How we choose to style our hair is personal. There are numerous factors that must be taken into account on what makes for a better styling technique, like wet styling or dry styling.
How do you determine what works best? It depends on your hair. Hair is weaker when wet because it can stretch a lot more, making it easier to reach its breaking point. What makes matters worse is being too rough with your wet hair and confusing breakage with shed hairs. Here is how to determine whether you should be styling wet or dry.
Wet styling
Wet styling is the best method for styles like roller sets and perm rod sets. Styling foam and lotion are usually applied on wet hair to smooth it out. From there you either air-dry on sit under a hood dryer and the style is completed. Remember to be gentle.
Dry styling
Braids, twists, and extensions are usually installed on dry hair.
Some styles just come out better on dry or damp hair. If just a few spritzes of a water bottle or refresher is all that is needed to create a style, then that is still considered a dry or damp style and you are working with hair when it is strongest.
You should dry style if…
You have damaged hair or suffer from severe tangles. Whether damaged by heat, chemicals, or over manipulation, dry styling is the number one option, so you are not manipulating the hair while it is weak. Styling on wet hair can cause more breakage since hair will be in its weakest state. If hair is bone dry then spritz with water or use a refresher to help hydrate the hair before styling. If hair has been straightened and you want to keep it straight, then it is best to style your hair dry.
You should wet style if…
You do not suffer from a lot of tangles or have split ends. You want to get those ends cut regularly but, until then use a good sealant on them and style hair while wet to mask them before they dry and begin to frizz or look frayed. Also, if you do not have a lot of tangles, then wet styling will not be an issue for you as long as you are being gentle with your hair.
Styling hair while damp
This is a happy medium for most people, as hair is pliable and moisturized enough to work with you but dry enough to be much stronger than wet hair. The bottom line is to find the best technique for your strands. Try styling on wet, dry, and damp hair and see which yields the best results with the least amount of breakage, and is the least time-consuming. Once you have figured that out, you are on your way to the best styling sessions of your life.
Which do you prefer, wet, dry, or damp styling?
