Although having curly hair is a gift that many women with straight hair crave, it also presents a number of challenges. Curly hair tends to be drier than straight hair, tends to tangle and break easily, and requires extra care. Also, it generally takes a lot longer to dry. Here are ways to dry hair naturally to reduce heat damage, to use a blow dryer with minimal damage, to dry it faster, and to add and hold frizz during drying.
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Method 1 of 4: Let Hair Dry Naturally
Step 1. Wash your hair
In general, curly hair is drier than straight hair, because the natural oils your scalp produces will have a harder time spreading through the curves of curly hair. The result is that this natural oil cannot be spread evenly throughout the hair, especially to the ends of the hair. This causes the hair to become dry, then brittle and easily tangled. If you wash curly hair daily, use a moisturizing shampoo to prevent breakage, reduce frizz, split ends and add shine to your hair.
- Choose a shampoo that is sulfate-free or does not contain ammonium lauryl sulfate, ammonium laureth sulfate or sodium lauryl sulfate. These ingredients are basically strong detergents that can strip the needed natural oils from the scalp and hair.
- Try to avoid all products that contain alcohol, which can absorb moisture in your hair and make frizzy hair look and feel dry.
Step 2. Alternate between moisturizing and protein-packed conditioners
Hair needs both moisture and protein to maintain its elasticity. This means that hair can grow long without breakage, and this is a major indicator of healthy hair. Conditioners that contain protein not only seep into the hair shaft to make it stronger, but also form a layer on the hair cuticle or the outermost layer of the hair, making it flatter/more regular. This helps reduce frizz.
- Use a protein conditioner containing wheat, keratin, silk, milk, collagen or soy or a moisturizing conditioner with jojoba oil, glycerol (or vegetable glycerol), aloe vera, shea butter or Vitamin E.
- Use conditioner alternately every day, every few days or every week. You can also use one conditioner more often than the other depending on the texture of your hair and how often you use heat to style your hair.
- Use a protein conditioner more often if your hair feels dry and frizzy, grows fast but breaks, feels brittle when wet or if the curls don't last long.
- Use a moisturizing conditioner more often if your hair breaks or breaks easily, feels brittle or strawlike, or doesn't grow long or doesn't grow at all.
Step 3. Try co-washing your hair using conditioner instead
The so-called co-washing technique is washing your hair without using shampoo because it can erode the hair's natural oils over time. Instead, co-washing recommends using a gentle cleansing conditioner. Choose a conditioner made specifically for co-washing or one that has a cleansing conditioner on the package. In general, cleansing conditioner products and their natural ingredients, such as aloe vera, can be seen on the packaging label. Avoid cleansing conditioner made from silicone, because it will make the hair feel heavy.
- Wash your hair with a cleansing conditioner every 3-7 days, depending on your hair type. The less curly hair is washed, the coarser it will be.
- Apply a larger amount than you normally use, massage from roots to tips, and allow to absorb for 3-5 minutes before rinsing off.
- Wash your hair with a sulfate-free clarifying shampoo every 2-4 weeks, as using a cleansing conditioner will leave a build-up of residue on your hair.
- Co-washing is not recommended for people with thin hair because it will make the hair limp and too oily.
- If you don't know what kind of curl you have in your hair, visit sites like these to find out: [1].
Step 4. Squeeze excess water on hair properly to speed up natural drying
Never rub your hair on a towel to make it drier. Drying your hair with a towel vigorously will create friction which causes the hair cuticles to become rough. While what is desired is a soft flattened cuticle to reduce frizz. Instead, gently squeeze the water droplets out of your hair using your hands. Then use a towel or micro-fiber cloth, a super absorbent cloth that can absorb more water in one squeeze, and pat the hair from top to bottom.
T-shirts are a great alternative for curly hair because they are soft and don't irritate the hair cuticles
Step 5. Apply conditioner without rinse and comb hair
Drying naturally gives hair more time to absorb moisture from the air and environment. This makes the hair break more easily and the cuticles become rough, causing frizz. The leave-in conditioner contains polymers that form a barrier or layer on the hair strands, which can lock in moisture and reduce frizz. Apply leave-in conditioner using a wide-toothed comb all over your hair. (Combing after shampooing with a brush is very damaging to the hair.) Focus on the middle of the shaft, or the middle of the length of the hair, all the way to the ends. Here are tips to unravel hair to minimize damage.
