Using a new hair dryer effectively involves a few key steps to ensure your hair is dried efficiently and styled well.
Initial Drying Phase
- Start with towel-dried hair: Gently squeeze excess water out of your hair with a towel before using the hair dryer.
- Begin with high heat and high speed: Use the higher settings to quickly remove the bulk of the moisture. The reference explains that this should be done while keeping the dryer moving so that the heat is not focused on a small area of your hair.
- Keep the dryer moving: Don't focus the dryer on one spot for too long to avoid heat damage. Continuous movement ensures even drying.
Styling Phase
- Switch to lower heat and speed: Once your hair is about 75% dry, switch to a lower heat and speed setting. The reference states this step is crucial for styling and preventing heat damage.
- Use attachments: Utilize any attachments that came with your dryer, such as a concentrator nozzle for direct styling, or a diffuser for defining curls.
- Style as desired: Use a round brush for smoothing or shaping. Use your fingers or a wide-toothed comb to style curls while drying.
Settings Guide
| Dryer Feature | Purpose |
|---|---|
| High Heat/Speed | Fast drying initially. |
| Low Heat/Speed | Styling, less heat damage, finer finishing. |
| Cool Shot | Sets hair style, locks in the shape and shine. |
| Concentrator | Directs airflow for focused drying or styling. |
| Diffuser | Dries curly or wavy hair with less frizz. |
Practical Tips
- Use heat protectant: Before using a hair dryer, always apply a heat protectant to minimize potential damage to your hair.
- Maintain a safe distance: Keep the hair dryer several inches away from your hair, especially with higher heat settings, to prevent damage.
- Clean the filter regularly: Clean the hair dryer's filter as directed by its instructions to maintain airflow and prevent overheating.
- Test settings: Experiment with different heat and speed settings to find what works best for your hair type.
- Follow manufacturer instructions: Always refer to the user manual that came with your specific hair dryer model for any specific instructions.
By following these steps, you can effectively use your new hair dryer, avoiding damage while achieving the desired style. Remember to adjust techniques as needed based on your hair type.
