Diffusing vs Air Drying
There are multiple techniques on how you decide to dry your tresses. Drying curly hair can take hours! Literally. Or it can take up to 15-30 minutes. It all depends on how much hair you have, your porosity type and the technique you use. With the multiple options/techniques available when it comes to how you achieve your dryness, all ways can have a significantly different outcome. We are going to name a few, while providing the pros and cons of each. Keep these in mind when making your decision and learn about different ways to have the best routine for your curls often. As a bonus, we’ve added video tutorials below, along with a selection of diffusers, where to purchase and the price of each for your convenience.
1. AIR DRYING
Pros
- The healthiest way to dry your strands
- No heat exposure
- Less time consuming
- Requires no extra effort or energy
- Will cause the least amount of frizz
- Prevents heat, especially the ends of the hair
- Causes the least amount of shrinkage
Cons
- Takes the longest amount of time to dry (1-4 hours)
- The results of your hair will be unknown until after it’s 100% dry
- Hair will not be “ready” for a few hours
- Lack of volume
- Can be uncomfortable
- Can cause an unhealthy scalp if hair is wet for too long
2. DIFFUSING
Pros
- Adds volume & shine
- Adding a heat protectant can have less damaging effects
- Speeds up dry time, without additional frizz (15-30 mins)
- Boost’ curl definition
- Reduces frizz
- Creates defined, tighter curls
- More longevity to your style
- Helps enhance the curls natural shape
- Allows you to dry your hair, without disrupting your curl pattern
- Less damaging heat than directly from a blow dryer
- Hovering before diffusing can minimize damage to the sensitive ends of hair
Cons
- If done incorrectly, can cause a tremendous amount of frizz
- Diffusing involves heat, which can be damaging to your curls
- Results in split ends faster
- Requires extra time and energy
- Strips away natural proteins in the hair
Conclusion
Both methods of drying can have their advantages and disadvantages. Choose what works best for you and your lifestyle. Perhaps you live in a hotter climate and your hair dries fast due to the temperature or you may live in a colder climate, so diffusing is your go to. Whatever your decision may be, knowing the outcome of both will give you an advantage by knowing the risks, while also saving you time, hassle and money.
We hope this has helped you understand and make a solid decision when it comes to your drying techniques. Without the proper knowledge, techniques and tools, curly hair can be difficult to manage. So knowing as much information about your natural curls as possible will save you time and money in the long run. Curly hair is very sensitive, so most decisions that you make- including how you dry them, can affect the outcome of your curls. Ultimately, it all comes down to your decision, convenience, and how much effort and care you put into it. For tutorials on how to properly diffuse your tresses, check them out in your porosity type below.