the risk of drying your hair too much.

Gretchen

I do your method, @Guide 65 .... a little diffusing, a little air drying, a little more diffusing.