There’s no denying that heat styling is the most efficient way to dry curly hair. But at what cost?
Curly hair is by its nature, fragile. Its wiggly shape makes it prone to breaking on the bends and a structure that prevents the hair cuticles from lying flat means an increased chance of dryness.
Although tools like hairdryers, wavers and tongs can deliver the hairstyles we want in the short term, exposing our hair to unnecessarily high temperatures will only make matters worse in the long run. Too much heat can rob our curls of their health, leaving them dehydrated, brittle, dull and frizzy rather than soft, shiny and springy.
It’s no surprise then that so many of us curly girls have been seeking alternative drying and styling options that either require no heat at all – or keep temperatures to an absolute minimum. If you want to know how to get gorgeous curls without compromising the health of your hair, here’s how…
How to dry curly hair: Embracing heat-free techniques
Lots of us are reliant on our tools, and there’s no shame in that. You’re especially likely to be reaching for a traditional hairdryer to blow dry curls, and maybe even the straighteners. If you’re not yet fully committed to your curl journey, and still like to wear your hair smooth and sleek the majority of the time. The problem though, is that healthy hair equals happy curls, and you’re only going to get the most from them in terms of shape and pattern if you turn the heat off – or down at the very least. Getting to grips with the pros and cons of the most popular heat-free techniques to dry curly hair is a great place to start…
Air drying
Air drying is undoubtedly the simplest way to dry curly hair. All you need to do is wash your curls, apply your styling products, shape them if needed and leave them to their own devices – no heat, no faff, no fuss.
The downside though is that you don’t have full control over the finish, so can’t do much to reduce frizz, add shine or stretch out shrinkage. Curly hair can also be quite dense, especially if you have a 3B, 3C, 4B or 4C curl type, meaning that the process of air drying can be time-consuming.
Although it’s nowhere near as damaging as extreme heat styling, leaving your hair damp for extended periods isn’t the smartest move, as this is when our strands are at their most fragile. If you’re going to bed with wet hair, the chance of damage is even higher than if you were out and about. Friction between your hair and the pillow as you toss and turn in the night can quickly lead to snagging.
Looking for a way to make your curls last longer between washes? Discover "The ultimate guide to keeping your curls looking great between washes".
Plopping
Plopping offers a slightly speedier take on air drying and involves gathering wet, just-washed curls on top of your head before gathering and wrapping them in a microfibre towel. The idea is that the fabric will absorb excess moisture, making the drying process faster.
Just like with air drying, the cons of this approach are that it limits the amount of control you have over your finished look. Plus, because your curls are confined, rather than left down, they can get a bit squished, making them flatter.
Using heat-free curlers
If you have type 2A or 2B waves that you wish were curlier, you can use heat-free tools to encourage them to take on a more defined shape.
This could be with the help of old-school hair rollers, or newer innovations like soft rods designed to be woven through the hair when it’s wet.
While both are good approaches, using them requires practice. It can take a while to perfect the technique and get an even finish on both sides of your head so that you wake up with symmetrical curls.
Keep in mind too that using the right products and minimising heat exposure will allow your curl pattern to become more defined over time. So you won’t need to rely on shaping tools to give you the volume, bounce and spring you’re after.
Blow dry curly hair with good heat
Let’s be clear, not all heat styling is bad for your hair. It is possible to blow dry curls in a way that doesn’t damage them, all you need is the the right tools and techniques.
A dedicated diffuser tool that has been designed with curly hair in mind will have all the features required to deliver gorgeous curls efficiently, without compromising the health of your hair. They include…
Wide surface area
The biggest difference between a diffuser head and the head of a standard hairdryer is that its surface is much larger, allowing the airflow to be dispersed over a wider area rather than concentrated into one narrow jet.
This unique bowl-like shape helps to encourage spring and bounce in your curls, instead of smoothing them out and flattening them down. It also enables you to dry large sections at once, so you’re not having to keep going over the same section lots of times and causing damage through repeated styling.
Which is what tends to happen when you blow dry curls with a traditional drier.
Gentle power
Diffuser tools operate at much lower wattages than traditional hairdryers, meaning you’re not exposing your hair to more heat or speed than is necessary. This softly-softly approach allows you to replicate the airdrying process, just at a faster pace.
Adjustable heat and speed settings
As we have established, the temperature and speed options on a dedicated diffuser tool are a lot lower than on a standard hairdryer. Having the option to switch them up though is still really handy, as it means you can make adjustments based on your curl type and also your hair health.
For example, wavy hair is the closest in shape to straight hair, which means that the cuticles can still lie quite flat and therefore it’s not as dryness-prone as coily hair which has a bendy ‘Z’ shaped pattern.
In this instance, wavy hair can withstand higher temperatures than coils. On the flip side though, if you have wavy hair but have been a slave to your straighteners for years. Then you’re going to have more damage and dryness than someone with coily hair who takes good care of their curls.
Having options allows you to shake up your routine depending on what your hair needs, as well as how much time you have for drying on any given morning.
Bellissima Diffon Supreme: The premium choice to blow dry your curls
If you want to know how to dry curly hair without waiting hours for it to dry or damaging your curls, then Bellissima Diffon Supreme is the answer. It has all the pros of a dedicated diffuser tool that we’ve mentioned above, but goes above and beyond too – giving you your best curls yet.
Enhancing your finished look beyond what you can achieve by air drying or plopping, ceramic and argan oil coatings on the Diffon Supreme diffuser head infuse hair with extra nourishment and enhance shine. Ion care technology neutralises positive ions (caused by damage) for a softer, shinier finish, while the cool shot closes the cuticle to seal your curls in place and prevent frizz.
The Diffon Supreme also takes regulating heat seriously, with digital heat control that monitors the temperature regularly to ensure no hot spots and no rising above the Celsius stated.
Beautiful curls in record time without leading to frazzled lengths and split ends – what’s not to love?