- Divide the hair into 4-8 sections and pin it using tongs, curly pins or alligator clips.
- Remove the pins one at a time and use your fingers or a wide-toothed comb to comb through all sections of hair, starting at the ends and working your way up to the roots.
- Apply conditioner with your fingers to untangle your hair if you find certain areas that are particularly tangled.
- When you're done combing one section of hair, twist your hair once and pin it up before moving on to another section. When all sections are done, remove the bobby pins from your hair.
- If your hair is very thick and curly, or curly is piled up, use a long-toothed comb that can reach all sections of your hair.
Step 6. Use a product that matches your hair
Drying naturally doesn't mean just letting it dry. Styling your hair with products without using heat will make a huge difference. You should apply an anti-tangle serum and/or serum, oil, cream, gel, mousse, lotion or curling spray before the hair is completely dry to control frizz and maintain and manage/hold the curls. The type of product you choose depends on your hair texture, type of curl and how you want your hair to look. The results of the combination of two or more products can be very satisfying.
- Serums, oils, lotions and creams are generally gentle to use.
- Rigid gels and creams are most often used to help set/hold or to maintain/shape hair.
- Mousse and foam can add volume and also help maintain the shape of the hair.
- Sprays can have many uses as above, in addition to adding texture to hair.
- Reading product reviews on the internet is a great way to help choose a product.
Step 7. Part the hair and then roll it or twist it
Use a comb or fingers to form a natural parting. Find a natural parting by combing your hair back and shaking your head. This will make the hair part naturally. Then do a zigzag motion using your fingers on the scalp to lift the base of the hair. This will give the hair a path and air circulation to dry faster. Then use your hands to curl or twist your hair, depending on the type of curl and the look you want.
- Stand straight or first turn your head to one side, then the other and so on while curling your hair.
- Then, place your hands on the ends of your hair, then roll one section of hair from the ends to the roots several times. Then move to another section of hair.
- When twisting, use your fingers to hook 1-3 sections of hair and twist the hair twisting your fingers from the bottom up, and hold for 15-30 seconds. The curls will be perfectly formed. If not, add a little more styling product to your hair.
- Don't touch your hair when it dries! Touching your hair with your hands will deform it, as well as make it messy and tangled.
Step 8. Add volume to the hair using the bobby pin and parting technique
One of the benefits of using heat to dry your hair is that it helps lift the roots to give your hair volume, especially at the tips of your head. Here are some tricks to add volume by parting and pinning your hair differently when you dry them.
- Part the hair on the opposite side of the normal, then flip it back just before it dries.
- Part deeper on the side of your usual parting and flip it back just before it dries.
- Make a zigzag part, and use your fingers to form a natural part of your hair just before it dries. Or a zigzag part can also be made after the hair is dry.
- Take curly pins, which won't leave streaks or marks on your hair, and clip them at the roots of the crown of your head and along the parting line. Remove when hair is dry.
- Use a hurricane tongs to pin the strands of hair. Take two rows of hair, about 2.5-5 cm section of hair near the forehead (one on each side of the part), cross them and secure them using storm clips. Make another 2-4 rows back, or away from the forehead.
Step 9. Let hair dry and give the finishing touch
Let hair dry completely, then remove all pins. Use your fingers to separate the curls, unless they're already the way you want them to be. When separating, use only one or two fingers to gently release each curl. You can remove the other curls after that; however, removing a lot of curls is not easy. Finish with styling products like the following.
- Spray or spray medium-hold flexible or medium-hold humidity-resistant hairspray all over your hair. Hold the hairspray can about 30 cm from the head. Keep moving your hands while spraying, and use hairspray as needed.
- For a textured, wavy finish, take a small amount of pomade (the size of a coin) and run it between your palms. Use your fingers to rub it from the middle of the stem to the ends of the hair.
