Does Blow Drying Cause Hair Loss?

If you see lots of hair in your brush or on the bathroom floor after using a hair dryer, you might wonder, Does blow drying cause hair loss? We’ve all heard that excessive heat styling isn’t good for hair, so it makes sense to question the link between blow drying and thinning hair.

Can blow drying lead to excess shedding? And if so, why does blow drying cause hair loss? The science on whether blow drying causes hair loss is limited, but we wouldn’t just leave you with the shrug emoji and send you on your way.

Instead, we’ll discuss what we do know about hair dryer hair loss, how to avoid hair damage from blow drying, and how to treat hair loss caused by heat styling and other factors.

Many people blow dry regularly for the sake of styling and convenience — after all, who likes to go out with wet hair? But over time, it can damage the hair shaft more than air-drying.

If you use excessive heat or put the blow dryer too close to your strands (at least six inches of distance is ideal), you may notice frizz, split ends, or roughness. But if you only blow dry occasionally and use a heat protectant spray, heat damage to the hair should be minimal.

In some cases, blow drying damage can extend beyond the hair’s surface to the inner cuticle layers, causing structural changes in the hair. 

A study on Indian women found that those who had ever blow dried their hair were “significantly more likely” to have microscopic changes to their hair compared to those who had never used a blow dryer. Microscopic damage includes things like uneven fraying, splitting, and hair breakage that aren’t visible to the naked eye but weaken hair.

And if you dye your hair, heat from blow drying can affect your hair color, making it fade or dull quicker between salon treatments.

If your hair is noticeably thinning, your blow dryer likely isn’t the culprit. Keep in mind, it’s normal to shed between 50 and 100 hairs per day. So it could be that you’re just paying more attention to your hair when blow drying, making it seem like you’re losing a lot.

Studies show that physical friction — along with the use of chemical and cosmetic products like bleach or hair dye — significantly contributes to hair loss.

So, if you rub your dyed hair excessively with a rough towel before blow drying it, that physical friction is more likely to cause true hair loss than the blow drying itself.

We’ll cover ways to reduce damage while blow drying a little later on.

If you go outside with wet hair, you’ll get sick — sound familiar? Everyone’s heard this at some point, but it’s actually a myth. You have to come into contact with a virus to get sick, and wet hair doesn’t make that any more or less likely.

But even if blow drying your hair isn’t the antidote to winter colds, there’s a lot to love about the smooth, silky, frizz-free way your hair looks afterward.  Aesthetics aside, blow drying may provide some benefits for your hair.

We touched on what the science says about blow drying and hair damage, but here’s where things get tricky. Some research says blow drying is actually better in certain ways than letting your hair air-dry.

How a Blow Dryer Might Minimize Hair Damage

Wait, what? While a hair dryer can cause more surface damage than air-drying, holding one roughly six inches away from your hair with continuous motion may cause less damage inside each hair strand.

Here’s how that works:

• Inside the hair are many layers, including the cuticle, cortex, and medulla — all bound together by the cell membrane complex.

• When you wash your hair, the cell membrane complex swells and stretches, then shrinks back down once dry.

• This swelling can damage the inner lipid layer of the hair, making it weaker and more prone to breakage. When you use a blow dryer, it cuts down on the amount of time the inner layer is swollen, thereby reducing damage.

Wet hair is also heavy, and over time, the extra weight can make it stretch and look either frizzy or limp, depending on your hair type. (Frizz is more common in wavy or curly hair, whereas limpness often comes with straight, fine hair).

How Blow Drying Prevents Fungal and Bacterial Growth

Another thing someone’s probably told you at some point: Don’t go to sleep with wet hair. This one’s actually true, so blow-drying your hair before bed can be beneficial.

It might be hard to avoid if you like to shower at night. However, hair that stays damp for a while, as it tends to when you sleep, can create an environment for fungus or bacteria to grow.

This could potentially lead to conditions like:

• Folliculitis (inflamed scalp)

• Tinea capitis (itchy scalp due to fungal infection)

• Seborrheic dermatitis (aka dandruff)

One older 2005 study found that pillows contain “many species of fungi.” So you can see why you’d want to avoid creating a nice little place for fungi to thrive on your scalp.

