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Everyone has used a hairdryer, but not many consider what exactly happens during the time when a stream of warm air is directed towards our hair.
"It is obvious that warm air helps to dry hair fast, but where does the warmth come from?"
"What is the reason why some hairdryers make our hair look smooth and healthy while others make it dry and brittle?"
"If warm air harms our hair, then why not use cold air instead?"
The explanation is much more complex than most of us realize.
Nowadays hairdryers are not just small devices that create warm air streams anymore.
These are sophisticated gadgets that provide a perfect combination of the air flow, warmth and hair care.
The knowledge about hot air and when it is necessary to use cold one as well can make you achieve great results without harming your hair.
Where does the hot air come from?
Most people think that the hair dryer contains some stored hot air within it, but this is not how it functions. With each second you are using a hair dryer, it generates hot air instantly.
Two important parts operate inside a hair dryer: motor and a heating element.
Pressing a power button turns on the motor, which starts drawing cool air from a room and sending it inside the dryer.
It goes next through the heating coil or ceramic heating element, which heats up instantly as electricity passes through it. Passing the heated element, air receives heat and is sent further through the nozzle to your hair.
It works instantaneously all the time. Fresh air is drawn, heated and sent outside in seconds, forming continuous airflow that is so necessary for everyone's morning routine.
Nevertheless, it is not heat only that dries your hair. Airflow is equally necessary. Hot air gives energy to molecules of water that are present on the hair strands and helps them to evaporate easier. At the same time, it removes wet air and sends new dry one.
Why does hot air dry hair faster?
Think about two wet towels that you hang out to dry: one in the early cool hours of the day and the other in the warm and breezy noon hours.
The latter towel will always dry faster than the former due to higher temperatures causing increased evaporation rates and efficient removal of water through air movement.
Well, the same occurs with your hair too.
Every strand of wet hair is covered with minuscule droplets of water. Hot air provides additional energy to those water molecules, thus allowing the water molecules to evaporate easily. Besides, the flow of air constantly removes the water vapor and prevents the accumulation of humid air near your hair.
Heat and air movement explain how professional hair dryers are able to reduce drying time much more effectively than old ones.
In other words, faster drying does not imply using of high temperatures but rather efficient air delivery.
Why can hot air damage hair?
If hot air has such a good effect on drying hair, then why does it have a bad reputation?
The point here is not in the air itself but in too much heat, or, in other words, in improper heat.
Hair is composed mostly of proteins called keratins, which are surrounded by the cuticle.
Normal cuticles lay flat giving a smooth surface, which causes light reflection and results in healthy shine.
Under high temperatures and due to prolonged exposure to heat by one part of hair, cuticle starts lifting.
The moisture contained in the hair strands starts escaping more easily and the proteins start breaking down.
In time overheating may cause:
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Increased frizz
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Dry, rough texture
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Split ends
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Hair breakage
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Reduced shine
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Loss of elasticity
How Laifen makes hot air smarter?
The dialogue surrounding hair dryers has come a long way since then. Manufacturers used to compete among each other through advertising of hair dryers with maximum heat and watts, convincing consumers that heat was directly proportional to faster drying time.
Now, it is known that it is not the case. The best hair dryers are those that provide strong airflow along with proper temperature regulation.
The Laifen SE 2 Hair Dryer is an example of such a concept. This hair dryer does not work using excessive heat; it uses a 110,000 RPM high-speed brushless motor to produce airflow at up to 22 m/s. Such airflow dries the hair faster through evaporation of moisture because it eliminates the need to leave hair under heat for extended periods of time.
Another noteworthy feature of the SE 2 is the Laifen Smart Temperature Control. In contrast to regular dryers, whose temperature rises over time, this dryer constantly controls and regulates the temperature.
As a result, the airflow is more consistent, and there won't be any unexpected spikes in overheating that might damage the cuticle of your hair.
Instead of having moments when the airflow seems extremely hot and then suddenly cooler, the temperature will remain steady and create a more comfortable drying experience for you.
How to use hot air for the perfect blowout?