- Use a thick gel that rinses off with water (or one that contains guar gum), which doesn't make hair sticky, to help shape and manage medium to large curls. Use a solid/stiff cream for small curls.
- Give hair the finishing touch with an anti-frizz or softening serum, or natural care oils such as argan, coconut, avocado, sweet almond or grapeseed. Use only dabs and swipes between your palms before: a) applying it to areas that are tangled or need to be managed, or b) to the ends of your hair in a circular motion.
- Avoid products that contain silicone, unless they can be rinsed off with water or with a milder material for hair. The lighter silicones are amodimethicone, cyclomethicone/cyclopentasiloxane and trimethylsilylamodimethicone. Silicones that are easier to rinse with water are behenoxy dimethicone and stearoxy dimethicone.
Method 2 of 4: Drying Curly Hair with a Hair Dryer
Step 1. Buy the right hair dryer
However, the use of heat will damage the hair, especially for curly hair which tends to be drier and more prone to breakage. In fact, excessive heat can change the hair proteins that function to form the natural spirals in curly hair. So use a hairdryer whose electricity power is not more than 1300-1874 watts (1400 watts is enough), with a cold and hot dryer button, as well as a speed control.
If you plan to dry your curls regularly, buy a hairdryer that is coated with ceramic, ion ceramic or tourmaline ceramic. These devices reduce damage in hair-drying activities by emitting infrared heat or using negative ions to destroy water molecules
Step 2. Make sure you get a diffuser (special funnel on the hairdryer)
Some hair dryers are sold with a diffuser; while others do not. But drying curly hair using a diffuser is very important, as it helps distribute heat evenly, adds volume to curls, reduces frizz, and helps curls stay intact. The usual funnels commonly found in hair dryers will only spoil the curl pattern and make the hair frizzy. The diffuser also adds curls that are less wavy.
- Choose a diffuser that is concave in the middle, or not flat, so that your hair can be reached into the hollows and the curls will look natural. Or buy a diffuser that has a funnel shape like a cup so hair can fit in.
- Look for a diffuser that is about 6-7.5 cm wide for a more even distribution of heat, and one that has a "finger" length of at least 2.5-5 cm to help separate the curls. The fingers/tooth of the diffuser should be long enough to reach the roots to create volume and bouncy.
- While most diffusers claim to be suitable for all hair dryers, internet reviewers disagree. You may have to experiment.
- Buy a hairdryer that has a diffuser, buy a diffuser that has a ring or rubber band to help lock it in place, or visit the website of the company that manufactures the hairdryer and see if there is a specific diffuser model recommended for your hairdryer.
Step 3. Wash hair and apply conditioner
After washing your hair, use a wide-toothed comb to evenly apply a moisturizing or protein-packed conditioner. Unless you're co-washing, alternating between the two conditioners on a daily or weekly basis will help maintain the balance of protein and moisture needed for hair strength and elasticity. Allow the conditioner to soak into your hair for a few minutes before rinsing it off. Then rinse again with cold water to close the hair cuticles.
After that, use your hands carefully to squeeze the excess water out of your hair. Then press down on the hair using a T-shirt, soft towel or super absorbent, micro-fiber cloth to absorb more water before patting it up and down to help flatten the cuticles
Step 4. Apply an anti-frizz serum, curling or softening product, and untangle the frizz
Divide the hair into sections, and use a wide-toothed comb to detangle the hair. After combing a section, twist the hair and pin it using tongs. Once done, remove all the clamps.
Describe each section of hair using these products. Or you can use it afterwards
Step 5. Wear heat protection products
Any heat will damage your hair, even if you dry it on low-to-medium heat. The heat shield forms a shield around each hair strand to reduce cuticle damage. In addition, it also serves to reduce the number of dry hair shafts. Some heat protection products have a silicone base that offers the most effective hair protection, but also leaves the most residue, and often leaves hair limp. In addition, there are also those made from water and oil. Avoid the latter if your hair gets greasy quickly.
