Handheld Blow Dryer on "Cool" - Yay or Nay?

[Katt73]

I think I finally stumbled upon a drying method that works for me -- using a handheld dryer on cool (no comb attachment -- just using my fingers to fluff my hair) then rolling my hair on satin rollers or flexi rods. However, is this as bad for my hair as using a warm handheld blowdryer? There's no heat involved, but I wonder if this will be too drying long term.
Opinions?

 

[lexi84]

I've been doing this alot lately (airdrying in this cold weather is not an option for me) and for some reason my hair feels waaay more moisturized than when I airdry....I dont know why.

 

[PGirl]

I would think it was good because the cold is closing the cuticle. Much better than a hot dryer IMO.

Preea

 

[Katt73]

Thanks, ladies! Anyone else?

 

[Libra08]

yeah I've been blow drying my hair on cool for the last few washes using PinkSkates tension method and my hair is wayyyy more moisturized and silky than when I normally blow dry my hair on medium or high heat. This method is definitely a keeper because it gets my natural hair super straight and silky smooth!

 

[taj]

Ladies I was just thinking of trying this method of drying. Do you still use a heat protectant?

 

[Libra08]

^ Yep I still use my Chi Silk Infusion. But it's mostly out of habit.

 

[yuriko]

I used to do that a long time ago, not because I was trying to protect my hair, I just don't like blowing hot air at myself. Come to think of it, I was BSL in those days, I should definitely go back to this.

 

[Muse]

I think this would be a perfect prep for those who flat iron later and don't rollerset like myself. As a transitioning 4b I cannot airdry then try to go through my hair with a fine tooth comb for flat ironing without loosing a ton of hair. So I think blow drying on cool using the tension method and then flat ironing would be great.

I would still use a serum even if I weren't flat ironing afterwards just to help protect from the force of the air.

 

[HoneyDew]

I do this. My cool setting is actually a little warmer than airdrying. I will do this and it works fine.

But, if I am in a hurry I will turn it up to medium. Also if I am partly airdrying, I will also use medium.

 

[BlackMarilyn]

i've been doing this for some months now. it takes longer but my hair feels alot better.

 

[LovingLengths]

I do this all the time... it just feels better

 

[Isis77]

I have done this the last few times I have straightened too and I think it works wonderfully! I still use my heat protectant before I blow-dry on cool and then follow up with the flat iron. I started doing it b/c I wanted to use a little heat as possible on my hair. It indeed was shinier after I finished!

 

[Muse]

Bumping. Does anyone think blow drying on cool only 2-3xs per week is damaging?

 

[taj]

^ Yep I still use my Chi Silk Infusion. But it's mostly out of habit.

Thanks!!

 

[LivingDol1]

i guess if you eliminate the comb attachment, blow drying on the cool setting wouldn't be very damaging. no heat involved. just a strong flow of cool air.

i'm glad i started reading this thread! i am letting my hair air dry a little bit right now and then will use pinkskate's tension method of blow drying.

Bumping. Does anyone think blow drying on cool only 2-3xs per week is damaging?

 

[Allandra]

I think I finally stumbled upon a drying method that works for me -- using a handheld dryer on cool (no comb attachment -- just using my fingers to fluff my hair) then rolling my hair on satin rollers or flexi rods. However, is this as bad for my hair as using a warm handheld blowdryer? There's no heat involved, but I wonder if this will be too drying long term.
Opinions?

I doubt it's bad for the hair.

 

[Your Cheeziness]

I'm glad I stumbled on this thread! My new blowdryer is on the way and I was trying to figure out how to incorporate it in my regimen. I agree with everyone else in that I don't think it's damaging.

 

[LivingDol1]

i used the tension method last night and blow dried my hair on the cool setting the whole way through. sometimes i would run a wide tooth comb through my hair to keep it straight. but mostly, i just held onto each section with my hand. i'm not too good with the comb...

anyway, i had -very- little shedding! i kept checking the sink every time i blew out a section i could count the hairs in my sink when i was done. and my hair had a nice shine. i made sure to blow in a downward direction.

i put in a little bit of NTM leave in, sealed with a little bit of hair oil, twisted my hair in 4 sections... took my hair down the next morning... looked fine the next day!

i think it took me an hour to dry my hair.... with heat, it takes 30-45 minutes. i will take this option over roller setting any day!

 

[RavenMaven]

I tried it once, and it just took way too long, but that's probably not going to stop me from doing it again because I know it's really good for my hair. The less heat, the better.

