I have fine hair, and more than once (or twice, or three times), I’ve finished washing and drying it only for my roots to be plastered flat against my scalp. I’m talking no volume, a heavy, limp feel, and hardly any shine – in other words, pretty much the opposite of what those of us with very fine hair are after.
Sometimes, of course, the culprit may be the shampoo – we’ve already talked about how to choose the right one – but just as often, the problem comes down to how you blow-dry your hair. In fact, if you have fine hair (and if you’re reading this, chances are you do), you’ve probably noticed that even when you use exactly the same products, the finished look can vary dramatically from one wash to the next.
Whenever this happened to me, I was convinced I’d followed exactly the same routine. What I hadn’t considered was one fundamental detail: the way I was using my hair dryer.
According to hairstylist María Baras, who also has fine hair and works with plenty of clients with the same hair type, the hair dryer itself – and, crucially, the heat and airflow settings – can make a big difference.
“Fine hair doesn’t need the most powerful hair dryer on the market. Too much airflow can flatten the hair, reduce volume, and damage strands that are already delicate,” she explains. “That’s why I recommend using a dryer with a lower power setting, or choosing the lowest setting, with the dial on the first position.”
The same goes for temperature. “It’s important to use a low temperature. I always work with medium heat, and at home you can adjust it by setting the temperature dial to 1 or 2,” Baras says.
There’s another detail worth paying attention to, too: how close you hold the dryer to your scalp. Baras recommends keeping a moderate distance. Holding it too close can over-dry the hair and scalp, potentially damaging the strands and taking away the volume you’re trying to create.
My gripe with the previous iterations of the Supersonic was the time it took to blow-dry my fine hair. I don’t have that much of it, so it should be quick, right? Well, to minimise heat damage, the brand uses high-velocity air. The Supersonic R means you don’t have to choose between speed and thermal impact with its high-powered performance that dries my entire head of hair in four minutes, and it’s so thin and lightweight. —E.D.
- Why it’s -approved: The Ghd Speed is the fastest hair dryer to be unveiled by the innovative hair tools brand. It was created to cut down your styling time compared to its predecessors, the Helios and Air, while locking in shine. For my long, extensions-infused hair, it took just five minutes to transform my locks from wet to dry enough to style. The Ghd Speed uses an interesting dual-airflow technology to protect the strands. Instead of turning up the heat, it is encircled in cool air to minimise thermal damage, enhance shine and means you can get closer to the scalp without feeling too hot. There are five attachments in total, but only one is included (the concentrator). The others extend to a diffuser, a comb for teasing coily locks and two widths of smoothing or styling concentrators. It comes in a chic silver, white and black colourway as well as a timeless titanium black.
- Sound level: Low
- Fastest GHD hair dryer on market
- Multiple attachments
When it comes to fine hair, one of the most commonly recommended volume-boosting tricks is to dry it with your head upside down. But there’s a small adjustment that can make the technique even more effective.
“Dry your hair first with your head upside down to lift the roots and create more volume, but use your fingers to move the hair away from the scalp as you dry,” Baras explains. “You can also use a wide-tooth comb to lift the roots while drying.” But if you prefer to use your fingers, the stylist recommends moving the hair from side to side as you dry it, which helps create volume.
And if you have bangs, there’s one exception to the upside-down rule: “The first step is to dry the bangs as usual, and then tilt your head upside down,” she says.
The blow-drying technique isn’t the only part of the routine that matters. Baras also recommends paying attention to how you brush your hair before and after washing.
Before getting in the shower, gently brush the hair. Once it’s wet, apply a heat-protective spray or a few drops of oil before detangling.
After washing, start brushing at the ends and gradually work your way upward toward the mid-lengths, finishing at the roots. I can attest that this seemingly small ritual makes a difference.