Part your hair after putting on the heat shield, hold the ends of your hair with your hands, rock them from side to side, then release them so that the curls return to their original shape
Step 6. Dry your hair with a diffuser
There are several ways to do this, mostly depending on the length and thickness of your hair as well as how much volume you want to create. To start, always part the hair first (use bobby pins if necessary). Dry on low-medium heat to avoid injuring your scalp, and use a low-medium wind speed setting to reduce frizz. In addition, only dry it until it's 80-95% dry if your hair is curly, not wavy, before letting your hair dry on its own. Do it that way or not at all. This will reduce breakage and frizz.
- One way to dry your hair with a diffuser is to hold the hair dryer at a 90˚ angle from your head and apply the diffuser to the base of one section of your hair. Start at the nape of the neck and hold the ends so they don't hit the hair dryer. Turn on the hairdryer and use the fingers of the diffuser to lift the hair roots. Do circular motions at the same time.
- Alternatively, to add volume, turn your head downwards and apply a diffuser to the roots of your hair. Use your diffuser fingers to lift the hair roots in a circular motion. Then use a diffuser to curl the middle of the hair shaft, hold and dry. In this way, the base and middle of the hair shaft must be completely dry to lock in volume.
- Another option is to tilt your head to one side and use your hands to cup a section of hair from the middle of the shaft to the roots. Use a diffuser at the base of your hair and hold the blow dryer at 90˚. Then turn on the hairdryer and dry for a few minutes, before turning it off and moving on to another section of hair. Tilt your head in the opposite direction, then start at the crown and work your way down. In the end, re-use the wind-cool setting on the hairdryer to lock in volume.
- Place the ends of your hair in the diffuser one at a time if you have wavy hair and want to make them curlier. Push it towards the scalp and hold it until the hair is dry.
- Some people find it helpful to let the hair dry on its own for 20-30 minutes, or until it's 50% dry, to allow the natural curls to form better. However, you'll need to dry your hair quickly if you want to add to the curls.
Step 7. Allow hair to dry completely and apply the final styling product
You'll want to style your hair when it's dry. Spray or spray medium-hold flexible or humidity-resistant hairspray in continuous motions. You can also use pomade, especially if your hair feels a little dry, by applying it, but not thoroughly, on your hair. Or you can also use a drop of serum or natural oil. Smooth it on the tangled or split ends.
Method 3 of 4: Dry Hair Faster
Step 1. Curl your hair with curly pins and roll it up
Drying medium-to-long curls using heat will take about 30 minutes, if not too long. If you don't have time, the best option in most cases is to style and wrap your hair before bed. While the hair is still damp, neither wet nor dry, roll the 2.5-5 cm section of hair away from the scalp and secure it with a tweezer. Then wrap the hair with a silk headgear to reduce dandruff/irregular hair. When you wake up, use your fingers or a wide-toothed comb to untangle and style your hair.
If your hair is very curly, you can also do it by twisting or braiding it before wrapping it
Step 2. Try the plopping method on the hair to shorten the drying time
The idea behind the plopping method is that not only does it reduce the drying time of your hair, it also helps create a more perfect curly look. Because through the plopping method, curly hair will overlap each other so that it looks more elastic and shaped, and the base of the hair will have more volume. Wash your hair first, then apply conditioner and an anti-frizz serum or curling product. Then follow these steps.
- Place a large T-shirt on a flat surface, with the short sleeves close to you.
- Bow your head and place it in the middle so that your hair hangs over the shirt, then wrap the ends of the shirt around your hair and the top of your head.
- Take the sleeve of the shirt and twist it close to the ear. Tie the sleeve of the shirt (or secure it with pins) loosely at the base of the neck.
- Leave it on for 15-30 minutes then let your hair dry on its own.
Step 3. Use a bonnet dryer or a hooded dryer
A bonnet dryer is a plastic cap that is wrapped around the hair to dry it. This is a more hair-friendly drying method than using a regular hairdryer, as it can damage the hair. A hooded dryer is another hair dryer alternative that does less damage to your hair. It's not as expensive as you might think; however, be sure to buy one that is large enough to fit the roller head.
