Air-Drying or Blow-Drying: What a 2011 Lab Study Actually Compared
HairArticleA hair-tress experiment found different kinds of structural damage, rather than establishing one drying method for everyone.
In this article
What did the researchers test?
The study, published November 3, 2011, used purchased, chemically untreated hair tresses. It compared untreated hair with hair washed and dried through 30 cycles, using room-temperature drying or three hair-dryer conditions. These were samples, not people in a clinical trial.1
What changed between dryer conditions?
Dryer distance, temperature and drying duration changed together. The experiment does not isolate one of these factors as the explanation for every finding.1
What did the measurements show?
Hotter drying produced more surface damage. Bulging in the cell membrane complex, a structure within the shaft, appeared only in the naturally dried group. Those tresses took over two hours to dry. Moisture-content differences were not statistically significant.1
What can that tell you about your routine?
The measurements describe laboratory hair structure. They do not establish a universal drying winner, a personal dryer setting or an effect on hair growth.1
Hair, Everywhere includes a gentle-styling checklist and Hair Log. Use them to organize routine questions and observations for discussion. Explore the hair playbook.
This article is for general educational purposes only and is not medical advice. It isn't a substitute for diagnosis or treatment from a qualified healthcare professional who knows your health history. Please don't ignore professional advice or delay getting care because of something you read here. If you think you may be having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. Girl Playbook does not endorse any specific product, test, or provider.
Girl Playbook sells this book. It provides education and worksheets, not individualized medical care.
Sources
The research behind this article, in the order it’s cited. How we source our articles.
- Annals of Dermatology, 2011Hair Shaft Damage from Heat and Drying Time of Hair Dryer (opens in a new tab)abcd
Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we’ll check it.
