It’s happened to almost everyone. You shower, towel off, maybe even brush your hair… and it still feels wet. You try to rush the process, maybe blow-dry or straighten your locks, but you still feel damp. Hair takes forever to dry.
How do you deal with it? Do you give up and go to bed with your strands still damp? Do you buy an expensive hairdryer? Do you just live with it? I’m here to tell you that there’s a simple explanation for why your hair takes forever to dry and how to fix it.
Contents
Why Does my Hair Take so Long to Dry – Reasons Revealed
The porosity of locks is the measure of how open or closed the hair cuticles are. Hair with open cuticles will let moisture (in the form of water, conditioner, or serum) enter easily and allow the locks to be smooth. Hair with closed cuticles will not allow moisture to enter, so the locks will be rougher and dry slower.
Hair that is high porosity can be identified by the scales on the hair shaft looking rough and/or by the hair feeling rough and breaking easily. These are the locks that take a long time to dry.
The cuticles are closed from being damaged by heat tools or chemicals, but moisture can still enter the hair easily. The cuticles on the hair are not fully closed, but they are not completely open either.
The use of products
The first factor is the use of hard water for washing hair and the use of wrong hair care products (these products make the strands rough, and therefore, they do not allow the oil from the scalp to flow freely).
The products we use during our hair care routine can also influence the level of porosity of the locks. Products that contain protein, silicones, oils, and heat can contribute to the increase of porosity. Natural oils and heat are well known to increase the porosity of the strands.
Damaged hair
Locks that are damaged from chemical treatments like artificial coloring or perms, or heat such as blow-drying and flat ironing can have a high level of porosity. One of the main culprits is the use of chemical coloring, which leaves the hair susceptible to breakage and damage. The damaged strands are more porous than the rest of the hair and therefore take longer to dry. This hair holds water and thus takes longer to dry.
The condition of your hair
Another factor that contributes to high porosity is the condition of your locks. Do you have hair that is damaged? Do you color your hair on a regular basis? If so, your locks are probably more susceptible to damage.
When your hair is exposed to heat or chemicals, it loses strands. Over time, locks become thinner and weaker. It doesn’t have the strength to resist damage. As a result, the hair becomes more porous.
If your strands are very porous, you are more likely to have a hard time getting moisture (and product) to absorb into your hair. People with highly porous hair are oftentimes more likely to experience “protein overload” and a “protein sensitivity” because the hair is able to take up too much protein.
Other external factors
External factors such as pollution, sunlight, and chlorine can damage the cuticle. This can make the hair more porous and makes the cuticle weaker and more prone to breakage.
What to do to Make Your Hair Dry Faster
Some of us hate waiting for our locks to dry after washing it. That is why we think of ideas on how to make it dry faster. In this section, I will share with you the things that you can do to solve the problem when your hair stays wet for a long time. Let’s speed up the process.
Use conditioners
To make your locks dry faster, you should use conditioners after washing your hair. Conditioners will keep your strands moist and will make them dry faster because of the effects that they will give.
Conditioners are there to make your hair strong and protect it from the damage that may cause by heat. By using conditioners, your locks will be softer and will dry faster.
Choose the right combs
Your hair is better off if you use combs with wide teeth. This will make your strands dry faster. Do not use those that are made of hard material like plastic. You can use the ones that are made of the material of wood, which is gentle to your locks and scalp.
Start from the roots
When you want to make your locks dry faster, the fastest way is by starting from the roots. It is because the roots are the ones that are wet and soaked in water. If you want to dry them fast, then you can start by using a towel to wipe the hair from the roots.
If you start to dry the upper part of your hair, the water on the roots will be re-distributed to the upper part of your hair, making it stay wet longer.
Use absorbent towels
A towel that is made from microfiber will absorb the water content of your hair quickly. If you are going to use a towel, make sure it is a microfiber towel. Microfiber is very thin and has very high absorbency. It absorbs water quickly, which helps to dry your locks faster.
Use a hairdryer
Using a hairdryer is one of the easiest ways to dry your strands fast. If you want to use this method, make sure you put a diffuser so that the hot air will not damage your locks. If you have long hair, you will need to dry it in sections. But remember, you can’t use a hairdryer too often since it will dry your hair from the inside.
Drying your hair, keep in mind the following rules:
- Do not hold the dryer too close to your head.
- Do not use hot air.
- Blow from the roots to the tips.
- It is best to use the diffuser and lower the temperature.
- Don’t use it for more than 15 minutes.
FAQ
Want to know more about drying your hair? Read this FAQ.
How long does it take for hair to dry?
It depends on the thickness of your hair, how much conditioner you used, and what are the atmospheric conditions. It can take anywhere from 30 minutes to over an hour.
How can I speed up drying my hair?
Here are my favorite ways to speed up the drying process:
- Use the right tool. Use a wide-tooth comb to lift strands and separate them. This way, your locks will dry more quickly and will come out with more volume.
- Focus on the roots. Focus on drying your roots first. This will help your locks dry faster, and will also give you more control.
- Use a microfiber towel or a blowdryer. A microfiber towel absorbs water quickly and will greatly speed up the drying process. Also, using a blowdryer is an easy way to dry your hair.
Does damaged hair take longer to dry?
Yes. Damaged hair dries slower because of its porousness. It’s like a sponge. The more porous the strands, the more water they can hold.
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- How to Blow Dry Hair With Round Brush
- How to Air Dry Hair Without Frizz
- How to Blow Dry Short Hair
- How to Blow Dry Layered Hair
- How Hot Does a Hair Dryer Get
To Sum it Up
So, if you’re finding that your locks takes a long time to dry, look at these factors to see if any of them apply to you. If so, try to correct it.
So, there you have it, a few easy tips to speed up your hair drying time. Which tip do you think will work for you?
