There’s Probably A Better Option Than The Way You’re Drying Your Hair

Confession time: I rarely blow-dry my hair. With so many items on my daily to-do list, drying my hair ranks pretty low.

But as my hairstylist friend has shown me time and time again, drying your hair — especially with the techniques we’re about to share — can lead to beautiful results, like less frizz and more curl definition.

Plus, if you have locs, drying your hair is important for additional reasons. “One of the biggest mistakes people make is going to bed with damp locs, which can lead to mildew and an unpleasant smell,” said Laverne Amara, a loctician with over 10 years of experience and the founder of NVLX Labs, an eco-luxe brand dedicated to loc’d hair.

Ahead, she and other hairstylists share interesting (and perhaps unexpected) ways to dry all different hair types to maximize efficiency, smoothness, protection and more.

Best for: wavy hair, loose curly hair, locs

Basically, this entails wrapping your hair up rather than blow-drying it.

“After applying your styling products, wrap your hair in a microfiber towel or cotton T-shirt to absorb excess moisture,” said Elena Lewis, former hairstylist and founder of Nahara’s Curls LLC, a brand dedicated to Black women’s natural textures. “Let it sit for 10 to 30 minutes before air-drying or diffusing for reduced frizz and faster drying. This method reduces friction, keeps curls defined and prevents damage.”

It’s worth restating that using the right material is important. A traditional towel can lead to frizz, breakage and lint in your hair. So again, make sure you grab a microfiber towel or cotton T-shirt.

If you have microlocs, or smaller dreads, it’s also important to not rub with the material.

“Gently squeeze your locs rather than rubbing to prevent frizz,” Amara said. “Once excess water is removed, air-dry outside or near a fan, as this reduces heat damage and prevents mildew.”

Best for: curly hair, coily hair, and when you want to enhance the waves in your hair

A diffuser — that is, the piece with prongs that you add on the end of the blow-dryer — boosts volume and preserves curl definition, according to Monaè Everett, a celebrity hairstylist and Sally Beauty spokesperson.

“Start diffusing by focusing on the roots first,” she said. “Once the roots are dry, place sections of hair into the diffuser and gently lift toward the scalp to encourage volume and definition. Gradually move to the ends, being careful to not disrupt your curl pattern.” (This short video shows what that looks like.)

As far as the temperature goes, she recommends medium or low heat.

Best for: all hair types, especially textured, curly, and coily hair

A hooded dryer is the helmet-like device you see in hair salons (and can buy online); a bonnet dryer is similar, except it’s, well, a bonnet.

“A hooded or bonnet dryer provides even heat distribution without disturbing curl clumps,” Lewis said.

She’s found this method particularly useful for setting styles, “wash and gos” and reducing blow-drying time (the latter means less damage — and less-tired arms).

If you want to use the hooded or bonnet dryer alone — so no blow-drying at all — the specific time can vary based on how thick your hair is, for example, but a rough estimate: Low-density hair takes 30 to 45 minutes to dry, while medium- to high-density hair takes 45 to 90 minutes, according to Lewis.

If you want to use a combination of the two options, she recommends using the hooded or bonnet dryer for 30 minutes, then blow-drying with a diffuser to reduce frizz.

“Using lower heat settings or heavier products can extend the drying time, while sectioning the hair and ensuring good airflow can help speed it up,” she added.

Best for: any type of hair, but especially wavy, curly, textured hair

More specifically, use a medium, mesh, nylon hairnet over the section of hair you’re drying, according to William Whatley, a celebrity hairstylist and creative education director for Scruples.

“You want to towel-dry it as much as possible, getting most of the moisture out, and then apply your hairnet over the towel-dried hair,” he explained. “Dry in a circular motion. The hairnet will keep the hair from becoming frizzy with flyaways.”

If you blow-dry all of your hair at once, consider this easy and effective switch.

“Start with damp hair and divide it into four to six sections, depending on your hair’s thickness,” Everett said.

By drying your hair this way, she explained, you work more efficiently, ensure even drying and less breakage, avoid tangles, and make styling more manageable.

Best for: most hair types

If you don’t want to blow-dry your hair or only have time to style it, try this.

“You can wrap your hair in warm socks and use those as soft curlers,” Amara said. Just throw the socks in the dryer for a few minutes, and you’re good to go.

It’s important to clarify that this technique isn’t faster than just a blow-dryer, but it’s an option that’s less likely to damage your hair because it reduces blow-drying time.

“If your hair is damp and wrapped in warm socks, it might reduce drying time by about a third (for example, from six hours to around four for locs),” Amara added.

The number of socks you use depends on how thick your hair is and how tight or small you want the curls to be. (Thicker hair and/or wanting tighter curls requires more socks.)

Best for: most hair types

In a rush or super busy? After hopping out of the shower, get in your car, roll the windows down and let your hair dry in the wind.

“It’s a great way to multitask,” Amara said. “The breeze will speed up drying, all while you’re out running errands.”

Besides being a time-saver, air-drying is healthier for your hair than blow-drying, as mentioned. “Direct heat can cause dryness,” she said.

A drive-and-dry can also produce pretty curls, if your hair is naturally curly. Just check out this TikTok by a creator who endorses this method (and understandably so — her hair is gorgeous).