 

[theprototype]

...

 

[naturalgyrl5199]

Same here. When I Do flat-iron I do cold blow-dry...the less heat the better. I try to give myself more time...so I try to let it hair dry some too....

 

[locabouthair]

I prefer to do this rather than airdry.

 

[Precious_P]

anytime I pull out the handheld it gets used on the cool setting. It takes longer but it's worth it. I love how my hair feels after. I used the heat setting the last time I flatironed my hair and my hair felt dry and rough. I hated it. Too much heat. I will definately stick the cool setting.

 

[Vintageglam]

Definitely The common "bad denominator" is heat. And as someone mentioned earlier cool air helps seal the cuticles (old hairdressing trick). I do not know why the new breed of blow dryers do not have a cool shot?

ETA: I do this quite a lot I sit under my hood dryer until dry and then just use cool air and the comb attachment to straighten out my hair.

 

[hair4romheaven]

Thank u for this thread OP!!!! I use this method 1x a month when I want to wear my hair out however I was using slight heat then cool. With this method I don't have to P.S with wigs I can wear my transitioning hair OUT MORE!!! I am really excited because I was truly tired of the wigs!
Thanks again!

 

[SelfStyled]

Definitely The common "bad denominator" is heat. And as someone mentioned earlier cool air helps seal the cuticles (old hairdressing trick). I do not know why the new breed of blow dryers do not have a cool shot?

ETA: I do this quite a lot I sit under my hood dryer until dry and then just use cool air and the comb attachment to straighten out my hair.

I do the samething PR. I am hoping it is a yay. I sit under my soft bonnet dryer on low for 30 min, but now that my hair is thicker and longer it is not completely dry like it used to be. I then use the hand held with the cool shot for 5 min and I am mostly dry.

 

[CocoGlow]

I've been doing this once a week for the past month and I love it!

I have a blow dryer that has a COOL setting in addition to the typical COOL shot button, making it easier for me. Before when I used a dryer w/ just the COOL shot button, my thumb started to hurt from holding it down so long...now I just switch the dryer onto the COOL setting and I'm good to go!

I wash in braids (loose near the root) & I usually stretch my hair w/ braids (tight from root to tip) post washing to ensure my hair stays stretched until my my hair is no longer dripping wet & I'm ready to blow dry . I also use the Tension Method (holding the ends taught--no combs/brushes). My hair comes out stretched and smooth but not silky & flowing by any means, which is to be expected from dense natural 4B hair and no heat use at all. I wanted to make sure my hair still looks & feels like my natural texture and not even like a hard press or flat iron job. It reminds me of thick kinky straight lace front wig hair LOL! And since I am not using any heat, I do not need to use those silicone-laden heat protectants and the harsh cleansers to remove the silicones.

I typically have major shrinkage from my tight coils, but stretching my hair out this way allows me to do buns, rolls, small pony tails on my between neck & shoulder length not-so-short not-so-long-hair! At the end of the week, my hair is much easier to detangle with conditioner prior to washing b/c it's stretched and I have not allowed it to shrink up & tangle into itself. This means less hair breakage & hopefully I can retain more length this way with the peace of mind that I'm not doing anything damaging in the process

Here is a pic of my blow dryer
(Remington D-2012 Tstudio Collection Tourmaline and Ceramic Hair Dryer - Amazon.com):

Hosted on Fotki

Pics of my hair styled after a Blow Out:

Hosted on Fotki

Hosted on Fotki

Hosted on Fotki

Hosted on Fotki

Hosted on Fotki

Hope this helps!

 

[SelfStyled]

Nappy Rinna your hair is BEAUTIFUL!!!! Thanks for sharing what dryer you use. IA w/ stretching hair for certain hair types is definitely beneficial as the hair dries.

 

[darlingdiva]

anytime I pull out the handheld it gets used on the cool setting. It takes longer but it's worth it. I love how my hair feels after. I used the heat setting the last time I flatironed my hair and my hair felt dry and rough. I hated it. Too much heat. I will definately stick the cool setting.

The same thing happens to me when I blowdry & I always use the heat settings. I have the FHI Heat Nano Salon Pro 2000 & it definitely comes out much smoother than when I would just buy the cheapest blow dryer in the BSS, but it still comes out too rough for my liking.

Maybe blow drying on cool is my missing link.

P.S.: NappyRina, your hair is lovely!!!