There are a variety of ways to dry naturally curly hair. The method that you choose is usually determined by the hairstyle you want to achieve, your hair’s texture, your preference and your lifestyle. Here are four basic ways to dry curly hair. Air-dry This is the easiest way to dry naturally curly hair and it is a method used by those who want to spend the least amount of time possible styling their hair. After shampooing and conditioning your curls, ring out the water from your hair with your hands, and then apply your favorite styling product. Next, use a microfiber towel or a t-shirt to scrunch the excess moisture from your hair and then simply let it air dry. Once your hair is completely dry then soften your curls with your fingers. Plopping Plopping is wrapping your hair in a t-shirt or microfiber towel to absorb excess water from your hair. After shampooing, conditioning and applying a styling product, then gently squeeze the excess moisture from your hair with a microfiber towel or t-shirt. Then wrap your hair in a dry microfiber towel or t-shirt. Many women will plop while they eat breakfast, get dressed, and put on makeup. Plopping will remove moisture from the hair while leaving the curls well defined and thereby reducing drying time. After plopping, let your hair down and finish drying by either air drying, diffusing or using a hood dryer. Diffusing Diffusing is great way to dry curly hair because it is quicker than air drying and it helps to preserve your hair’s natural curl pattern without causing frizz. A diffuser is an attachment that goes on the end of a blowdryer that creates a gentle air flow by dispersing, or diffusing, the air coming out of the blow dryer. It is important to set the blow dryer to a low heat (or cool setting) and low air speed. This is because high heat can cause some styling products to evaporate and may dry out your hair, and high air speed can cause frizz. If you have plopped your hair first, then the time required to diffuse your hair will be shortened. After your hair is completely dry, then gently soften your curls with your fingers. Hooded dryer A hooded dryer is great for setting styles and drying the top part of your hair. It is especially useful if you have used pin curl clips to lift your hair and create volume at the crown. Using a hooded dryer can free up your hands to do other important things while your hair is drying, like drinking coffee. Once the top of your hair is dried, then use a diffuser to dry the mid-shaft and ends of your hair. Similar to the diffuser, you will want to keep the temperature setting on cool or low heat.
