Who hasn’t experienced it: You stand in front of the mirror in the morning and the beard hairs are pointing in all directions, just not where they should go. With the help of a hairdryer, you can quickly get the beard into shape and even “train” it to stay that way in the long-term. However, the usage of a hairdryer also carries risks and, if used incorrectly, can damage the beard. In this post, you will learn what to keep in mind when using the hairdryer.
How heat damages your beard
Let us begin with a small excursion into human anatomy. Your hair cells are linked, among other things, by hydrogen bonds, which are responsible for the elasticity of the whiskers. When heat is applied to these bonds, they are “weakened” and thus can change their shape and texture. If this happens frequently, the hair “remembers” the shape of the beard and can take it up again more easily. Too much heat, however, dries out the skin under the beard, leading to skin irritations and an itchy beard. Eventually, also dandruff may develop under the beard and to get rid of it, a special beard care routine is necessary.
A study by the Korean Society for Investigative Dermatology has found that blow dryers inflict more damage than natural drying if the blow dryer is used from a distance less than 6 inches. In fact, it is even healthier than air drying. The reason for this is that the heat causes the water in the beard to evaporate and this relieves tension on the hair follicles. This means that nothing stands in the way of using a hairdryer as long as you keep a safe distance from the beard and don’t set the hairdryer’s temperature too high.
How to blow dry a beard correctly
If you currently don’t own a hairdryer, you should get one with a styling nozzle and adjustable temperature settings. The attachment ensures that the heat is only concentrated at a certain point and does not expose the whole beard to it. We recommend the following hairdryer.
Use the following technique to blow dry your beard in the right way:
- After you have washed your beard with beard shampoo or lukewarm water, dry your beard with a towel by patting it gently until it is just slightly damp.
- Apply beard oil and distribute it thoroughly in the beard. This forms a protective layer around the beard hairs, shielding them from the heat.
- As you comb your beard with a beard comb, follow the same direction with the hairdryer at a low heat setting.
A round brush is particularly useful for this, as you can curl the beard hair and then blow-dry the area. The heat will keep the beard in place and the curls will make it look rounder and fuller. - Put the hairdryer on the cold setting and blow-dry it again.
The cold air ensures that the shape lasts longer. - Apply additional styling products such as beard balm or beard waxes. (optional)
Don’t be disappointed if the styling doesn’t work out the way you expect it to at first. Practice makes perfect, and as mentioned before, the beard will “remember” the shape over time, making straightening and styling easier and easier.