How to Dry Hair Quickly and Still Look Good

Do you need to dry your hair fast after a last-minute shower? We've been there. Sometimes you have somewhere to be or a last-minute event after you rinse off.

But how can you get dry hair quickly without dealing with excess frizz or heat damage? You want your hair to be dry, but you also want it to be stylish and healthy, right?

We're here with a few tips that can help you get dry hair as fast as possible, even if it's long. Keep reading to learn more. 

When Using a Towel

The first line of defense against wet hair is your tried and tested towel. But you know (unless you have very short hair) that a quick pat with a towel isn't enough to get your hair dry enough for you to interact with other people in public.

There are a few tips and tricks that you can use to towel dry hair the right way so you can get about the rest of your day in no time. 

Try Microfiber

Standard towels do a great job at drying off the body, but hair is another story. While a quick pat-down is enough to get excess water off, these towels aren't good enough or absorbent enough to do the job right.

Instead, try microfiber towels. They're more absorbent, they're lighter, and they don't do as much damage to the hair. They're also thinner, making them easier to walk around in while you get ready for your outing. 

Don't Leave Standard Towels On

It's tempting to want to wrap your hair up in a towel for it to dry, but this doesn't really work. Standard towels get soggy in no time (though microfiber towels don't have this problem).

Once the towel is soggy, it's no longer doing your hair any good. Because it might not feel soggy from the outside, you won't notice when it's no longer drying your hair. 

If you're in a hurry, start with a towel and then let your hair air-dry the rest of the way.

Scrunch, Don't Rub

Have you ever noticed that rubbing your hair with a rough towel makes it look frizzy? There's another option. 

When you're drying your hair (with any kind of towel) try scrunching from the bottoms of your strands up. This means that you take your towel flat in your hands, lean your head forward, hold the towel underneath your strands, and push up while gripping the towel. 

This is extra effective if you have curls. The towel won't make them straight or frizzy. 

Towel-Free Drying

While you'll need to use a towel for an initial drying session and a microfiber towel is great for drying all the way, you have other options if you don't yet have that kind of towel. 

These are ways to quickly dry hair without a towel.

Use a Dryer (With a Diffuser)

When you're in a rush, blow-drying isn't a bad idea. Most people use the dryer as-is, but there are ways to make it work better for you. 

If you have straight hair, you may end up with perfect hair and good volume after using the hairdryer. That said, if you often end up with frizz, it's a good idea to make sure that you're not using the dryer on high heat.

Heat damage is bad for your hair, and even if it might work slightly faster than the cooler options, you'll have more frizz in the long run.

If you have curls, try using a diffuser. A diffuser makes the air spread around your hair, covering more space at once. Because it's less targeted, it reduces frizz and lets you maintain your hair texture. 

If you don't have straight hair, you know that using a dryer without a diffuser, especially if you're trying to go fast, can equal a lion's mane result. A diffuser on lower heat should help. 

"Plop" Your Hair

Plopping is a great way to dry off regardless of whether you have curls or straight hair. It should be followed by a quick air-drying session, but it takes away most of the water.

After you're out of the shower and you've gotten rid of the initial excess water, lay a t-shirt down on your counter or toilet lid. The arms should be closer to you. 

Lay your head in the center of the shirt and bring the bottom (opening) of the shirt over the back of your head. Lift your head back up and wrap the arms around the front of your head to secure the shirt. 

Dry Side-to-Side

When you're air-drying, there's a way to make it faster. Instead of keeping your hair flat, part it on one side to start the drying process. 

After a short time, flip it to the other side. This gets more air circulating around your hair and lets it dry faster than if it was laying flat. 

Sit Outside

If you like to air-dry your hair and it's a warm or breezy day, take some time to sit outside. Your hair will dry much faster in the outdoor air than it would if you were spending your time indoors. 

The only exception to this is if it's humid and you're prone to frizz. 

Dry Hair Quickly Without Losing Style

There's no immediate fix to wet hair unless you want frizz and damage, but if you have a bit of extra time it's a good idea to try one of these drying methods. Dry hair quickly without the hassle.

They work fast enough that you can go about your other "getting ready" tasks and they'll result in hair that's smooth, dry, and easy to style. What's not to love? Try them all and see what works best for your hair texture. 

Looking for a straightener? You can find a great pair of straightening irons on this Babyliss straightening iron review. For more helpful articles on beauty and more, visit the rest of our site!