Haircare experts reveals how air-drying your hair can cause damage
I'm sure many of us grew up under the impression that blow-drying your hair everyday was a total no-no and opted for air-drying as an alternative and less damaging drying strategy.
And we've all seen the numerous hacks out there on how to get the perfect beach-ready curls without using any heat using an assortment of things - that's when those old tights or single socks finally come in handy.
However, it might be worth putting down the heatless hair curlers as it seems that even air-drying your locks can also cause damage.
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A number of haircare experts have debunked the myth that letting your 'do dry au natural is actually good for your hair.
Adam Reed, the global ambassador for ghd and L'Oréal Professionnel explained a little more about the phenomenon and the ins and outs behind the process.
"Hair can absorb up to 30 percent of its own weight in water," he explained to Refinery29.
This, in turn, makes the individual strands of hair weaker and way more more susceptible to damage when it comes to your brushing and styling routines.
He continued: "Natural drying takes time.
"The longer hair stays wet, the more the cortex swells and cracks, permanently damaging hair."
Jane Mayhead, a trichologist at The Private Clinic, also offered her expertise on the matter.
However, given that there is not much evidence for this, or vice-versa, Jane explains that there are advantages and disadvantages to both drying techniques.
She said: "When hair is wet the elasticity increases, which allows the hair to stretch more.
"If you apply items (such as brushes or clips) or styles that stretch the hair and leave it to dry, unnecessary tension can be put on the hair. This can lead to snapping."
Jane warned that such snapping can occur even in a 'simple ponytail' - hence why it's also not a good idea to drift off to sleep with wet hair as laying your damp hair on materials like pillows and cushions not only cause friction but is the culprit behind battling those dreaded knots every morning.
Jane does explain, however, that blow-drying also has its shortcomings, adding: "Damaging the outer layer of the hair can lead to swelling and breakage of the whole hair, but this can be done in many ways including heat."
While this may lead to hair dryness and split ends, there are three major perks to blow-drying your barnet.
"It can add volume, style and shine," Jane adds. "However, too high heat on water can cause bubbles within the hair, causing damage.
"During heated drying, too much moisture can leave the hair, causing it to feel dry and look dry."
Hayley Walker, hair care expert at Justmylook told Tyla: "While air-drying may appear to be the better alternative to using heat on your hair, it can inflict considerable damage to the hair.
"As drying your hair takes much longer than using a heat styler, the extended time your hair is left wet can cause significant damage to the hair.
"Your hair cortex can absorb up to 30 percent of its weight in water, and when it is left to air dry, it reaches this limit, causing the hair strand's cortex to swell. This moisture imbalance weakens the hair's proteins and puts weight onto the hair, breaking the hair strands and leading to dry, split ends.
"When the hair is left to air dry, it also becomes more susceptible to tangling due to the cuticle damage inflicted by lifting hair cuticles and raised hair scales on the hair shaft caused by the excess moisture within the hair follicles."
She added: "Opting for natural drying can also result in frizzy, uneven texture, and increased breakage, especially if you choose to air dry your hair overnight, as air drying lacks the control to hair styling that blow drying can provide."
Hayley recommended those who prefer air-drying to use a microfibre towel, explaining: "This helps reduce friction on wet hair and aids in absorbing excess water, providing a gentler air-drying process.
"I recommend using a leave-in conditioner or hair oil to provide the hair with a treatment to help control frizz and reduce the risk of breakage."
Well, the more you know - eh?
Rhiannon Ingle