Introduction
Taking care of curls is one of the most important things to do. Now, as soon as you hear the word care, you are thinking about the best hair products to be used on your curls, to keep them healthy and soft. But apart from washing curls, the way you handle the drying of curls also matters the most. The reason is, that after washing your curls, the final product will be your dried curls, so it is necessary to spend some time drying your curls.
When I wash my curls, it is one of the most tiring tasks for me, as after washing drying of curls takes most of my time. Applying leave-in conditioner, giving it time to absorb then choosing the perfect way to dry curls so that, they do not become frizzy or dry later takes up all my time.
So, the question arises- why is drying curls so important? Well, Research suggests that up to 60% of curl definition and hair health depends on the drying method you choose. This is the reason you need to be patient and spend some time to dry your curls.
Let’s understand what are the different ways to dry curly hair-
5 Best Ways to Dry Curly Hair
Without wasting a single time, let’s start with 5 best ways to dry curly hair-
1. Air Drying-
As the name suggests, this means letting your curls dry naturally without the use of any heating tool. This is one of the most common methods to be used, even I used to use it before. But as my curls are dense, air-drying usually takes up to 4 hours to dry.
How to dry curly hair with Air-drying-
- Wash your curls with sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner.
- Remove the excess water from the hair.
- Apply a leave-in conditioner on your wet curls and scrunch it.
- Let your curls dry naturally.
Pro tip: Air Drying your curls does not cause hair to be frizzy and the curls are in their natural shape. It can be used for all curl types.
2. Diffusing-
A new method which has recently grabbed a lot of attention, because of the effectiveness of the method. Diffuser is nothing but a small attachment in front of your dryer that helps to distribute the heat evenly on the curls and does not cause them to be frizzy. After reading a lot of positive reviews for the diffuser, I tried it and my first thought was, why didn’t I use it before.
How to dry curly hair with Diffusing–
- Wash your curls and remove the excess water from them.
- Apply curly hair styling products on your sectioned curls.
- Take a diffuser and start diffusing.
- Start by bringing your hair upside down.
- Cup sections of hair into the diffuser, bringing it to the scalp
- Dry on low heat and low-speed settings.
Pro Tip: Diffuser distributes the heat evenly on the curls and reduces the frizz. It helps to create volume in the curls.
3. Clip the Roots-
One of the amazing methods, which I recently discovered and find very useful. This method of drying curls is for those who have bouncy curls at the end, but flatter curls on the head. For such a type, you may want to clip your roots when they dry.
Also Read: How to Blow Dry Curly Hair in 10 Steps: A Step-by-Step Guide
How to dry curly hair with Clip the Roots-
- After your hair is washed and dried 80%, you start with root clipping.
- Grab some root-enhancing clips.
- Gently grab the hair at your roots and lift it.
- Grab a clip and secure it in your hair.
- Make sure your curls at the root are lifted.
- Do this for your entire root hair
- Keep it for 30-45 minutes and then remove it.
Pro Tip: I recently tried this method, because whenever I let my hair air-dry it becomes flatter at the root. Root clipping helps to provide extra volume at the crown.
4. Hooded Dryer-
A hooded dryer provides gentle, even heat distribution for drying curls. They are not only an investment but also save a lot of time when drying hair.
How to dry curly hair with Hooded Dryer-
- Apply curly hair styling products and set curls as desired
- Sit under the hooded dryer on low or medium heat
- Allow hair to dry completely or until mostly dry.
5. Stretched-
This means stretching your wet hair and styling it in a braid or different hairstyle. Drying your curls this way helps to give them a different pattern and style. It also prevents hair breakage and tangles.
How to dry curly hair with Stretched method-
- Wash your curls with hydrating shampoo and conditioner.
- Now, stretch your curls and tie them in a braid, Bantu knots, or a twisted ponytail.
- Keep them this way, until your curls get dry.
- This will prevent hair from breakage and tangles.
Plopping: What Is It?
Plopping is a way to dry curly hair without the use of any heating tool. It involves wrapping wet curls on top of the head using a microfiber towel or cotton t-shirt to enhance curl definition and reduce frizz. Plopping curly hair helps the curl to maintain its natural shape and promotes volume at the roots.
Also Read: How to Protect Curly Hair At Night: Tips And Tricks
Benefits of Plopping
There are several advantages of Plopping curly hair-
1. Enhanced Curl Definition-
By gently bundling curls, plopping encourages them to maintain their natural pattern, resulting in more defined and bouncy curls.
