After washing your hair, you need to spare time for it to dry. It can dry fast or slow. In most cases, it is preferable if your hair dries quickly. However, if it dries weirdly fast, you may start to wonder “Why does my hair dry so fast?” and want to know if it is a concern. Understanding this, we have put together this article. Continue reading to find detailed information!
Why Does My Hair Dry So Fast?
There are many different factors that can impact how quickly or slowly your hair dries. But among them, the two main ones are density and porosity. Denser and low-porosity hair tend to take more time to dry and vice versa. Below, we will touch more on both of these factors, so continue to read.
Why Does Density & Porosity Affect How Long My Hair Dries?
Density
Another way to understand this hair thickness. This is essentially how much volume the hair occupies and thus, weighs. Though there might be some rare exceptions, the idea is that the denser or thinner the hair, the quicker it dries.
Why? It is easy to grasp really: there is less hair to hold onto water.
Porosity
Your hair has a cuticle layer made of overlapping cells, resembling roof tiles and/or fish scales. If there are a lot of gaps or spaces between the cells, your hair has high-porosity and vice versa.
High porosity hair readily absorbs water. But they also easily release water. Water enters and just runs back out, and this is why high-porosity hair dries fast.
Low porosity hair has hair shafts with smoother cuticles and fewer gaps for substances, such as water to enter and leave. Therefore, unlike high-porosity hair, low-porosity hair does not absorb as much moisture, oils, and other hair care products. If your hair is the low-porosity type, there is a strong shield against moisture gain and loss.
Even though it might not take in water easily, when it does, it retains it much better. So, compared to high-porosity hair, low-porosity hair takes a longer time to dry.
Read more:
How To Determine Your Hair Porosity
You can conduct simple tests to determine your hair porosity. Here are three methods:
Method 1: The Strand Test
- Hold a strand of hair in between your fingers.
- Slide your finger up the strand of hair, going toward your scalp.
- Observe how the strand of hair feels.
- If you notice a bumpy texture, your hair has a high porosity.
- If there are no bumps and the texture is smooth, your hair is low porosity.
Method 2: The Stretch Test
- Gather a few hair strands. It is best to get ones that are shed after shampooing.
- Hold the hair strands up against a ruler.
- Carefully stretch them.
- Observe how they react.
- If they stretch but do not return to their previous length, your hair is porous.
- If they break after stretching about 30 percent, they are very porous.
- If they stretch about 30 to 50 percent and return to their lengths, your hair is not porous.
Method 3: The Stray Bottle Test
- Prepare a spray bottle and fill it with water.
- Pick up a small section of your hair.
- Spritz it with water from the spray bottle.
- Observe your small section of hair closely.
- If the water is absorbed by your hair quickly, you have high-porosity hair.
- If the water beads up and sits on your hair, you have low-porosity hair.
You can also cross-check the results from any of the above testing procedures with this list of the characteristics of high and low-porosity hair.
Other Factors That Can Affect Your Hair’s Drying Time
Whether Your Hair is Damaged
If you frequently get hair treatments or use heating tools on your hair, you can severely damage it. The cuticle, which is more easily understood as the outer protective layer of your hair, can be chipped away or “hurt,” losing its ability to retain moisture in the hair. As a result, your hair can dry quicker.
Environmental Conditions
The environment can greatly affect your hair, and thus, influence how quickly or slowly it dries. Specifically, a polluted environment can cause your hair to become less dense, and as mentioned, less dense hair tends to take less time to dry.
Furthermore, not protecting your hair against environmental elements can damage it. If you expose your hair to hot dry air, the sun, and seawater often, your hair will likely take less time than it should dry. (As explained in the paragraph above, damaged hair plays a role in one’s hair drying time.)
The Shampoo and Conditioner That You Use
Using the wrong shampoo and conditioner for your hair can change its porosity. Thus, it might become low-porosity or high porosity, which directly impacts the time it takes to dry.
For example, when you use products that contain a lot of harsh chemicals for a lengthy period, your hair can become dry, brittle, and thinner, all of which make it more likely to dry quickly.
Products that consist of alcohol tend to strip moisture from your hair, and in doing so, cause your hair to dry faster over time. You should also steer clear of mineral oils, salt or sodium chloride, non-water soluble silicones, and sulfates.
On the contrary, if you use a shampoo and conditioner that is good for your hair and is well-suited, it can improve the condition of your hair. Remember? Hair that is healthy and not damaged tends to take less time to dry.
Check out: The Best Shampoos And Conditioners For Low Porosity Hair Reviews
What Can I Do If My Hair Is Drying Too Fast?
It is natural for hair to dry after you wash it, and it can be fast or slow. However, if it is too fast, it is important to determine if it is due to your hair’s texture or other hair concerns so you can take care of it appropriately.
In addition to the characteristics of hair types (as outlined), too fast-drying hair is one of the signs of damaged hair because of weather changes, aging, lack of nutrients, direct exposure to the sun, etc. In this case, you will need to look for solutions, such as:
Trying Protein Treatments
Protein treatments deliver proteins that fill in the gaps/spaces between the cuticle cells. This, in turn, helps rebuild the structure of your hair and allows it to better retain moisture. As a result, it can turn from high-porosity hair to normal-porosity hair, which does not dry too fast.
