The Worst Blow Dryer Mistakes For Thinning Hair, According To Experts

Thinning hair can be fragile and delicate — and require a different level of care, especially when heating tools like blow dryers come into the equation. It’s not that you can never use a dryer on thinning hair, it’s just important to take a few extra steps so you can avoid causing thinning hair more damage. Hair and Makeup Artist Andrea Claire outlines eight of the worst blow dryer mistakes for thinning hair — as well as a few great steps to following when you want to give your hair a gorgeous blow-out without causing damage to strands. 

Thinning hair requires a more delicate hand when it comes to styling. And if you are applying intense heat from a blow dryer, these are the worst mistakes you should avoid at all costs, according to Claire: 

1. Not protecting the hair with products such as a thermal protector or leave-in conditioner

2. Not using a nozzle to help direct heat and air flow. Blow drying without airflow direction can tangle and rough up thinning hair.

3. Not using a diffuser for curly or fragile hair, which softens the air flow so the hair isn’t blown around like a wind storm

4. Using  the wrong settings for your hair type. Too high of an air flow and too high heat on thinning hair can add to the problem of thinning hair.

5. Using the wrong brush for hair type and desired effect.

6. Using the wrong angle with your blow drying ie: blow drying fully going down the hair shaft will just flatten thinning hair

7. Starting with soaking wet hair resulting in over-drying the hair

8. Rough drying the hair with a towel which causes friction, tangles and breakage