Even a super-advanced hair dryer requires proper use to produce desired results. Most people prefer maximum heat throughout styling their hair, and here is how a little bit of alteration can help you make your hair smoother and easier to manage.
Step 1: Get rid of excess water first
Before you start styling your hair, dry off any excess water in them using a microfiber towel or a soft cotton T-shirt. Your hair should remain damp, not dripping wet. This will allow you to work shorter with heat.
Step 2: Use heat protector
A heat protector acts as a light barrier that separates your hair from the hot air flow. It does not cancel the heat but reduces moisture evaporation and improves smoothness.
Step 3: Use warm air, not with maximum heat
Select medium or warm heat mode instead of going directly to the maximum heat. If you have a powerful hair dryer like Laifen SE 2, the high air flow will take care of the moisture.
Step 4: Move the dryer around continuously
Do not concentrate on one particular spot too much. Moving the dryer around will distribute the heat in a better way and will avoid over-heating of one place.
Step 5: Dry hair starting from the roots to the ends
Use the direction from the bottom of the hair strands, because it will help to keep the cuticles smooth and prevent frizz and increase shine.
Step 6: Use the cool shot function towards the end
When your hair is almost dried (90%) start using the cool shot mode to style your hair properly. It will help to smooth the cuticles, give you a smoother shape and longer lasting hairstyle.
Hot air vs cold air: Which one is better?
While hot air damages your hair, does that mean you should use cold air?
No, not entirely.
While hot air and cold air both have crucial roles to play, using either of them alone won't give you the right results.
The benefit of using hot air is that it dries your hair very fast by helping evaporation. On the other hand, the disadvantage is that constant exposure to hot air tends to make hair cuticles fragile.
Unlike hot air, cold air cannot help in drying your hair fast. But the advantage of using cold air is that it helps in fluffing the hair cuticle and makes your hair glossy and smooth.
Comparison table:
| Hot air | Cold air |
|---|---|
| Dries hair quickly | Dries hair slowly |
| Speeds up evaporation | Minimal effect on evaporation |
| Shapes hairstyles easily | Helps lock hairstyles in place |
| Can damage hair if overheated | Gentle on the hair cuticle |
| Best for drying | Best for finishing |
Why combining hot and cold air gives the best results?
And one of the key factors in obtaining salon-quality blowouts is that hairdressers never keep the temperature at the same level throughout the process. Rather, they vary it while drying the hair.
Here is an easy pattern of blowout:
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Begin drying hair with warm air and remove most of the moisture.
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Reduce the temperature when your hair is 80% dry.
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Conclude with cool air in order to flatten the cuticle and create a more durable look.
The main benefits of such procedure are the following:
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Quicker drying without using too much heat.
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Minimized moisture removal from the hair.
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Smoothness and shine of hair.
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No frizz and static.
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Durable hairstyles.
Lastly
Hot air absorbs the moisture rapidly, whereas cold air ensures that your hair is smoothed and retains the styling.
In combination, they provide a more efficient drying experience than when using only one of the two.
This is how modern hairdryers get past the conventional wisdom of "the hotter the better" and use innovative design solutions.
From now on, every time you use your hairdryer, you will be aware that something more complex takes place behind simple blowing of hot air.
Every blow-dry involves complex interaction of science, airflow and temperature; hence when hot and cold air are used in combination, your hair benefits from both.
FAQs
1. Is hot air bad for hair?
It isn't bad if you use proper temperatures and move the hair dryer in time. Hot air is good for drying hair fast, but too much heat can damage your hair.
2. Which air is better for using a hair dryer – hot or cold?
Hot air makes hair drying faster because it gets rid of the moisture from the hair easily, while cold air makes hair smoother and sets the style.
3. Where does the hot air come from in the hair dryer?
The air dryer gets cool air from the room and heats it through the heater. This heated air comes out of the hair dryer through the motor at a high speed.
4. Will smart temperature control hair dryer help avoid heat damage?
The smart temperature control will help you avoid heat damage, as well as make sure that the hair will be dried faster and without overheating.
5. How to use hot air and not to damage your hair?
To protect your hair, it is recommended to use a heat protectant, to start with towel-dried hair, and to finish with cool air.
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