As you now know, blow drying can damage the hair shaft and, in some cases, the deeper layers of the hair — but it’s unlikely to lead to significant hair loss.

So, what’s to blame? Below, we’ll cover common causes of hair loss in men.

Male Pattern Baldness

Male pattern baldness (also called androgenetic alopecia) is the most common cause of hair loss in men, affecting as many as 30 to 50 percent by age 50.

It’s mostly genetic but can also be caused by hormonal factors — notably a sensitivity to a male hormone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT).

DHT has an important job early on in life. It produces male genitalia in fetal development, and during puberty, it spurs the production of body hair, facial hair, and a deepening voice.

But later, DHT contributes to male pattern baldness by shrinking hair follicles and shortening the anagen (growth) phase of the hair growth cycle. This causes baldness.

All men have some DHT, but genetics dictate how sensitive you are to its effects. If you’re dealing with male pattern baldness, you might notice hair loss when you blow dry.

Traction Alopecia

Hairstyles that pull tightly on the scalp (and therefore the hair follicle) can damage hair over time, potentially leading to a type of hair loss called traction alopecia.

Alopecia is just an umbrella term for all forms of hair loss, and traction means pulling. If you wear cornrows, dreadlocks, tight buns, or braids, you may want to consider looser styles.

The good news is that, typically, traction alopecia is reversible if you stop the tension on the hair follicle.

Stress

Telogen effluvium is a type of hair loss triggered by stress, illness, injury, or any sort of shock to the system.

With this type of hair loss, individual hairs that should be in the anagen phase abruptly enter the resting (telogen) phase of the hair growth cycle, which can cause many strands to fall out at once.

Things that can cause telogen effluvium include:

• Illness

• Severe infection

• Surgery

• High fever

• Rapid weight loss, especially 20 pounds or more

• Certain medications, like beta-blockers, some antidepressants, or anticoagulants

• Hormonal conditions like hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)

• Autoimmune disorders, particularly those affecting the thyroid (like Hashimoto’s and Graves’ disease)

Some research also shows that alopecia areata hair loss (an autoimmune disorder that makes hair follicles attack themselves) is kicked off and worsened by stress.

To learn more about what might be causing your hair loss (if not blow drying), check out our guide to common causes of hair thinning in men.

And if you’re wondering if something else you’re doing may be contributing to hair loss, see our guides to steroids and hair loss and iodine and hair loss.

Some types of hair loss, like telogen effluvium, are reversible once the underlying issues are addressed. That means you can reasonably expect to see full hair regrowth, and your hair should look like it did before.

Male pattern baldness doesn’t have a cure, per se, but there are ways to prevent it from worsening. And with the right treatment, you might see some regrowth.

Below are hair loss medications, products, and lifestyle recommendations for treating hair loss caused by blow drying or other factors.

Finasteride 

Finasteride is proven to slow hair loss and even stimulate hair growth. Studies show that this prescription medication can reduce DHT by as much as 90 percent.

Other studies have shown a 65 percent decrease in DHT levels just one day after taking the first dose of finasteride.

It’ll take a little while for that to be reflected in your hair because it needs to grow from its root to a visible length first. Still, it’s cool to know finasteride gets to work immediately.

Minoxidil 

Minoxidil doesn’t work specifically on hormones, which makes it a great option for treating all types of hair loss (including male pattern baldness). Topical minoxidil is FDA-approved specifically for male pattern baldness.

This over-the-counter medication widens blood vessels and the hair follicle itself, allowing extra blood flow, oxygen, and nutrients to reach the scalp. In a study looking at minoxidil’s effects when used twice daily for a year, 62 percent of men saw a smaller area of hair loss.

We offer minoxidil liquid solution in a tincture bottle with a dropper that’s helpful for applying it to the scalp. Our minoxidil foam works the same but is applied with your fingers.

Following an online consultation with one of our healthcare providers, oral minoxidil (in a chewable form) may also be an option.

Minoxidil and Finasteride Together

Though most people think of finasteride as an oral medication, it can also be used topically. Our topical finasteride & minoxidil spray makes it really easy to use the two ingredients together.

Studies show that combining minoxidil and finasteride works better than either alone while being just as safe. The two-in-one approach is among the most effective ways to treat hair loss.