Another advantage is that both do not need to be grasped
Method 4 of 4: Blow Drying Hair to Hold and Add Curl
Step 1. Loosen curly hair with doobie wrap
Doobie wrap - or simply doobie - is a Dominican hair straightening technique by wrapping and pinning it. Start with wet hair. Part your hair in the middle, then start on one side by combing a 2.5-7.5cm section of hair straight. Pull and smooth each section with the comb around the head. Secure with long sticks at the ends of the head, nape and at the ends. Continue to the other section of hair and do the same thing, combing the hair over the hair that has been pinned.
- Wrap a silk headgear around your hair when you go to sleep.
- Otherwise, let your hair dry on its own, or use a bonnet dryer or hooded dryer.
Step 2. Arrange hair with rollers to loosen curls or straighten hair
Start by applying styling lotion. This will help straighten the hair and make it last longer. Use a wide-toothed comb to divide the hair, and roll a 5–10 cm section of hair into an iron roller or a 5–10 cm long mesh. Pull tight around the scalp, as this area is the most resistant to straightening. Secure each hair roller around the scalp with large tongs. Make sure the hair roll is back to your face.
- Allow your hair to dry naturally, or use a bonnet dryer or hooded dryer on low heat before switching to a cooler setting to set the curls.
- Combine natural drying and using a hairdryer, by letting your hair dry for a while before using the blow dryer. Or it could be to dry your hair partly with a hairdryer, then let it dry by itself.
- Check that the hair is dry by removing a roller at the back of the head after 45 minutes, longer if the hair is very thick or coarse.
Step 3. Use a steam shower to lock the curls
First of all, don't turn on the air duct before using the shower. After washing your hair and using conditioner, stay in the shower or in the shower and let your hair absorb the steam. This will help add curl to the hair. Then use a serum, lotion, cream, curling or anti-wrinkle oil, etc. on hair while it is still half wet.
Step 4. Use a curl enhancing product
There are a number of these products on the market, so reading reviews on the internet is a good start if you haven't used them before. Don't use it too much as it will make your hair limp, and the curls won't last long. Using a moisturizer without rinsing it will add and hold the curls, unless you have straight or wavy hair. Using mousse before curling your hair will work better on less frizzy hair. These products can also help shape and define curls.
- Use anti-wrinkle serums, creams and oils about the size of a quarter of a five-cent coin. If you pour too much, sprinkle baby powder or dry shampoo on your hair and use a blow dryer to blow cool air over the area.
- If using mousse or foam, spray out the size of a golf ball. Clap your hands together and apply to your hair with your fingers, starting at the roots.
Step 5. Blow dry the hair to make it straight
This can be a bit damaging to your hair, so use a heat protectant and the lowest heat level on your blow dryer. Also use a hairdryer with a concentrator that functions to direct the heat so that the hair does not float, which causes tangles, when drying. Do this with a 5-7.5 cm section of hair using a round bristle brush or a large nylon brush. Roll from under the hair firmly while drying it with a hairdryer.
- Make sure the hair dryer is pointed downwards to even out the hair cuticles.
- Always start at the roots and work your way up to the ends of the hair.
Step 6. Defy gravity if you have wavy hair
The purpose of making wavy hair last longer or becoming more curly is to avoid damaging the shape. One way is to use a diffuser. Turn your head down and sideways to curl your hair either using a natural blow dryer or using a blow dryer.
Use high heat and low speed settings when using the blow dryer for longer lasting, drier and smoother curls
Tips
- Use a deep conditioner regularly. Every 1-2 weeks (or so), apply a moisturizing or protein-based conditioner to the hair, depending on the type and needs.
- If your hair tends to be brittle at the bottom, use less styling/care products on the roots and scion, and more on the ridge to the ends.
- Use a hair net in the shower to clean your head, but keep your hair structure intact.
- Make sure your hair is trimmed regularly, preferably every 6-8 weeks, to remove split ends and maintain healthy hair. But keep your hair dry, because curly hair shrinks when it's wet.
- To protect your curls at night without having to wash them the next day, use the "pineapple method." Gather the hair at the end of the head and tie it loosely. In the morning, refresh your hair with a splash of water, a moisturizing spray or curl straightener, or a conditioner that has been added to water.
- Use a satin pillowcase while sleeping, which will help keep your curls from becoming straight or tangled.
