How to Dry Hair Fast and Avoid Hair Damage

Written by: RKT Hair Care Team

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Time to read 5 min

How to Dry Hair Fast

One of the quickest ways to dry hair is to use a hair dryer, but after using a hair dryer, you might notice your hair seems a little TOO dry. If you’re fresh out of the shower and have really long or voluminous hair, you might also notice it’s a grueling 10 minutes to dry your hair. Your arms get tired and water is dripping on the floor. Toweling seems like a pain that’s not really working either. However, you can optimize how to dry hair fast with each method or using combinations.

1. Toweling Off

When toweling off, it is advised not to rub the strands back and forth between each other like you are generating friction for cold hands. This causes breakage, weakens your hair, and creates lots of frizz.

First focus on squeezing out the excess water in your hair. Do not twist your hair like it is a cloth. This will cause breakage.

Second, use a towel to pat down your hair in the direction away from your roots. Use the towel to soak up excess water.

Ideally, you should use microfiber towels for your hair because it is less rough than other materials. As for how to dry hair fast, cotton towels are the fastest because they're extremely absorbent, but it is rougher than microfiber, so be more gentle with a cotton towel. 

2. Air Drying

Air drying doesn’t seem like the greatest how-to-dry hair fast method, but it is generally the healthiest way to dry hair. Someone with short or thinner hair will find this method is the quickest after a quick towel off, but it is important to note any cons of this method.

If you are air drying your hair, you should consider combing it while it is still wet before you dry your hair. This works best for people with straight hair so that after your hair is dry, you won’t have tangled hair that is difficult to comb out.

If you have curly hair, air drying is faster for you than it is for straight-haired folks. Your hair has more surface area when it is not lined up against other hairs in the same direction, so after toweling off, air drying is best to avoid damage to curly hair.

2. Hair Dryer

The most common method used to dry hair is to use a machine that blasts hot air at your hair so it evaporates water. However, hair dryers are the most damaging if someone doesn’t use them properly, which is most people if they are in a hurry.

As for how to dry hair fast, when using a hair dryer, the hotter and more powerful it is, the more damage it can do to your hair. It can also increase frizz if you are using too lower of power as well, making the air around your hair humid increases frizz. The optimal way to use a hair dryer is to find one that has a level of heat that is not too high, but has enough blowing power to remove the excess water.

When blow-drying hair, first dry your hair with a towel or allow your hair to air dry for some time so that the excess water is removed. Then, detangle your hair with a brush or comb to avoid huge tangles later. After detangling, you can usually add your favorite hair products and heat protectants before finally blow-drying your hair. When blow-drying your hair, try to avoid the highest setting if that setting leaves your hair scorching hot to the touch.

Avoid Hair Damage When Drying

Having healthy habits to avoid hair damage is a key foundation to having hair that is shiny, healthy, and voluminous. That being said, here are some healthy habits to have for a luxurious bed of hair.

1. Either combing before or after showers


Depending on your hair type, you should comb your hair either before or after your showers. People with straight hair should be able to comb their hair before or after showers without a problem, but for people with curly hair, it is best to comb your hair when it is at least a bit moist. Curly hair is best detangled in the shower. However it is important to note that hair is a little weaker when it is wet, so it is best to comb hair when it is dry.


Combing Hair Badly

2. Use a lower heat level when blow drying

Some hair dryers pack serious heat, and if your hair dryer is burning your scalp, you had better turn down the heat level that you’re blow drying your hair with. High heat leads to drying of one’s scalp and hair, but the damage comes after your hair becomes brittle from being overdried. 

3. Avoid split ends physically

The above is directly related to how you acquire Split ends. Hair becomes brittle when exposed to extreme conditions such as high heat. Split ends also form when hair is straightened with high heat or exposed to chemicals that are damaging, such as bleach and certain dyes. You can also get split ends from rough physical treatment of your hair, such as twisting it to dry or detangling your hair in a way that rips your hair.

4. Use natural products for moisture


To avoid hair damage and how to dry hair fast, it is important to know the ingredients you are using in your hair products. It is best to use hair products that prioritize natural ingredients over the bad three: silicones (silicones may make it harder to dry your hair), sulfates (dry out your hair’s natural oils), and parabens (damaging chemicals for your hair and scalp). Learn the difference between natural shampoo and conditioner and how RKT Shampoo and Conditioner utilize their ingredients for the best hair moisture and scalp health.


Natural Hair Care

RKT Shampoo and Conditioner

How to Dry Hair Fast - Key Takeaways

For how to dry hair fast without damaging your hair,  remove the excess water in your hair gently before blow drying to reduce frizz

Detangle hair depending on your hair type and be careful when handling your hair physically when it is wet

Avoid high heat and chemicals in your hair by lowering the heat on your hair dryer and using natural-based ingredients in hair products