Phon or free to air: what is the best way to dry your hair in the summer? Premise: this season the hair is particularly stressed, therefore drying it in the traditional way with the hot air jet of the hairdryer could make the situation worse. For this reason, many opt for natural air drying, even though it’s slow and can give a frizzy and messy result. The solution? A middle.
Dry your hair in the summer. Without stress
Salsedine, sun, wind and chlorine sensitize the hair a lot and the heat of the hair dryer can make the situation worse. The result? Thinner, weaker and more brittle hair. “Despite i benefits of drying in the open air, it is not always possible to put it into practice: to some it can give headaches, especially if the hair is long or thick, or the hair can not hold the fold, especially if it is thin, flat or oily in nature» he explains Luciana Mattioli, hairstylist Evos Parrucchieri.
Added to this is the time factor: it takes time to dry your hair in the open air and especially during the week, when the pace is tighter, it’s often impossible. What to do then? You can opt for a middle ground, let the hair dry a little on its own and then finish with the hair dryer.
Step-by-step, how to dry your hair in summer
As the expert explains, drying in the open air requires a specific hair routine: «After the shampoo and the mask, I suggest applying a specific product for the type of hair such as a milk, a cream, a smoothing or defining oil for curls or to give body to thin hair». Then we proceed.
1.The importance of pre-drying, between turbans and pre-styling
Pre-styling is important if you leave it there for a while crown in the wind because it is the step that guarantees a set and a final result like at the hairdresser. It’s about doing dry the hair up to 80% before proceeding with the brushing: «It is already in this phase that the final volumes and direction are begun to be given to the hair, thus proving to be fundamental for the success of the style» explains the expert.
In this sentence, the use of a microfibre turban is essential: «It’s a great solution because remove excess water and, if worn for a while, leave hair slightly damp, so that they dry more quickly in the final».
The products suitable for pre-styling
In the pre-styling phase, certain products are indispensable, essential for maintaining the style: «They are used on wet hair, before pre-drying and are chosen according to needs: the mousse, for example, helps to have more volume at the root while the taming cream removes frizz. It is at this time that i should also apply products that help manage the wave effect or maintain extra smoothness».
2. Post-styling: pay attention to humidity
How to behave in the drying phase instead? «To give the hair a style like that of the hairdresser, you need to resort, even if only for a short time, to the use of the hair dryer. If the cut is short or medium, to give it volume it is necessary to take between the fingers, as if they were large curlers, large strands and dry them in the opposite direction of the line we want to create».
Long hair, on the other hand, «must be dried upside down: when drying the right side, turn the head to the left and vice versa, so as to give more volume. A very similar speech if you have a tuft, which is ideal to dry it on the side opposite to the final direction ».
After drying, post-styling products can be applied: they are chosen according to the needs of the hair itself and the result and they have the function of preventing humidity from penetrating the hair, so the style can last longer.
3. The right tools
Whether you choose to air dry or blow dry, tools are important. «Starting from the hair dryer itself, you must avoid using too hot air, you must keep the distance at about 20 cm without stopping for a long time on a particular area. Furthermore, precisely because the hair is fragile, you should give up straighteners and curling irons that work at high temperatures or at least spray a heat protectant first».
An alternative to plates & Co to create wavy styling? “The big curlers, give shape and help the hair to memorize it. Instead, if you love smoothness, flat brushes are ideal as they flatten the cuticles well. Finally, one last tip: pay attention to the materials of brushes and combs, they must be of excellent quality to avoid breaking your hair» concludes the hairstylist.
iO Woman © REPRODUCTION RESERVED