Understanding the ins and outs of protecting your hair might lead to a better hairstyle in the long run. This is all you need to know about blow-drying your hair before braiding. And you may wonder should I blowdry my hair before braiding!

For every type of hair, there is a braiding pattern or technique to suit it. Hair kinds must be taken into consideration when preparing for braids because one braiding method may not be good for a particular hair type/texture.

What better place to start than with our hair if we can’t seem to find a method to extend the life of our manicures and makeup? Hair preparation comes into play in this situation. Blow-drying, deep conditioning, and heat styling are all included in this category, as is anything else we can think of to make our hairstyles last longer.

Should I blowdry my hair before braiding?

The answer to the question of should I blowdry my hair before braiding depends on the type of hair you have. For those with type 3 and 4 curly and coily hair, blow drying is a common phase in their hair prep process.

When it comes to should I blowdry my hair before braiding, curly/coily hair types and straight/wavy hair types have very different textures, follicles, and demands. Preparation for braiding in straight hair is vastly different from that required for braids in coily hair.

Straight and Wavy:

If you have straight or curly hair, should you blow dry it beforehand before braiding? It all depends on your particular preferences and what you’re attempting to achieve. Fine hair is more vulnerable to damage when it’s wet, but heat styling can still harm.

Unlike curly and coily hair, straight and wavy hair can be braided in a variety of ways. For example, if a person with straight hair chooses to wear box braids or cornrows, their hair is at risk of breaking due to the weight of the style.

Braids of this type provide additional weight and pressure, and fine, straight, or waved hair cannot sustain this for an extended amount of time. Instead, they should go with French and Dutch braids, mermaid braids, or three-strand braids, which are better suited to their hair type.

These braids are easier on the scalp and don’t require as much time and effort to put together. So, do you use a blow-dryer? If you want your hair to seem sleek and silky, apply your preferred heat protectant before blow drying it to prevent damage to the strands.

These braids don’t require blow-drying to have a smooth appearance. You should listen to your hair stylist’s advice from a professional stylist. If your hair is styled in braids, air drying is also an option.

Since wavy hair is commonly found in the centre between curly and wavy hair, it can be a challenge to style. When wavy hair acts like curly hair, it could be a sign of what your hair needs are. Regardless, natural protective styles should be avoided at all costs.

Your hair’s texture might also tell you if you should blow dry your hair. Blow-drying your hair before braiding can prevent flyaways if you have Wavy hair with a few curly strands that are prone to frizz.

Consider your hair’s current state of health as well. Has it been chemically or heat-damaged, tinted, or dyed? When blow-drying, it’s best to use a heat protectant or reduce the amount of heat styling you perform.

Curly and Coily Hair:

Should I blowdry my hair before braiding

Straight and wavy hair is more sensitive to the effects of blow-drying before braiding than curly hair. You, your hair, and your hairdresser must determine what your hair can handle to get the greatest results.

It’s never a good idea to braid wet hair, that much is certain. Adding a nourishing lotion to your curls after they’ve dried to 80% is said to improve your braiding since it adds moisture. Even if you don’t blow-dry your hair, this is essential.

Cornrows and box braids can be worn by curly and coily hair types since the follicles are usually coarse, sturdy, and can withstand the weight without snapping off. Do you have to blow dry your curls before you do your braids?

It’s up to you, however, we recommend blow-drying your hair if you don’t want your hair to be too heavy to braid.

How to prepare your hair before braiding?

So, is it necessary to blow dry your hair before tying a bun? At the end of the day, blow-drying your hair before braiding is a personal choice. Blow drying your hair before braiding can be advantageous, but it depends on the properties of your hair.

Take care of any hair problems you’re having.

This process may take longer for some people than for others. Dry hair, easily broken hair or hair that isn’t staying moisturised should be addressed first. This will help your hair look its finest when you start braiding it, so take care of the problems before they arise. Is your hair feeling brittle? Protein treatments can help to make it stronger.

Taking a shower

The best way to prepare for braiding is to thoroughly clean your scalp and eliminate any residue. This can be cleared up with a clarifying shampoo. Also, don’t forget to thoroughly condition your hair afterwards to replenish its moisture.

Preparing tangled hair

When it comes to braiding tangled hair, there are precise methods to follow. When it comes to smoothing hair down so that it may be braided, detangling with your fingertips may work for loose hair, but it won’t be enough. It’s better to straighten your hair by combing it from the bottom up, rather than trying to straighten it from the top down. Detangling spray may be made by mixing two to three tablespoons of your favourite conditioner with hot but not boiling water and a few drops of your chosen hair essential oil.

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Preparing Natural Hair

Tight braids prevent access to stray hairs while they’re in place, which is a problem for folks with naturally knotted hair who braid. As much as 40 to 120 hair strands per day were shed and grown out while the braids were in place. However, if the hair has already been detangled, it will be much easier to comb through.

Applying a clarifying shampoo to your hair will help remove excess oil and grime from your scalp. It’s also a good idea to get rid of any hair extensions you may have before you wash your hair. You can next use a conditioner to restore the hair’s hydration. Hair that has been moisturised is not the same as wet hair.

Hair Treatment

Adding strength and elasticity to your hair is made possible in large part by using a leave-in conditioner. It’s best to just leave the conditioner on for 20 minutes at a time to avoid an oily scalp. Hair with porous characteristics, such as curly or wavy, will benefit from a pre-moisturizing step.