2. Reduced Frizzy Hair-
Using the plopping method on your curls reduces the frizz. It minimizes friction and keep the curls defined.
3. Keep Curls Moisturized-
Unlike blow-drying, plopping removes excess water without stripping the hair of essential moisture, this keeps the curls hydrated and moisturized.
4. Enhances Volume-
By drying curls on top of the head, plopping lifts the roots, preventing gravity from weighing down the hair and giving the curls more volume.
5. Time-Efficient-
Plopping accelerates the drying process by absorbing excess moisture, this makes it easy for people who don’t have time to dry hair.
How to Plop Curly Hair?
After understanding, how plopping is good for hair. Let’s see how to plop curly hair effectively-
1. Wash and Condition-
After you have washed and conditioned your curls with sulfate-free shampoo, remove the excess water from the curls.
2. Apply good styling products-
While curls are still wet, you should apply a leave-in conditioner so that it gets absorbed properly.
3. Position your hair-
Bend forward and lower your curls onto the center of the towel or t-shirt, away from the neckline.
4. Wrap your hair-
Wrap your hair in a microfiber towel or cotton t-shirt. This helps to reduce the frizz from the curls.
5. Stay patient-
After you have wrapped your curls, stay patient and relaxed for 10-15 minutes. Then remove the wrap from the curls and style it as you want.
Comparison Chart: Which is the best method for drying curly hair?
| Method | Pros | Cons | Drying Time | Best for Curl Types |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Drying | Gentle, minimal heat damage, natural results | Can be dried with excessive heat | Long | All types, especially fine/damaged |
| Diffusing | Volume, definition, faster drying | Can be messy, and requires practice | Medium | All types, especially looser curls |
| Plopping | Enhanced curl definition, reduced frizz | Can be messy, requires practice | Medium | All types, especially tighter curls |
| Root Clipping | Adds volume at the roots | Requires practice, can be time-consuming | Varies | All types, especially fine/low-density |
Which method to use in how to dry curly hair?
The best method to dry curly hair depends on many things like curl type, hair goals, and time availability. You can also, club two drying methods together, like first diffusing your hair 60% and then letting it air-dry Or use the plopping method for the first 30 minutes and then air-dry or root clipping.
- Time availability: If you’re short on time, blow-drying with a diffuser is more efficient than air-drying.
- Desired style: For a more polished look or when you need more volume, opt for blow-drying.
- Hair health: If your hair is damaged or prone to breakage, you should go for air-drying, it is more gentler.
- Weather conditions: In humid environments, blow-drying with a diffuser may help control frizz better than air-drying.
Common curly hair problem and drying solution:
1. Frizzy hair– If you have a problem with frizzy hair, then use the diffusing method. Also, avoid touching your curls by hand more and more
2. Lack of volume– For lack of volume, you can try the root clipping method.
3. Uneven drying– For this, you should divide curls into different sections and then diffuse them to make sure curls are dry.
FAQs on how to dry curly hair
1. Should I blow-dry curly hair or let it air-dry?
There is a pros and cons of both. When you let your curls air-dry, you are being gentle, enhancing the curl pattern. On the other hand, blow-drying curly hair with the help of a diffuser helps to add volume to the curls and reduces frizz.
2. Is it okay to blow-dry curly hair every day?
No, never blow-drying curly hair every day is never recommended. Although safe, blow-drying requires heating the curls, which can damage curls, leading to dryness and breakage. Always blow-dry curls 1-2 times in a week.
3. Can I dry curly hair with a towel?
You can dry curly hair with a towel, but only if you are using a microfiber towel. Using a microfiber towel or a cotton t-shirt reduces the chances of frizz.
4. What’s the difference between air-drying and diffusing curly hair?
Air-drying curly hair means giving your curls time to dry themselves naturally without the use of heat or any other tool. This process takes time but it does not damage curls. On the other hand, Diffusing curly hair uses a special blow dryer attachment to dry curls faster while maintaining their shape. It adds volume and definition to the curls.
5. How long should I air-dry curly hair?
Drying curly hair is one of the things that takes the longest time, but is still very necessary and important. Air-drying curly hair typically takes 2 to 4 hours, depending on hair thickness and length. To speed up the process, you should gently squeeze out the excess water before drying.
