Braiding your hair is a great way to get an effortless, stylish look that can last for weeks. But it’s important to prepare your hair properly before braiding, or else you may be stuck with frizzy, uneven braids that don’t quite look the way you want them to.
One of the most common questions people ask when braiding their hair is whether or not they should blow dry their hair before doing so.
In this blog post, we will explore the pros and cons of blowdrying your hair before braiding, as well as some tips for achieving the best braid results.
Should I Blowdry My Hair Before Braiding
Personal taste will determine whether you blow dry your hair before braiding. You should be aware that blow-drying your hair carries a number of serious hazards. Below, we’ll look at those.
Note: Women with straight, curly, and wavy hair types are at risk for all of the dangers listed here.
Heat Damage
The biggest drawback of blow drying your hair is the potential for heat damage. Using too much heat on your strands, typically with hot appliances like blow dryers, flat irons, and curling wands, can create heat damage (i.e., heat styling).
Your hair will feel dry, brittle, and weak after heat damage, and it could even cause hair loss.
A gorgeous young lady with fine hair sporting a green sweater and a mid-back length braided hairstyle.
Dryness
The drying out of your strands caused by utilizing heated tools is another drawback. Your hair’s natural oils can be stripped away by the heated air, drying out the cuticles and making your hair look drab and unruly. As a result, your braids may not feel as moisturized and silky as they would have if you had omitted the blowdryer.
Higher Breakage
The harm caused by blow-drying your hair goes beyond just the heat. You run the risk of causing breakage and hair loss as you comb through your hair to dry it.
Additionally, straightened hair can be harder to braid than hair with natural curls. You could find it more challenging to keep your hold on your strands. As a result, in order to achieve your chosen style, you will need to apply additional tension to your hair.
What is the best way to blow dry your hair before braiding?
The best way to blow dry your hair before braiding is to use a round brush to help straighten and smooth the hair as you dry it. Here are the steps you can follow:
- Start by washing your hair and towel drying it to remove excess moisture.
- Divide your hair into sections, using clips or hair ties to keep the sections separate.
- Take one section of hair and mist it with a heat protectant spray.
- Use a round brush to dry your hair, starting at the roots and pulling the brush down towards the ends of your hair as you blow dry.
- Repeat this process on each section of hair until it is completely dry.
- Once your hair is dry, you can braid it as desired.
It is important to use a heat protectant spray when blow drying your hair to help protect it from heat damage. You should also try to use the lowest heat setting on your hair dryer to minimize heat damage.
What are the benefits of blow drying your hair before braiding?
There are a few benefits of blow drying your hair before braiding. Blow drying your hair before braiding can help to:
- Make your hair easier to braid: Wet hair can be more difficult to braid because it is slippery and harder to hold in place. Blow drying your hair can help to make it more manageable and easier to braid.
- Help your braids stay in place: When your hair is dry, it is less likely to unravel or come loose. This means that your braids will stay in place better and look neater for longer.
- Give your braids a more polished look: Braids tend to look neater and more polished when they are done on dry hair. If you braid your hair when it is wet, it may take longer to dry and may not look as neat as it would if you had braided it on dry hair.
- Protect your hair from heat damage: If you use a heat protectant spray when blow drying your hair, it can help to protect your hair from heat damage caused by the blow dryer.
It is important to use a low heat setting on your hair dryer and to not hold the dryer too close to your hair to minimize heat damage. You should also try to avoid blow drying your hair too frequently to help prevent heat damage.
How to achieve the perfect blow dry before braiding?
Here are some tips to help you achieve the perfect blow dry before braiding:
- Use a heat protectant spray: Before blow drying your hair, mist it with a heat protectant spray to help protect it from heat damage.
- Divide your hair into sections: Use clips or hair ties to divide your hair into sections to make it easier to dry and braid.
- Use a round brush: Use a round brush to help straighten and smooth your hair as you blow dry it. Start at the roots and work your way down to the ends of your hair.
- Use a low heat setting: Set your hair dryer to the lowest heat setting to minimize heat damage to your hair.
- Don’t hold the dryer too close to your hair: Hold the dryer about six inches away from your hair to help prevent heat damage.
- Dry your hair completely: Make sure to dry your hair completely before braiding it to avoid damp or wet braids.
- Use a brush or comb to smooth out tangles: Use a brush or comb to smooth out tangles and knots before braiding your hair. This will help your braids look neater and more polished.
By following these tips, you should be able to achieve the perfect blow dry before braiding your hair.
How to Prepare Your Hair for Braids
If you’re planning to braid your hair, it’s important to take some time to prep your strands first. This will help ensure that your braids look neat and stay in place throughout the day. Here are some steps you can follow to prepare your hair for braids:
- Wash and condition your hair: Start by washing your hair with a clarifying shampoo to remove any product build-up and excess oil. Then, use a moisturizing conditioner to help detangle your hair and make it easier to braid.
- Detangle your hair: Use a wide-tooth comb or a detangling brush to gently remove tangles and knots from your hair. This will make it easier to braid and will help your braids look neater.
- Section your hair: Divide your hair into sections using clips or hair ties. This will make it easier to braid and will help to ensure that each braid is of equal size.
- Blow dry or let your hair air dry: If you have time, you can let your hair air dry before braiding it. If you’re in a hurry, you can blow dry your hair using a round brush to help straighten and smooth it. Just be sure to use a heat protectant spray to minimize heat damage.
- Smooth out tangles: Use a brush or comb to smooth out any remaining tangles before starting to braid your hair.
By following these steps, you can help ensure that your hair is properly prepared for braids and that your braids will look neat and polished.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the choice of whether to blow dry your hair before braiding is ultimately up to you and should be based on factors such as hair type and intended style.
At the end of the day, it’s important to remember that taking care of your hair is essential for achieving healthy-looking locks no matter how often you choose to braid or style.
If done correctly, blowdrying can help protect your strands from damage while simultaneously helping you achieve the desired look.
