Does Blow Drying Cause Hair Loss?

Seeing more strands in your hairbrush than usual? You’ve probably heard that excessive heat styling isn’t good for hair, but does blow drying cause hair loss? Can regularly using a dryer in the morning actually make your hair fall out?

The good news? Blow drying alone probably isn’t the reason you’re noticing excess shedding. But it can damage your hair and make it more prone to breakage.  

Keep reading to learn more about the connection between blow drying and hair loss, how to avoid hair damage from blow drying, and how to treat hair loss due to heat styling and other factors.

Many people blow dry their hair regularly for convenience or to help with styling. But over time, blowing drying can damage your hair shaft.

If you use excessive heat or put your blow dryer too close to your strands, you may notice frizz, split ends, or roughness — all due to heat damage.

Heads up before we get into the research. Most studies on hair damage have focused on women, but that doesn’t mean we can’t take away valuable information from them. 

In a 2020 study, researchers looked at how certain hair treatments and habits impacted hair structure in 94 women, including:

• Blow drying

• Hair straightening or ironing

• Perming

• Sun exposure (over 3 hours daily)

The researchers found that women who blow-dried their hair were much more likely to experience microscopic damage, like fraying, splitting, and breakage — small changes you can’t see but that weaken hair over time. Prolonged sun exposure also led to similar damage.

Blowdrying alone won’t cause hair loss, but it might weaken your hair and make it more prone to damage.

In theory, if you rub your hair excessively with a rough towel before blow drying it, that physical friction may damage your hair and contribute to hair loss.

Friction-related hair loss has been observed in a few situations, like

• Joggers wearing tight headphones

• Gymnasts doing headstands and rollovers

• People sliding down water slides

• People wearing tight socks and shoes

But 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. 

Excessive heat can damage your hair, but blow drying the right way might not be as bad as you think. Some studies suggest it could even be better than air drying in certain cases.

An older 2011 study tested the effects of drying hair at different temperatures. Researchers found that air drying protected the hair’s surface, while blow drying caused more surface damage — especially at higher temperatures, with the worst damage at 95℃ (203°F).

But, air drying wasn’t completely unproblematic. Researchers noticed damage to the cell membrane complex (the “glue” holding hair cells together) in air-dried hair. They speculated this happens because prolonged exposure to water causes this layer to swell. 

The takeaway? Blowdrying from 15 centimeters (6 inches) away, while keeping the dryer moving, may actually be gentler on your hair than letting it air dry. 

Wet hair is also heavier than dry hair, which can stretch it out over time, leaving it frizzy or limp. (Frizz is more common in wavy or curly hair, whereas limpness often comes with straight, fine hair).

Does Blow Drying Prevent Fungal Growth?

You’ve probably heard this tip before: Don’t sleep with wet hair. 

Tinea capitis (AKA ringworm) is a common scalp fungal infection that can cause itchiness, dandruff, and bald patches.

Fungi love warm, moist areas — exactly what wet hair on a pillow creates. So, going to sleep with wet locks could make it easier for this type of infection to take hold.

As you know now, blow drying can damage your hair shafts — but it’s unlikely to lead to significant hair loss by itself.

So, what’s to blame? Let’s go over some of the common causes of hair loss in men.

Male Pattern Baldness

Male pattern baldness (AKA androgenetic alopecia) is the most common cause of hair loss in men, affecting as many as 30 to 50 percent of men by age 50. It generally starts with a receding at your temples and eventually causes hair loss on your crown.

Male pattern baldness is mostly genetic and seems to be largely related to sensitivity to the 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 DHT in their body, but your genetics dictate how sensitive your hair follicles are to its effects.

Traction Alopecia

Hairstyles that pull tightly on your scalp can damage your hair follicles 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. Some types of hairstyles associated with this type of hair loss include:

• Cornrows

• Dreadlocks

• Tight buns

• Braids

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

Alopecia Areata

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition that can cause hair loss in any part of your body including your scalp. It occurs in about 2 percent of people, and typically causes patchy hair loss that eventually grows back.

Stress

Telogen effluvium is a type of hair loss triggered by emotional or physical stress.

With this type of hair loss, individual hairs that should be in the anagen (growing) phase abruptly enter the telogen (testing) 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

• Certain medications like beta-blockers, certain antidepressants, and anticoagulants

• Hormonal conditions like hypothyroidism (AKA an underactive thyroid)

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

To learn more about what might be causing your hair loss, 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 you address the underlying issues. 

Alopecia areata often improves by itself over time, but might come back if you have another flare-up. 

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

Below are hair loss medications, products, and lifestyle recommendations for treating hair loss.

Finasteride 

Finasteride is an oral medication proven to slow hair loss and potentially stimulate hair growth. Studies show it can reduce DHT by as much as 90 percent.

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.

Minoxidil 

Minoxidil is a topical medication you can apply to your scalp directly to help treat hair loss. Topical minoxidil is FDA-approved specifically for male pattern baldness.

This over-the-counter (OTC) medication widens blood vessels and the hair follicle itself, allowing extra blood flow, oxygen, and nutrients to reach the scalp. 

We offer minoxidil liquid solution in a tincture bottle with a dropper that’s helpful for applying it to your 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

Studies suggest that combining minoxidil and finasteride works better than either alone — and it’s just as safe. The two-in-one approach is among the most effective ways to treat hair loss.

Our topical finasteride & minoxidil spray makes it really easy to use the two ingredients together.

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 hair volume and thickness.

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. We also offer a thickening conditioner with vitamins that may help nourish your 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 balanced diet, 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 thought to support hair health, such as vitamins D, C, and folic acid.

You likely don’t need to get rid of your blow dryer altogether to keep your hair healthy. Here’s what you can do to prevent damage from the blow drying process:

• Use a heat protectant. The best heat-protectant products contain a mix of hydrating ingredients, proteins like keratin, and nourishing oils to seal the hair cuticle and protect the inner layers from heat.

• Use a lower heat setting. Research suggests that hair 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 temperature.

• 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. Wet hair is fragile, and yanking a brush through it can cause damage or even shedding.

• 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 increases the temperature at the level of your scalp since it’s closer to the heated coils. 

• Invest in a better blow dryer. In general, newer 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.

• 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, you can try rubbing it with a microfiber towel or even a soft cotton tee shirt rather than rubbing it with a traditional terry-cloth bath towel.

Blow drying alone is unlikely to cause hair loss, but it may contribute to hair damage. Higher temperatures seem to increase the level of damage.  

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

• Don’t throw out your blow dryer just yet. Hot tools like blow dryers and curling irons can damage your hair’s surface, but they likely won’t cause balding.

• Use the proper technique. If you use a lower heat setting and are conscious of holding the hair dryer at least six inches away from your head.

• 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.

• Consider your hair loss treatment options. 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. And we’re here to help. Take our free hair quiz to find out what treatments are available to you.