Blow drying and straightening are two popular hair styling techniques used to achieve sleek, smooth, and straightened hair. Both methods offer versatility in styling but differ in their process, tools, and the duration of the desired style.
The difference between blow drying and straightening is the tools used. Blow drying involves using a blow dryer and brush to dry and style the hair simultaneously, while straightening uses a flat iron or straightening iron to alter the hair’s natural texture, making it appear straighter.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Blow Drying
3. What is Straightening
4. Similarities – Blow Drying and Straightening
5. Blow Drying vs Straightening in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Blow Drying vs Straightening
7. FAQ – Blow Drying and Straightening
What is Blow Drying?
Blow drying is a hair styling technique using a blow dryer, often with a brush, to dry and style hair after washing. It’s versatile, allowing for straightening and smoothing. Using a professional hairdryer and running a round brush through the hair can straighten strands effectively. This process controls hydrogen bond formation, making it easier to maintain the desired shape for a longer-lasting style.
Blow drying also adds volume to the roots, which is beneficial for heavy or flat hair, especially post-straightening. Blow dryers are safe for daily use, and the cool setting can set the style. However, blow drying alone may not be enough for a super sleek look, especially for very curly hair.
What is Straightening?
Straightening is a hair styling technique used to transform naturally curly or wavy hair into a straighter and sleeker appearance. It’s a popular method for achieving smooth and manageable hair. The straightening process typically involves using heat styling tools like flat irons or straightening brushes, along with heat-protectant products to shield the hair from damage. These tools apply heat to the hair, altering its natural texture by breaking down hydrogen bonds. Once these bonds are broken, the hair can be reshaped into a straighter form.
On the other hand, there are also more permanent methods like chemical treatments or thermal reconditioning give longer-lasting results. These treatments permanently alter the hair’s structure, providing straightened hair until new hair grows.
While straightening can achieve smooth and sleek hair, it’s important to use caution to prevent damage. Excessive heat exposure can lead to dryness, breakage, and frizz. Using heat styling tools with adjustable settings and applying heat protectant products before straightening can help minimize damage.
Similarities Between Blow Drying and Straightening
- Both techniques involve applying heat to the hair to achieve the desired style.
- They change the natural texture of the hair to achieve a straighter appearance.
- These techniques often involve dividing the hair into sections to ensure even styling and coverage.
- Both techniques require some level of skill and practice to achieve the desired results effectively and safely.
Difference Between Blow Drying and Straightening
Definition
- Blow drying is a technique that typically involves using a blow dryer, which emits hot air to dry the hair while shaping it with a brush.
- Straightening is a technique that involves using a flat iron or straightening iron, which applies heat directly to the hair to straighten it.
Purpose
- Blow drying is mainly used to dry the hair quickly and style it in a specific way, such as adding volume, creating curls, or achieving a smooth, polished look.
- Straightening is specifically used to transform curly, wavy, or frizzy hair into a straighter style. It results in a sleek, smooth appearance by altering the natural texture of the hair.
Heat Exposure
- Blow drying typically involves less direct heat exposure than straightening because the hot air from the blow dryer is more dispersed.
- Straightening involves applying direct heat to the hair using a flat iron, which can potentially cause more damage if not done carefully or if the hair isn’t properly protected with heat-protectant products.
Type of Hair
- Blow drying works well for straightening naturally straight or minimally wavy hair.
- Flat irons, on the other hand, are suitable for straightening any type of hair, from mildly wavy to tightly curled.
Effectiveness
- Blow drying tends to lose its effectiveness in humid conditions.
- Hair straightened with a flat iron tends to stay sleek and smooth, even in different weather conditions.
Below is a summary of the difference between blow drying and straightening in tabular form for side by side comparison.
Summary – Blow Drying vs Straightening
In summary, blow drying and straightening are both hair styling techniques that serve different purposes and involve different processes and tools. Blow drying is more versatile and primarily used for drying the hair and styling it in various ways while straightening is specifically used to transform curly or wavy hair into a straighter style.
FAQ: Blow Drying and Straightening
1. Does blow drying or straightening last longer?
- Straightening with a flat iron tends to provide a more long-lasting straightened effect compared to blow drying. The heat from the flat iron helps to permanently alter the hair’s structure, making it less prone to reverting back to its natural texture, especially in humid conditions.
2. What’s the difference between a straightener and a blow dryer?
- A straightener, also known as a flat iron, uses heated plates to straighten the hair by altering its structure, while a blow dryer uses hot air and a brush to dry and style the hair simultaneously.
3. Is blow dry bad for your hair?
- Blow drying can cause damage to the hair if not done properly or excessively. The heat from the blow dryer can strip moisture from the hair, leading to dryness, breakage, and frizz. This is why you should always use a lower heat setting, apply a heat protectant product, and maintain a safe distance between the dryer and hair to minimize damage.
4. How long does the hair stay straight after blow drying?
- Generally, blow-dried straightened hair may last anywhere from a few hours to a day or two. However, in humid conditions or with frequent movement, the straightened effect may diminish more quickly.
Reference:
1. “Hair Straightening.” Wikipedia. Wikipedia Foundation.
Image Courtesy:
1. “A Hairdresser Working on a Client” (CC0) via Pexels
2. “Selective Focus Photo of Person Ironing a Woman’s Hair” (CC0) via Pexels