When it comes to drying curly hair, it can take a good chunk of your day.
…and most people don’t want to spend hours under a blow dryer before the rush off to work.
Today, I am going to share five easy ways that you can reduce your drying time significantly which will cut down on the time you spend on your hair.
Because time is our most precious resource!
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I’ve created a 60-second quiz that will help you determine exactly which mistake you are making, and how to fix it!
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5 Tips To Reduce Drying Time: Fast Drying Curly Hair Routine For Frizz Free Curls
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Layer The Drying Process
When it comes to reducing your drying time, the best thing you can do is layer the process.
Rather than sticking to one method like…
…..Air drying, diffusing, root clipping etc…
I’ve found the best way to speed up the drying process is to dry your hair in layers.
It may sound confusing or overwhelming at first, but once you understand these methods and give them a try, it is super easy to implement and in my opinion the best way to dry your curls.
Plop Your Hair After Styling It
The plopping method involves gathering all your hair and plopping it on top of your head then wrapping it in a microfiber towel or t-shirt.
This method was developed by the curly community and it helps with two things:
- Gently removing excess water from your hair: A traditional towel is harsh and can cause frizz and breakage to your hair.
- Allowing your products to marinate: If you plop after you’ve styled, it allows all of your products to marinate.
The first thing you’ll want to do after styling your hair (yes, AFTER you’ve applied your leave in conditioner and stylers) is plop for 5-15 minutes.
This helps all those amazing products sit on your hair and marinate and it also helps remove any added moisture without causing frizz.
You can use a t-shirt, microfiber towel, or shower cap. Whatever you have on hand will work just fine.
Micro Plop After You’ve Plopped
Micro plopping is similar to plopping. The difference is that you don’t plop your hair on top of your head.
Micro plopping takes place after you’ve taken your hair out of your normal plop.
Simply use the same towel to scrunch small sections of your hair similarly to when you style your hair.
This is just another way to reduce moisture without causing any frizz or breakage.
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Root Clip/Diffuse
Root clipping is a method used to lift your hair strand which allows airflow (this helps speed up drying) AND it promotes volume which is an added bonus.
You can use small clips that you have on hand OR you can get clips specifically for root clipping.
How To Root Clip: Section your curl clumps and lift them from your scalp. Be sure to not break up the base of the curl clump.
Use a clip to secure your curl clump in the lifted position. This allows airflow which dramatically speeds up the drying process. I typically focus most of my time on the hair around my face.
You can see a video on curl clipping on my Instagram.
Once I have curl clumps around my head securely fastened, I’ll blast them with my diffuser to get the air circulating.
Air Dry
Now it’s time to air dry!
Leave the root clips in while your hair finishes drying. This is a good time to do your makeup, or any other morning task you need to complete before you leave.
It’s important to not touch your hair or fidget with the clips at this point.
Your hair is most vulnerable to frizz during the drying process and every time you touch it, you are adding frizz and breaking up curl clumps.
The best thing you can do at this point is SET IT AND FORGET IT.
Diffuse With A Final Blast
When your hair is 90% dry, give it a final blast of airflow using your diffuser. This helps dry any area of your hair that still may be holding on to moisture.
In Conclusion:
When it comes to reducing dry time with curly hair, the best way to do that is layer these 5 different techniques to help reduce moisture without causing frizz.
Plop Your Hair After Styling It: Use a quality microfiber towel or t-shirt to plop your hair on top of your head after you style it.
Micro Plop: Micro plop small sections of your hair to remove excess water.
Root Clip/Diffuse: Use clips to lift your hair strand from your head and allow airflow throughout your scalp.
Air Dry: Let your hair air dry a bit while you do your morning tasks.
Diffuse: Finish off the drying process by blasting your roots with your diffuser.
Common Q&A:
How do I dry my curly hair?
There are several different methods to drying curly hair. See above for my favorite drying techniques.
Is it best to air dry curly hair?
When it comes to your hair’s health, air drying is recommended. Especially if your hair is super damaged.
Once your hair is healed and you are following a consistent hair care routine, it’s perfectly ok to add a diffuser to your routine.
How do you dry curly hair fast naturally?
The quickest way to dry curly hair without using any heat is to combine plopping, micro plopping, and root clipping (see above).
How do you dry curls without frizz?
The best way to reduce frizz is use a high quality microfiber towel, use a diffuser, and don’t touch your hair during the drying process.
Why does it take my curly hair so long to dry?
The main cause of a lengthy drying process is directly related to how your hair strand holds water. Depending on the porosity and thickness of your hair will determine how long it takes to dry.
By using the 5 tips above, you will be able to drastically reduce your drying time.
Xoxo
Curly Colleen
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