Should i blow dry my hair before cornrows

Many people enjoy having braided hairstyles. Braids provide a plethora of style options that suit any mood or feeling; we’re sure you agree. The preparation that goes into your tresses before braiding is critical – but so is keeping the quality of your hair.

Each hair type may benefit from a variety of braiding techniques and styles. So, you must consider your hair type while you’re prepping for braids; one braiding method might not be appropriate for your hair.

Now, we’re always looking for methods to extend the life of our manicures and makeup, but what about our hair? That’s where hair preparation comes in: 

Blow-drying, moisturizing, heat styling; there are numerous other beauty tricks that help our hairstyles last longer.

So, if you’re wondering, “Should I blowdry my hair before braiding?” stick around. We’ll see if it’s necessary, whether it helps with the hair texture – and more. 

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Whether or not you blow-dry your hair before braiding is mostly a matter of personal choice. However, the qualities of your hair could inform you whether blow-drying and braiding are a good combination in your case.

Remember: Every stage of your hair styling process should be tailored to care for and protect the health and quality of your tresses.

The Importance of Hair Preparation Before Braiding

One of the most significant reasons to prepare hair before braiding it is to avoid pain from knotted hair, which can cause pain during braiding. Tangled hair is likely to blame for some of the discomfort experienced during hair braiding. 

So, before doing any braided hairstyles, make sure your hair is completely detangled.

Detangling your hair with your fingers isn’t enough for braids, though. Detangle your hair with a medium tooth comb starting at the tip and working your way up to the roots. 

Regularly worn hairstyles demand adequate preparation ahead of time to ensure that they’ll hold up until it’s time to change it. And braids can last longer if your hair is properly prepared for braiding.

This part goes without saying: 

If you don’t hydrate your hair, it will become dry, brittle, and frizzy. 

That makes braiding harder – and the hair more prone to breakage in specific circumstances. Furthermore, grime and oil build-up can make hair tough to manage.

Protein Treatments 

Application of protein treatments before braiding is critical. Infusing moisture into the hair is a crucial hair care step; however, adding protein treatments before a style can assist in curing any pre-existing hair problems. 

Protein treatments should be done in advance – roughly two weeks before the braiding. They can efficiently cure weak hair, which otherwise would not handle the strain and manipulation necessary for braiding or other styles.

Hair Types Matter

As we’ve already mentioned, not every braid style is suitable for every type of hair. Naturally, the question of whether or not to blow dry your locks arises here. 

For people with Type 3 (curly) and Type 4 (coily) hair, blow-drying their hair prior to braiding is commonly a phase in their hair prep process.

When it comes to braiding, curly/coily hair types and straight/wavy hair types may have very distinct textures, follicles, and requirements. That’s why braiding preparation for straight hair differs significantly from that for coily hair. 

Straight and wavy hair braids also differ from curly and coily hair braids. 

Let’s examine each hair type and try to understand its demands, shall we? We’ll also discuss the ideal braids for your hair type – and whether or not you need to blow dry your hair first.

Straight & Hair With Waves

Should you blow-dry your straight or wavy hair before braiding? 

Well, it’s up to personal choice or the desired goal. Remember that thin hair is weaker while damp, and using a hair iron, blow dryer, or curler could harm it.

You can braid straight and wavy hair in very different ways than curly hair. For example, if a person with straight hair chooses a style designed for coily hair – box braids or cornrows, for example – their hair may break due to the heavier weight of those stylings.

Braids of this sort put extra strain and heaviness to the hair, which straight, wavy, and thin hair cannot tolerate for lengthy periods. Instead, they should try French and Dutch braids, mermaid braids, or three-strand braids, which are more suited to their hair types.

These braids are less harsh on the scalp and don’t require any preparation. 

So, do you use a blow dryer to style your hair? To avoid harming your strands, be sure to use your preferred heat protectant and blow-dry your hair if you prefer a smooth and silky finish.

With these strands, blow-drying isn’t required to produce a smooth texture. Every hairstylist will advise you to pay attention to what your hair is telling you. 

If you style your hair in knots to reduce heat, air drying is also an option.

Wavy hair is tricky to style because it’s commonly something between curly and straight hair. It can behave identically to curly hair at times, indicating that your hair requires you to style it differently than you’re used to here. 

In any case, you should avoid protective styling.

Your hair texture can also help you decide whether or not to blow dry it. 

Blow-drying your hair before braiding can be good to keep frizzy hair away – if you have a wavy hair type that is prone to frizz, that is.

Take into account your hair’s condition, as well. Is it burned by heat, colored, or chemically altered? It’s best to avoid heat styling in these situations (if possible) or apply a heat protectant if you decide to blow-dry.

Coily & Curly Hair Type

Blow-drying hair before braiding has a more significant impact on curly and coily hair than straight and wavy hair. 

While that is a commonly discussed issue, it is up to you, your hair, and your hairstylist to determine what your hair can tolerate and how you can obtain the most outstanding results.

However, one thing’s for sure – never braid your hair when it’s still damp. 

Adding a nourishing lotion to your locks when they’re almost dry, according to many sources, will enhance your braiding by providing an extra push of moisture. That’s especially crucial if you don’t want to blow dry your hair.

Protective styles like cornrows or box braids are ideal for curly and coily hair types since the follicles are generally thick, sturdy, and can withstand pressure without hair breakage. 

Is it, nevertheless, essential to blow dry your hair before braiding?

Although it’s totally up to you, we recommend blow-drying first. 

Why?

Because not doing so might lead to hair that is too heavy to braid in the first place.

Whether you prefer to blow dry your hair or not, a thorough hair regimen is vital to prepare for braiding:

• Wash your hair with shampoo thoroughly
• Moisture your hair with a mask or conditioner
• Put some oil to keep it soft, elastic, and manageable
• Detangle and brush your hair
• You can blow-dry it on a cool setting

The essential thing to remember is to pay attention to your hair; it will tell you what it needs. If you don’t protect your hair from heat tools, though, it could cause substantial damage – whether your choice is to braid it or not.

Using a quality heat protection spray to blow dry your hair before braiding is the best way to go. This styling treatment should protect you from hot tools and the sun’s UV rays. Plus, your curls will appreciate you for it.

Should You Blow Dry Your Hair?

The last thing anyone wants is to further damage their curls with heat – especially when it’s avoidable.

If you have damaged hair, air drying may be a better option. 

Dry and brittle locks, on the other hand, need to be nourished. To prepare for braiding, invest in high-quality styling cosmetics like curling lotions or deep conditioning masks.

That covers anything from color or chemically-induced hair damage to heat damage, vitamin deficiency, dry/stiff hair, and so on. 

You may gradually navigate your way back to being able to blow dry your hair for braiding as the condition of your hair improves.

Blow-drying is fine if your hair is healthy, though – as long as you apply a heat protectant. It can save time and effort for some people, as well as provide a smoother look.

Blow-drying your hair the day before your braids guarantees that your hair’s adequately cooled, dry, and ready to be braided. 

Furthermore, you won’t have to be concerned if you have a lot of moisture on your head – which would add to the heaviness tugging at your scalp.

Final Word

Overall, you may blow dry your hair before braiding – but only with adequate preparation and the proper heating settings, including a cool temperature and deep conditioning. 

But even if you don’t want to blow dry your hair, it is still a terrific choice to let it air dry before styling it. And remember that maintaining your hair in good condition makes the entire styling procedure a lot less messy and painful in general – regardless of the technique you use.

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