Hair Loss Shampoo and Conditioner

A hair loss shampoo isn’t a time machine, so it can’t make your hair look like it did in high school. But something as simple as switching the products you use on your hair can make a difference in its volume and thickness.

Our thickening shampoo is made with saw palmetto. Research shows that this plant ingredient can slow hair loss and even make “modest improvements” in regrowth.

Then there’s conditioner — a step many men seem to skip. Conditioner is absolutely worth the extra step, especially when it comes to combating dryness and frizz. It can make your hair more manageable, shinier, and easier to detangle, which may allow you to skip the blow dryer sometimes.

We offer two cream rinses. Our volumizing conditioner (which pairs well with our volumizing shampoo) lifts hair at the root, giving it an overall fuller look. There’s also our thickening conditioner with niacinamide that helps build keratin (the main protein in hair).

Food and Supplements for Hair Health

A 2017 study on diet and hair loss showed that a deficiency in iron and zinc could negatively impact hair health. When participants with a deficiency upped their intake of these minerals, they saw an improvement in hair growth.

If you eat a basically balanced diet (it doesn’t have to be perfect every day), you should get the nutrients you need for healthy hair.

Having said that, you might consider getting a blood test to see if you’re deficient in any nutrients because supplementing won’t have much of an effect on hair if you’re not.

We offer biotin gummies that contain multiple essential nutrients that support hair health, such as vitamins D, C, and folic acid.

No one is saying you have to ditch your blow dryer altogether. It’s a great way to dry hair quickly and fight frizz to create smooth, shiny hair.

Here’s what you can do to prevent damage from the blow drying process:

• Use a heat protectant. Plenty of heat-protectant products are available, and they’re not just hype. The best formulas contain a mix of hydrating ingredients, amino acids like keratin, and nourishing oils to seal the hair cuticle and protect the inner layers from heat.

• Use a lower heat setting. Research shows that damage increases with high temperatures. So, although it may take a little longer, using the low or medium setting on a blow dryer is better than blasting your hair with the hottest temp.

• Go easy with your brush. If you brush your hair as you dry it (or use a two-in-one blow dryer brush), your hair loss could be from brushing more than the blow dryer itself. Wet hair is fragile, and yanking a brush through it can cause damage or even shedding.

• Invest in a better blow dryer. In general, newer, more expensive blow dryers are lighter-weight (your biceps will thank you). They also often have multiple heat settings, use ionic technology that fights static and frizz, and, notably, are more powerful without being hotter. If you can justify the cost, it’s worth the investment.

• Keep your blow dryer moving. Remember the study that found blow drying was better than allowing hair to dry naturally? This only holds up if you’re holding the dryer at least six inches from your head and moving it continuously. Holding it in one spot for too long could cause heat damage.

• Let your hair dry a little bit first. You can reduce heat exposure by letting your hair dry slightly before reaching for the blow dryer. To avoid friction damage, use a microfiber towel or even a soft cotton tee shirt rather than rubbing it with a traditional terry-cloth bath towel.

If you’ve ever looked in the bathroom mirror and said to yourself, My hair falls out when I blow dry it, we’re glad you found us.

Here are a few things to remember about the connection between blow drying and hair loss:

• Your blow dryer isn’t the enemy. Hot tools like blow dryers and curling irons can damage your hair’s surface, but they won’t cause balding.

• Blow drying has some hair benefits. If you use a lower heat setting and are conscious of holding the hair dryer at least six inches away, it can have certain advantages over air drying.

• Be mindful of your hair habits. Wearing overly tight hairstyles, bleaching your hair, or vigorous brushing are more likely to cause hair loss than blow drying.

• Hair loss treatments are available. Things like finasteride, topical minoxidil, hair loss shampoo, and certain supplements can help treat different forms of hair loss.

• Talk to a healthcare provider. The best thing to do when you notice hair loss and aren’t sure why is to see a dermatologist or a trichologist (someone who specializes in scalp and hair health). They’ll go over your hair history and haircare routine to help you create a hair restoration plan.

And remember, you’re not alone — even if you’re talking to yourself in the bathroom mirror.

Take our free hair quiz to find out what treatments are available to you.