Is Hair Drying Damaging?

Cynical Girl Sez:
My hair stylist said that I have breakage due to an improper hair drying technique. Is there one fool-proof way that I should be drying my hair? Any advice other than getting a professional blow-out every couple of days??
The Right Brain Chastises the Questioner:
Oh Cynical One, we think you’re losing your cynical edge. If we recall correctly, you color/highlight your hair pretty frequently, right? THAT’s what’s causing your excessive breakage, not your drying technique. (Of course don’t expect your stylist to tell you to color your hair less frequently because that would mean he/she would make less money.)

Now, having said that, drying is damaging to hair too. Using heat appliances can hurt hair three ways: 1) by evaporating too much moisture, 2) by disrupting it’s natural lipid layers and 3) by degrading it’s protein structure. (This is why you should always lubricate your hair with a good conditioner before using blowdrying or ironing!) But even towel drying is damaging because the friction created when you rub the towel through your hair can break off cuticle layers. Again, conditioning is key.

The Brains Bottom Line:
Yes, drying is damaging but you don’t need professional blow outs. Just use some common sense conditioning. If you’re really worried about the condition of your hair, back off on those chemical treatments!