Using Protein-Rich Products
Building on the notion above, you should shop for products that are rich in protein to strengthen your hair. Products can include (but are not limited to) shampoos, conditioners, and masks. If you want, you can also DIY products, like making an egg protein mask.
Considering Spritzing Your Hair With Vinegar
In a spray bottle, mix diluted apple cider vinegar and water. Use a ratio of 1 to 4. This mixture can help close your hair cuticles and allow it to lock in moisture, and thus, not dry as fast.
Wearing A Hat When You Step Outside
Exposure to direct sunlight can hurt your cuticle and cause it to become even more porous, and, therefore, dry even faster. So, when you step outside, throw on a hat.
Trying Not To Use Heat-Styling Products
Heat-styling tools can harm your cuticle and cause it to become more porous. The consequences will be similar to direct sunlight exposure. Therefore, you should avoid using them.
General Hair Care Tips
Here are some other tips to avoid extreme hair damage:
- Avoid UV Light
UV light can hurt your hair. Therefore, using an anti-UV product or UV protectant is an absolute must. For an extra layer of protection, consider a hat, bandana, or other forms of headcover.
- Avoid Seawater
Seawater contains minerals that can damage your hair. To avoid severe damage, you should avoid contacting your hair with seawater.
- Avoid Pool Water
Pools have chlorine which reacts poorly with your hair. Your hair can be damaged and weakened. So, it is best to steer clear of pools.
If you need to go swimming, wet your hair with tap water and condition it before you go into the pool. In addition, wear a cap to protect your hair while you are swimming. And finally, when you leave the pool, make sure you rinse your hair thoroughly with non-pool water.
Tips to Dry Your Hair After Shampooing
If you are in a hurry and need your hair to air-drying more quickly, consider applying these tips:
- Squeeze water out beforehand: After you turn off your showerhead and before you leave, use your hands/fingers to squeeze as much excess water out of your hair as possible.
- Shake your hair out: After stepping out of the shower, flip your head upside-down. Then, shake for several minutes. At the same time, use your fingers to lift the roots. This should fluff up your hair and prompt air flow between the strands to help your hair dry faster.
- Switch to a microfiber towel: The softer texture of a microfiber towel soaks water better. You can use it to blot or squeeze your hair gently. starting from the top of your head and working downwards to the ends. And make sure you use a different section of the towel each time you dry.
- Wrap your head: Use a towel to wrap the hair around your head for 5 to 10 minutes. This will absorb all of the excess water and quicken your air-drying process afterward.
- Sit in front of a fan: The air coming from a fan can help your hair dry faster. Plus, there is no intense heat so it is not as damaging as using a hair dryer.
FAQs
How Do I Know if My Hair is High-Porosity or Low-Porosity?
Characteristics of High-Porosity Hair
You may recognize high-porosity hair with the following characteristics:
- Looks dry
- Feels dry
- Lacks shine
- Easily frizzes
- Easily breaks
- Easily tangles
- Quickly absorbs products
Characteristics of Low-Porosity Hair
Low-porosity hair tends to have the following characteristics:
- Wet slowly
- See water beads often
- Encounter product build-ups often
- Resist conditioners and color treatments
How Should I Treat My Low-Porosity Hair So It Will Not Dry As Fast?
- Consider Steaming Your Hair
Steaming your hair is one way to open the cuticles and get moisture to be absorbed. You can use a steam hair cap to do this. Since water is no longer beading up or sitting on your hair, it will not easily be dried — your hair will not dry as fast.
If you do not want to buy a steam hair cap, you can try to re-create the “greenhouse effect” using a disposable shower cap.
Simply cover your hair with a shower cap to trap heat in it and let the heat open up your cuticles, which invites moisture into your hair, and your hair will take a longer time to dry.
- Consider Moisturizing Your Hair With A Leave-In Conditioner
A lightweight leave-in conditioner can help moisturize your hair. It is best to choose one with emollients and humectants in its formula. You just need to apply it to slightly damp hair and let it stay to work the magic. You also don’t need to wash your hair after using leave-in conditioner.
Related: Will Leave-In Conditioner Affect Hair Dye?
- Consider Moisturizing Your Hair With A Hair Mask
Hair masks are also fantastic options for moisturizing low-porosity hair. You should use one once or twice a month to give your hair extra nourishment.
A trick to using masks is gathering your hair into a shower cap. Alternatively, you can use a hooded dryer. These will trap heat, which opens up your hair shaft so your hair can avail of all the benefits a mask offers.
- Consider Moisturizing Your Hair With Natural Oils
Another excellent way to moisturize your hair is by using natural oils. Good choices include coconut oil or jojoba oil. You can easily find these in local stores. They will give your hair the extra moisture it needs.
Related: Does Coconut Oil Fade Hair Color or Enhance Hair Health?
Conclusion
As you have read above, there are many influencing factors that can affect the answer to “Why does my hair dry so fast?”
In general, how quickly or slowly your hair dries does not say much about the problems your hair is or might be having. However, if there are a few additional signs, such as split ends or frizzy hair, you should definitely pay extra attention and visit a consultant.
If you have anything else to add, please leave a comment down below. We also welcome any questions. So, do not hesitate to reach out to us!
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