Hair care experts recommend air-drying and wide-tooth combs to prevent damage

Dermatologists recommend specific hair care techniques to prevent structural damage and breakage. To minimize thermal stress, experts suggest allowing hair to air-dry partially before using heat tools like hair dryers. Using high temperatures on soaking wet hair can cause water inside the hair fiber to boil rapidly, creating “heat bubbles” that lead to porosity, roughness, and split ends.

Additionally, mechanical damage can be reduced by using wide-tooth combs when detangling wet hair. Because hair is more susceptible to tension and breakage when wet, wide-tooth combs allow for easier separation of knots with less resistance. Experts advise starting the detangling process at the ends of the hair and gradually working toward the roots to minimize traction.