Ever Wondered Why Your Hair Takes So Long to Dry? We Have the Answer

8 Reasons Your Hair Takes So Long to Dry

1. The Thickness of Your Hair

The thicker your hair, the longer the drying process will be. This shouldn’t come entirely as a surprise given the more hair you have, the more you have to dry. Dieda shares, “Thick hair holds more water within each hair strand and between the hair strands, so the drying process is much longer.”

2. The Texture of Your Hair

Straight hair, as you may have guessed, takes a lot less time to dry than other hair textures. This is because water can roll right down the strands, speeding up drying time. Wavy hair will require a little more time with a hair dryer than straight hair because of its hair pattern. but not as much time as coily or curly hair types. Coily, curly, and natural hair require more drying time because the hair strands trap more water between them. When you hear your curly and natural hair friends complain about wash day, now you know why; it’s because it takes them so long to dry their hair.

3. The Porosity of Your Hair

A quick lesson in hair porosity for those who are unfamiliar: porosity simply refers to how porous your hair is. Low porosity hair tends to have hair cuticles that are tightly packed, meaning it’s difficult for water, hair oils, and other hair products to deeply penetrate the innermost layers of the hair shaft and properly hydrate the hair. Dieda mentions, “Low porosity hair doesn’t absorb water well, so it stays on the surface longer.” You would think this would read as low porosity hair dries faster, but that’s not the case. Because it takes more time for water to be absorbed, once it’s fully absorbed, it takes even longer for your wet hair to dry.

High porosity hair, on the other hand, is highly porous. The cuticle layer of the hair easily absorbs water and hair products to maintain moisture. However, it does lose hydration quickly, meaning it also takes less time to dry.

There is also medium porosity hair, which sits between the two. It’s not too tight and not too porous, so this type of hair porosity takes an average amount of time to dry.

4. The Length of Your Hair

Again, the more hair you have, the more time it will take to dry. “Long hair holds more water, so it takes longer to dry than short hair,” says Dieda. So if you’re considering a new hairstyle and want something that will cut down your drying time, opt for a shorter ’do.

5. The Humidity

The environment you live in plays a large role in the amount of time it can take for your hair to dry. Dieda points out, “Moist environments make it harder for water to evaporate from hair.” This doesn’t mean you need to move, it just means you need to put a little extra care into your drying routine. This may look like scrunching out excess water before putting your hair up in a microfiber towel or a cotton T-shirt to minimize frizz.

6. The Hair Products You Use

You may be using a shampoo or conditioner that is too heavy for your hair type, or even a leave-in conditioner or hair oil that is too heavy as well. Dieda mentions this can cause product buildup and that does not bode well for your drying time. “Heavier products or oils can weigh hair down, slowing the drying process,” he says. Of course you want to provide your strands with deep conditioning and heat protection, but there is such a thing as doing too much.

7. The Time You Dry Your Hair

This doesn’t mean the time of day but rather how soon you dry your hair when you get out of the shower. Do you attempt to dry it right away? If so, that could be a big reason why it feels like it’s taking so long. “Waiting a bit allows excess water to drip off, which can speed up drying time overall,” Dieda says.

8. The Method You Choose to Dry Your Hair

How you dry your hair will determine how long it takes to, well, dry. If you opt to air-dry, you can expect it to take a lot longer than if you blow-dry. Without the help of heat styling, it will naturally take more time to dry your hair.

7 Ways to Speed Up Drying Time

1. Use a Microfiber Towel

Dieda recommends you “use a microfiber towel to gently squeeze out excess water right after washing.” This can help prevent damage and make hair less frizzy after it has been dried. If you need a microfiber towel, we recommend the KITSCH Microfiber Hair Towel because it gently (and stylishly) removes excess moisture before drying without leaving our hair in knots or tangles.

2. Use the Right Styling Products

As mentioned above, using the wrong hair products can cause product buildup, which can slow down the drying process. Something like argan oil may be too heavy for fine hair to use. Instead, fine hair would want to use something lightweight like the AVEDA Nutriplenish™ Leave-In Conditioner.

Dieda suggests using “a leave-in conditioner designed to help hair dry faster.” He recommends the LEAF & FLOWER 7 Minute Blowout “to help hair dry faster without frizz and heat damage.” We recommend the SUTRA Heat Guard® Leave-In Cream. It hydrates and smooths dry, damaged hair, preparing it for detangling and heat styling to leave you with hair that feels as soft as ever.

3. Use a Blow-Dryer With High Wattage

Dieda recommends using a blow-dryer with a higher wattage because it will have a more powerful airflow and help speed up drying time. We love the ARIA BEAUTY Infrared Blow Dryer with Ionic Technology because while it only uses 1300 W, the eco infrared technology allows it to work as though it has 2200 W. It also reduces drying time, damage, breakage, and frizz.

4. Use an Ionic Blow-Dryer

Similar to a hair dryer with high wattage, an ionic blow-dryer can help cut down on dry time and also make hair feel smoother. Dieda is a fan of the SKIN RESEARCH INSTITUTE SRI DryQ for its fast, frizz-free styling.

5. Section Your Hair Before Blow-Drying

While it may seem like it requires more effort, Dida notes that “parting your hair into sections and drying each part individually can save you time.” The LUXE & WILLOW 8 Piece Sectional Hair Clips are a chic way to split your hair into sections to dry your hair faster.

6. Wait Some Time Before Drying Your Hair

Again, drying your hair right after getting out of the shower will make the drying process so much longer. Instead, Dieda suggests waiting some time before drying. “Waiting about 10 to 15 minutes can help excess water drip out naturally, which reduces overall drying time.”

7. Avoid Rubbing Your Hair Too Vigorously

You may think that vigorously rubbing your hair with a towel will help with your hair’s ability to dry faster but the opposite is actually true. “It causes frizz and can slow drying time,” notes Dida. This is because the outer layer is more susceptible to damage, so when it is met with this level of friction, it can expose the inner layer of the hair shaft to damage and split ends.

Making the Most of Your Drying Time

Ultimately, making a few simple changes to your blow-drying routine can help you speed up the process and still leave you with healthy hair. Maybe it starts with you understanding your hair texture and porosity a bit more. Or, maybe you need to update the hair products you’re using to give you better results. Whichever it is, you now have the tools you need to find a faster routine that works for you.