To prevent tangles, stretch out your hair after finishing treatments. Flyaways are less likely to occur when you stretch. A no-heat straightening solution like bands, plaits, or wrapping will work just as well.

Should I blowdry my hair before twisting?

If you were hoping for a simple response, I’m sorry to disappoint you. Before you begin braiding, you have reasons to blow-dry your hair and reasons not to.

Before braiding your hair, when should you blow-dry it?

Whether you should blow-dry your hair first or not is hotly debated in the beauty industry, but the truth is, you may do either. So, for me, the question isn’t if you should, but rather when. Everything comes down to personal taste and the specific requirements of your hair.

Events like a birthday party, wedding, and so on, if you plan on going out with braided hair, some people like to blow-dry their hair first. This is because letting your hair air dry completely before braiding will result in a much more polished braid. A great choice for a night on the town or a wedding, among other occasions.

In other words, the answer to should I blowdry my hair before braiding is blow-drying your braided hair beforehand is a terrific technique to make it look smooth.

Before braiding your hair, when should you not blow-dry it?

If your hair is a little damaged, it’s not a big deal while considering should I blowdry my hair before braiding. Hair colour, hot irons, or a blowdryer may be to blame for a recent hair loss (heat). It’s possible that some hair products you’ve used can harm your hair.

Blow-drying your hair if you discover it isn’t as healthy as it could be is not recommended. You see, using a hairdryer to dry your hair is a horrible idea if your hair isn’t as strong as it could be. You don’t want any further harm to your hair from the heat.

Blowing your hair cold is a viable solution (if you have the option). You can still blow-dry your hair this way, but you won’t be damaging it in the process of should I blow-dry my hair before braiding.

How to prep 4b hair for braids?

Should I blowdry my hair before braiding
  • Use a clarifying product to deep clean hair. Rinse well after using a deep cleanser. To remove any remaining moisture, blot the hair with a towel.
  • The Leave-in conditioner should be properly distributed throughout the hair.
  • Hair should be protected from heat with a product. Commercial heat protectant products are generally not something I’d recommend on the hair because of the substances they contain. Because the hair cannot be thoroughly cleansed of products and chemicals when it is in small braids, you should avoid silicones, alcohols, and the like.
  • Pure oil is what you should use instead of a commercial heat shield. One oil, in particular, has a low smoke point or the temperature at which it turns into a liquid and begins to burn, which makes it an excellent heat protector at low temperatures. Grapeseed oil is an excellent pre-styling oil. My preferred method of application is with an applicator bottle and a smoothing motion with my hands.
  • Using a headband, divide the hair into at least four portions. Work your way down into the smallest pieces of each of your larger sections.
  • Detangle a 3″ square of hair starting at the ends and working your way up to the roots. To untangle hair, hairstylists normally use a plastic bristle brush. Make sure you use the right tool for your hair.
  • Low heat and high airflow are the best settings for a concentrator nozzle blow-dryer.
  • Make a fist of the hair and squeeze it tightly.
  • Dry the area of hair by pointing the drier at a downward angle and moving the nozzle up and down the head. Use the brush to further stretch the hair once it is dry enough not to shrink.
  • Before moving on to the next area, braid that section of dry hair. In huge braids, the hair will stay stretched even if it isn’t completely dry.
  • Section by piece, detangle, blowdry on low with tension, continue blowdrying with a brush for a little extra stretch, then braid each section separately.

When your hair is completely dry, you can begin braiding it into small braids. To divide and braid, undo the braid one section at a time.

When it comes to braiding, should I Braid hair wet or dry?

Never braid wet hair, regardless of whether you use a blow dryer or not. The braid will be overly heavy if the hair is too wet. When you air-dry your hair, you risk clumping and breaking since wet hair grows at least 15 times faster than dry hair.

Additionally, you should apply a nourishing cream product to your hair when it is at least 80% dry before braiding it. Curly and wavy hair can also benefit from serums and oils, which may have a better chance of adhering to the hair’s porous strands.

What to put in hair before braiding?

Before knowing should I blowdry my hair before braiding, protein treatments are essential. Before styling, it’s crucial to infuse the hair with moisture, but protein treatments can assist fix any pre-existing difficulties with the hair. In this context, “pre-existing” refers to the fact that protein treatments should be performed even further in advance than leave-in conditioners or other creams, gels and serums that are applied during the actual braiding of hair. Braids and other hairstyles require a lot of tension and manipulation, and weak hair can’t handle it. Protein treatments can help.

Should I oil my scalp before braids?

To prevent your hair from drying out, apply oil to the ends of your hair. It should consequently be applied to around 10% of the hair that is still damp. Before beginning to braid, let the hair air dry entirely after it has been oiled. Oiling the scalp, on the other hand, has a soothing effect on the scalp’s surface.

Conclusion about Should I blowdry my hair before braiding

If you want to blow dry your hair before braiding, you can do so, but only if you do it with proper preparation and the correct temperature settings, such as a cool temperature. If you don’t want to blow dry it, letting hair air dry is a fantastic alternative. However, if you keep your hair in good condition, regardless of the drying method you use, your styling process will be far less risky.

A good understanding of your hair’s requirements is essential. Hair that has been well-cared for will shine and be full of life. However, the effort will be well worth it. By experimenting, you might discover exactly what your hair is lacking and should I blowdry my hair before braiding!