Why You Shouldn't Towel-Dry Your Hair

There are a few golden rules when it comes to taking care of your hair that can be applied to almost everyone. Two of the top being: always get routine haircuts and don't shampoo every single day. But haircare goes far beyond your shower and salon — what about when it comes to drying your hair? 

While blow dryers — and all hot tools for that matter — get a bad rap for their damage-inducing heat, towels have for the most part been let off the hook (pun intended). But the reality is, towel-drying your hair can actually cause issues with your locks. Yes, they are supremely useful for removing excess moisture, but it's just the way many of us use towels and the type of towels we use that can be detrimental to the health of our hair.

Celebrity hairstylist Monae Everett told HuffPost that wringing out your hair and  squeezing it with a towel is a big no-no, "This can worsen split ends and cause small craters along the hair shaft, weakening the hair." Don't fret though if this is all you've ever known — there are just a few things to take into consideration.

Towel drying may not be great, but the only alternative can't be drip-drying can it? Thankfully not. Start by switching out the towel you use to dry your hair with an old T-shirt and gently press water out with that (via Allure). Can't lose the towel? HuffPost says a microfiber material will be your best bet if you'd like to stick with using one.

But towel-drying takes a bit more effort than this to do it successfully. Hair brand ghd says on its website that you should never brush wet hair. While combing is acceptable, a brush can break the follicle. It also suggests that a blow dryer can at times be healthier than allowing your hair to dry on its own. If you decide to whip out the hair dryer, be sure to apply a heat protectant spray or pomade to your strands first. Then gently blow hair around your head giving it about four or so inches (via ghd), refraining form leaving the stream of air on one spot for too long. Once your blowout is complete, coat your hair with a bit of oil or a serum to obtain that silky shiny consistency and keep you hair protected and healthy.