Why Should You Avoid Curling Wet or Damp Hair?
You should never curl hair when it is wet or even slightly damp because the moisture trapped in the hair, when exposed to high heat, can cause damage by essentially boiling the hair from the inside and outside. This process also produces steam that can be hot and potentially burn the face.
Overview
Curling hair when it's wet or damp is not recommended due to the potential for damage. When high heat is applied to moisture-laden hair, it can cause the hair to boil, leading to internal and external damage. Additionally, the steam generated during this process can be hot and pose a burn risk. To prevent this, it's crucial to blow dry hair 100% dry before using hot tools like curling irons or flat irons. A suggested routine involves towel-drying hair well, detangling with a paddle brush (such as the Mint Kaze paddle brush), and then using an ionic blow dryer. Ionic blow dryers, like the one mentioned, use negative ions to break down water molecules, allowing moisture to be reabsorbed into the hair. When blow drying, a downward motion helps to smooth the hair cuticle, which can result in smoother curls.
Key takeaways
- Never curl hair when it's wet or slightly damp to avoid damage from boiling the hair.
- Applying high heat to wet hair can produce steam that poses a burn risk.
- Always ensure hair is 100% dry before using hot tools like curling irons.
- After towel drying, detangle hair with a paddle brush before blow drying.
- Use an ionic blow dryer to help break down water molecules and add moisture back into the hair.
- Blow dry hair in a downward motion to smooth the cuticle for smoother curls.
Full transcript
The honest answer and what to do instead. No, you should never be curling hair when it's wet or even slightly damp. The reason why it's because of the moisture trapped in your hair. When you're adding high heat to it, you're essentially boiling your hair from inside and outside causing damage. Not only that, when you're using a curling iron it's close to your face, you can hear that sizzling. It's also producing steam that can burn your face.
What I tell my clients, it's really important that you blow dry your hair 100% dry before using hot tools such as flat iron or a curling iron. So, here's your routine. Your hair is wet, make sure you towel dry it really well. Pick a paddle brush. This is the Mint Kaze paddle brush. Detangle it and you want to be using a blow dryer. This is an ionic blow dryer. Negative ions break down water molecules small enough so that moisture could be reabsorbed back into the hair adding moisture. And when you're blow drying, blow dry on a downward motion. What that does is smooths the cuticle. So, when you curl your hair, the curls turn out smoother.
Don't worry if you've curled your hair when it's wet, that sizzling sound is a very scary. Don't worry about it. Everybody's done it at least once. Now, let's talk about how to curl thick hair faster.
Common questions
›What happens if you curl wet hair?
Curling wet or even slightly damp hair can damage it by essentially boiling the hair from inside and outside due to the moisture trapped within when high heat is applied. This process also produces steam that can burn your face.
Source: video above
›How can I properly prepare my hair for curling?
To properly prepare hair for curling, it's important to blow dry it 100% dry after towel drying thoroughly. Use a paddle brush, such as the Mint Kaze paddle brush, to detangle. When blow drying, use an ionic blow dryer on a downward motion to smooth the cuticle.
Source: video above
›What are the benefits of using an ionic blow dryer?
An ionic blow dryer uses negative ions, which break down water molecules into smaller sizes. This allows the moisture to be reabsorbed back into the hair, adding moisture to it.
Source: video above
›What is the best way to blow dry hair before styling?
Before styling, blow dry your hair 100% dry. After towel drying and detangling with a paddle brush, use an ionic blow dryer and apply it in a downward motion. This technique helps to smooth the hair's cuticle.
Source: video above
›How do negative ions affect hair when blow drying?
When blow drying, negative ions break down water molecules into smaller sizes. This process enables the moisture to be reabsorbed back into the hair, thereby adding moisture.
Source: video above
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