How to Blow-Dry Your Hair Without Causing Damage

When using a hot tool on your hair, there's almost no way to dodge some form of heat damage. After all, hair can easily by damaged by using the wrong technique, products, or heat setting. However, there are many ways to minimize harm—using a blow dryer doesn't always equal damage.

For starters, there are many nourishing and strengthening haircare products that can fortify your strands and prep them to withstand heat. Then, there are different types of blowdryers you can choose from, each that use different types of technology. Not to mention, you have to factor in your hair type, curl pattern, additional styling tools, and heat settings. Woof!

There are lots of factors to consider, and we understand it can get confusing. So, to streamline all the information and help you learn how not to damage your hair when using a hair dryer, we spoke to two hairstylists and asked them for their expert tips. Below, learn what you should and shouldn't be doing while blow drying your hair. Your best blowout is in the near future.

1. Use a Fortifying Shampoo and Conditioner

The first steps of a solid haircare routine start in the shower. So first, pick a nourishing shampoo and conditioner. "Use a shampoo and conditioner that are free from sulfates and other drying and damaging ingredients whenever you wash your hair," suggests Alvarez, who recommends Biolage's Strength Recovery Shampoo ($23) and Conditioning Cream ($23).

2. Rinse Your Hair Properly

Then, once you've properly worked it into your hair and scalp, make sure to rinse it out. "If your shampoo and conditioner are not rinsed properly, this will cause a buildup and make your hair flatter and greasier much more quickly," explains Mistry, who adds that your blowout will look bouncier and more voluminous because of it.

3. Rough-Dry Your Hair

If you have wet or damp hair, make sure to gentle rough-dry and detangle it before blowdrying to minimize how long you need to use heat. With that said, use a non-abrasive fabric, like a jersey T-shirt or Aquis's Wrap ($25). It's important for all hair types to take this step, but especially so for curly hair. "Once it starts to dry too much, it begins to set and will ultimately take more effort to style and, therefore, cause more dryness and damage," explains Mistry.

4. Detangle Your Hair Pre-Blowout

Your hair is at its most vulnerable when it's wet as all the cuticles are open, so you don't want to damage it by yanking your hairbrush or comb through any knots. "Often, people really tug and pull as they brush and detangle their hair, and this will break the ends and cause unnecessary damage," furthers Mistry. Instead, use a detangler, like Oribe's Run-Through Detangling Spray ($39), and gently work a wide-tooth comb through small sections of your hair, starting from the ends and working your way up to the root.

5. Apply Haircare Correctly

As with most things beauty-related, technique is everything. Mistry explains that unless you apply a volumizing spray or powder at the root, applying styling product there will weigh hair down and make it look greasy. Plus, it'll take longer to blow dry your hair as your hot tool will have to work through product to get to the actual hair shaft. Instead, add them to your hair from mid-shaft to ends.

4. Use the Right Brush

Hair type differs from person to person, so the hairbrush you use should be tailored to your specific hair and curl type. Furthermore, they should be able to withstand heat as you'll likely be using your heat settings while you blow dry your hair. "To prevent heat damage, do not use a ceramic or metal brush," notes Mistry. "They can get very hot, and constant overuse will burn the hair shaft." If your hair is very thick or curly, though, a ceramic brush will help achieve a smoother finish, but boar-bristle brushes are also great.

5. Make Sure to Clean Your Brushes

Now that you have the right brush for your hair type, you need to make sure you keep it clean. "The buildup of hair is both unhygienic, and over time, the hair will start to burn and melt onto the brush," explains Mistry. We recommend Olivia Garden's Brush Cleaner ($17) to rake away hair, lint, dirt, and product from in between hair bristles.

6. Invest In a High-Quality Hair Dryer

"Traditional hair dryers can cause damage and frizz because of a lack of heat control and airflow. Ionic and ceramic hair dryers, preferably with heat control, can effectively dry your hair with minimal damage," says Alvarez. "Another thing to pay attention to is the wattage of your hair dryer. Wattage determines heat and drying speed, and a dryer with a wattage around 1400 will effectively dry all hair textures without going overboard and causing damage." We recommend the Dyson Supersonic Hairdryer ($430) for everyday use and T3's Afar Travel-Size Hair Dryer ($180) for travel as it has universal voltage.

On a separate note, hair dryers with just one settings (ie: the ones typically found at hotels) are likely to be of lower quality and cause damage. "Better blow dryers have multiple heat setting options to give you complete control," adds Alvarez.

7. Use Heat Protectant

In the same way you use SPF on your skin before going outside, you should use heat protectant to shield your hair from the heat. There are lots of leave-in products that double as a heat protectant and lots of stand-alone sprays that are incredibly effective. "My go-to is heat protectant and all around multitasking product is the Rodan and Fields Defrizz + Oil ($63)," says Brager. "This oil not only smooths the hair, it adds shine and protects hair from up to 450 degrees of heat."

8. Part Your Hair in Clean Sections

"Always split your hair into clean sections," instructs Mistry. "This will prevent the overlap of too much heat on your hair. Plus, overworking your hair in that way will make it all the more staticky."

9. Use the Right Heat Setting For Your Hair Type

If you think that heat settings are only important when considering how quickly they'll dry your hair, think again. Below, Alvarez explains which heat setting each hair type should use and why:

• "Low heat is best for fine hair. This is also true for weaker hair that has been severely damaged." 
• "Medium heat is best for fine to medium textures. It ensures you don’t over dry the hair or burn it. Most people can use this setting."
• "High heat may be used on really thick or coarse hair to remove excessive moisture and if your hair is really healthy, you can also use higher heat to help control frizz. However, if your hair is thin, damaged, or heavily colored, you should stick to a lower heat setting. Even if you always use the lowest setting available, you should still use extra heat protection."

10. Blow Dry Your Hair in the Right Direction

Did you know that blow drying your hair upside down can lead to damage? Bragers confirms that this is a surefire way to maximize the risk of damage as doing so will go against the hair cuticle and will shoot heat into the inner layers of the strands. Instead, she says to angle your blow dryer down the hair shaft in order to close those cuticles. "Closing the cuticles down reduces frizz and flyaways. Plus, it makes your hair appear shiner and healthier," she says. To wrap up your blowout, she says to blast your hair with a cool shot to lock the cuticle down.

11. Keep the Nozzle From Your Brush

Your brush and hair dryer placements are important. Mistry says the biggest mistake is to touch the nozzle of the hair dryer with your brush, sandwiching your hair in between. "This will not only burn your hair but it'll also ruin your brush," he explains. Plus, Brager says that this will lead to an uneven blowout.

12. Don't Forget the Cool Shot

Bragers stresses the importance of purchasing a hair dryer with a cool shot option and making sure to use it post-blowout. The hairstylist explains that doing so locks the cuticle down to prevent external aggressors from damaging it, which makes hair healthier, gives it more shine, and boosts its volume.

13. Consider a Hot Round Brush

If you want to cut down on your styling time and streamline your routine, consider purchasing a high-quality hot round brush that will dry your hair while simultaneously styling it. Brager also says they're the perfect option for those who don't know how to use a blow dryer and brush combo as this hybrid tool removes all the guesswork and makes it simple. She recommend's T3's AireBrush ($150) as it works quickly, delivers heat evenly, and offers three heat settings plus a cool shot.