tempted to buy a blowdryer - includes poll

jennyfurrens

i haven't blowdried since i was 12. i've air dryed ever since then, and i always get told my hair is in great shape, it never breaks etc. i do have it coloured so it is already slightly 'weakned'. i am satisfied with the way my hair comes out with airdrying.

however, it takes about 3 hours. i never really liked my hair with blowdrying when iw as 12, but then i never used styling product and didn't do the 'pixie curl' method. i've got a summer job that requires me to look neat - so tidy, clean hair is a must! but i can't wait three hours for it to dry, and going to bed with wet hair every second night is a pain.

so my question - should i invest in a hairdryer (complete with diffuser.) even LM mentions them in CG (albeit not as a huge part of drying, and only if it needs dried quicker). i wouldn't use it to dry all my hair, would probably air dry for 15 mins first, then do the pixie curl method for about 10 then leave to air dry the rest of the way.

but i really think this would help with drying time AND with helping my hair curl closer to the root. right now my hair lies flat on my head for about 2 inches before the curls start, resulting in a lack of volume and just sillyness really! i've tried clips when drying but it still doesnt give the volume i want.

so now i need your opinion - how many of you blowdry? how often? any success stories? or sob stories? all input will be appreciated!

SuZen

When you say blow-dry, I am assuming you mean diffuse.

My usual routine is to plop for about 20 minutes and then diffuse just for a couple of minutes to get the worst of the drippiness out, then air-dry the rest of the way. I've never tried diffusing until my hair was entirely dry. But, a new stylist diffused my hair dry and she made it unbelievably curly. I have to pay more attention next time, because so far I can't get it to do that.

jennyfurrens

oops yes sorry i mean diffuse! and on the lowest heat setting with a not-very-powerful diffuser.

i've seen great curls come out from diffusing too which makes me more tempted!

StormCloudCurly

I think if you are looking for volume, you should definitely diffuse.

DolphinCurls

I diffuse whenever I am in a hurry and need to look presentable. Otherwise I just let it dry naturally.

jennyfurrens

ok, so it seems a lot of people DO diffuse.

so now my question is - does it damage your hair? i mean, air drying is 'better' for hair and keeps it healthier, but as long as i'm not diffusing till its completly dry, and not every time, will it still be ok? i dont want my hair to get any drier, or break, or get lots more frizz...

SuZen

If you use low heat and move the dryer around, I don't think it hurts your hair.

jennyfurrens

Thanks SuZen, I'll just have to go by ear and see how it progresses. It would make my life so much easier but I just dont want to ruin the quality of my hair...

More input still appreciated from other curlies! Anyone find blowdrying makes their hair worse than airdrying? Or vice versa?

velvet paws

I don't diffuse often, and when I do, I diffuse it on high and for maybe about 5 minutes. My hair is healthy and I haven't noticed any damage.

woocurlz

I diffuse whenever I want my hair to look good. If there's a day that I know I'm not doing anything important, I let it air-dry to give it a break.

Starmie

I leave my hair in a towel (kind of plopping but not really!) for about 15 mins then leave it to dry for an hour or so (sometimes less, depends what time I drag myself out of bed) then diffuse on low for about 5 mins and my hair is dry. I really don't think it's causing any damage. I actually have to do that bit of diffusing or my hair sits in rats tails and is all weirdly separated and still looks wet, even if it's dry.

CurliLocks

I voted 10% because I airdry mostly, just diffusing the top a bit sometimes for better lift.

lushaholic

CurliLocks wrote:

I voted 10% because I airdry mostly, just diffusing the top a bit sometimes for better lift.

Same here. I prefer to airdry to keep my hair from getting damage, but if I'm in a real hurry or want some extra volume I might diffuse for 5 minutes or less.

deezee02

I plop for about 5 mins with a microfiber towel then diffuse as much as a can until i know i am going to be late...atleast enough to get most of the sopping wetness out. If i am going out, i will diffuse 100%...i like the look I get that way better!

Kurlee

lushaholic wrote:

CurliLocks wrote:

I voted 10% because I airdry mostly, just diffusing the top a bit sometimes for better lift.

Same here. I prefer to airdry to keep my hair from getting damage, but if I'm in a real hurry or want some extra volume I might diffuse for 5 minutes or less.

Same here!

jennyfurrens

well i used a diffuser. when i was trying to find one to buy, some of them were SO expensive, and hardly any hairdriers came with a diffuser bowl. so i went for one at £15, would have liked to spend less on my student budget but it was the cheapest with diffuser bowl... it also had a fancy 'ion' thing where it blows ions into your hairs and is supposed to improve shine and frizz. i was wary of this as i didnt know if it was CG friendly...

BUT i LOVE it My curls were a lot more defined, and clumped better. Especially underneath where they're usually less defined (i dont really mind tho as my canopy covers them.) I air dried for 20 mins then only diffused for about 8 mins over all, doing sections for 2 mins on cool flow. then left to air dry the rest of the way. I had minimal frizz (my hair never dries without SOME) and it just looked great! Better volume too, my curls started closer to the root...

So thankyou everyone who helped and recommended i'm going to have to resist the tempation to do it a lot, as it does give good hair days, but i dont want to damage my hair. I definately recommended diffusing (pixie curl method) for any other curlies!

SuZen

jennyfurrens wrote:

well i used a diffuser. when i was trying to find one to buy, some of them were SO expensive, and hardly any hairdriers came with a diffuser bowl. so i went for one at £15, would have liked to spend less on my student budget but it was the cheapest with diffuser bowl... it also had a fancy 'ion' thing where it blows ions into your hairs and is supposed to improve shine and frizz. i was wary of this as i didnt know if it was CG friendly...

BUT i LOVE it My curls were a lot more defined, and clumped better. Especially underneath where they're usually less defined (i dont really mind tho as my canopy covers them.) I air dried for 20 mins then only diffused for about 8 mins over all, doing sections for 2 mins on cool flow. then left to air dry the rest of the way. I had minimal frizz (my hair never dries without SOME) and it just looked great! Better volume too, my curls started closer to the root...

So thankyou everyone who helped and recommended i'm going to have to resist the tempation to do it a lot, as it does give good hair days, but i dont want to damage my hair. I definately recommended diffusing (pixie curl method) for any other curlies!

Yay! Glad it worked!

long_n_curly

Ok...now I am soooooooooooo tempted to get a diffuser if anyone has one they want to get rid of PM me I dont have enough left in the PJ budget for a new one!!!! :^)

SpaghettiHead

OKay Jenny, when are we going to see pics of your diffused curlies? or did you post them already? I diffuse every day for about 5-8 minutes, always have, and my hair doesn't seem damaged at all from it.

Rheanna

I almost always diffuse. I've discovered that I cannot keep my hands off my hair while it's air-drying and I want to shape it, scrunch more, etc and I end up with the frizzies. I also diffuse usually all the way till dry. If I don't do this, I have frizzier hair and even flatter at the top (which is a constant problem for me anyhow). I definitely recommend diffusing, but its a "to each her own" thing as different people get different results. It helps me have more defined curls and less frizz but for others they get the opposite effect.

jennyfurrens

SpaghettiHead, you'll get them soon enough I just got a new computer and have been slowly transfering files and uploading software. the software for my digital camera is at the highest point in my wardrobe in a box tippling precariously near the edge. i'm scared to reach for it, as i'm not that tall and it might land on my head :roll: the photos are taken, just waiting to be uploaded!

i've only blowdried once so far and my hair didnt look THAT much different (in pictures) to how it normally does, the change was more in the drying time and the FEEL of the curls. they felt more clumpy rather than dispersing under my fingers. but i will post when my camera is set up