View Full Version : Time It! How long does it take YOUR hair to dry?
HeatherJenae
March 3rd, 2011, 06:00 AM
Hi ladies! So I wanted to do a fun experiment today to see what sort of variations we get, because I think there will be many. I washed my hair and got out of the shower at exactly 6am. I blotted it dry with a towel and combed it out. Then I just let it air dry. What I'm really interested to know is, how long does it take your hair to air dry without any blow dryer/fan assistance. I always have to shower in the morning (heavy night sweats) and I'm not a morning person at all. So I'm trying to figure out and do experiments to see how early I need to get up in order to let my hair dry completely before work. It's cold out and I don't want to go out with a wet head! :) Plus I like to flat iron sometimes with loads of heat protectant on, but I don't want to blow dry it and add that damage to it too. Right now it's almost 8am and I'm still pretty damp. I have to be at work in thirty minutes. I'm thinking I might need at least some fan assistance if I ever hope to be dry without having to get up at three in the morning. Plus I think it will be interesting to see your answers based on thickness and length. One lady I work with was baffled as to why I'm always showing up with wet hair. She goes, "I just wash it and comb it and ten minutes later it's dry!". It never seemed to occur to her, that it's because her hair is an inch long all over. Of course it dries super fast! I'll update later once it's totally dry. I look forward to reading your answers! :cheese:
Phexlyn
March 3rd, 2011, 06:42 AM
One lady I work with was baffled as to why I'm always showing up with wet hair. She goes, "I just wash it and comb it and ten minutes later it's dry!". It never seemed to occur to her, that it's because her hair is an inch long all over.
That just made me laugh :D
Unfortunately, there's no way I'm going to see how long my hair needs to airdry completely unaided in this weather; I know from experience it takes more than 3 hours but I don't know how long exactly. I would try and find out if it were summer, but my hair dries faster then anyway.
lapushka
March 3rd, 2011, 06:57 AM
In summertime: 8 hours if I go to bed with it wet immediately, freshly washed & towel-dried (with towels on the pillow), and only because it's nice and cooling, refreshing in the summer.
Honestly. :) I mean, I know everyone wants to minimize *possible* damage, but why make it difficult for yourself? Why not blow-dry? Your hair is not going to hell & beyond because you blow-dry (better you blow-dry and leave out the straightener). It's *how* you blow-dry. If you use the coolest, or the warm setting (instead of hot), you'll be just fine.
Gabriel
March 3rd, 2011, 07:15 AM
Here you go, your question answered by many and even a poll! :)
How long does it take for your hair to naturally air-dry? (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=30047)
milagro
March 3rd, 2011, 07:17 AM
There's a poll on it in Hair Polls & Projects, seems like drying time varies from 1 to 8 hours. I tried to figure out the trend (legnth, thickness, texture...) but couldn't find steady correlation.
Mine dries forever.
Speedbump
March 3rd, 2011, 07:19 AM
Using shampoo and conditioner and my microfiber towel that soaks up a lot of water: About 6-8 hours, depending on humidity.
Using the oil shampoo method plus my microfiber towel (current routine!): Right around 4 hours.
elbow chic
March 3rd, 2011, 07:49 AM
My hair isn't even all that long but I know four hours can pass and it not be completely dry yet, especially in the back.
jackiesjottings
March 3rd, 2011, 07:58 AM
3 hours for me, with it wrapped in a towel for the first half hour or I end up sat in a puddle of water :)
KellyGormley
March 8th, 2011, 07:35 PM
My hair is currently about a half an inch away from shoulder length and I showered and washed it at 5 it's now 9:30 and my hair's still pretty wet. So over 4 hours, wow that's a long time.
Madora
March 8th, 2011, 07:45 PM
Half an hour outside.
45 minutes indoors (with help from a portable heater).
WaitingSoLong
March 8th, 2011, 07:52 PM
I have no idea for me, I have never timed it but I do want to say my hair dries MUCH faster when I use no cones, and also when I use my Garnier Fructus hair serum. A couple squirts finger-combed through my wet hair (before detangling). Not only does it make detangling easier but I recently noticed it seems to air dry much faster. Just a thought.
Also, I second the idea of blow drying on a cool setting or with the dryer 12+ inches from your hair. I do this from time to time when I cannot wait for natural drying or when I am actually going to wear my hair down and want it straighter.
tanya222
March 8th, 2011, 08:04 PM
About an hour, at this time of the year being indoors with the heat cranked.
A bit longer in the summer when it's humid.
Rivanariko
March 8th, 2011, 08:25 PM
I haven't timed it, but long enough that I can't imagine trying to shower in the morning.
If you don't want to blow dry and hate getting up in the morning, have you considered using some sort of sleep cap and showering without washing your hair in the morning? The sleep cap should keep your hair from getting sweaty at night, and then you don't have to wait for it to dry. During the summer, especially if I'm out working at the barn, I need to shower daily, but my hair still only wants to be washed once a week or so, and the water here is too hard for WO. So I shower without washing my hair frequently. It still might get a little damp, but that only takes a few minutes to dry.
lapispimpernel
March 8th, 2011, 08:26 PM
Around 45 minutes in the summer or inside. Double that for winter or really humid places.
leandrahime
March 8th, 2011, 09:00 PM
After blotting it well with a towel (CWC), it averages 2.5 - 3 hours to dry in a house with centrally regulated temps and humidity.
lyria
March 8th, 2011, 09:19 PM
About 5 hours. But if I go to bed with wet hair, I wake up with wet hair, even 8-10 hours later. I think being up and about (airing it out I guess?) speeds it up to 5 hours. My hair would never ever let me shower in the morning and have it dry before work! (And if I do have damp hair and I bun it, it will still be damp when I take it down at the end of the day.)
HairStickler
March 9th, 2011, 10:31 PM
I washed my hair about 22 hours ago and it is still a little wet. But that is because I always have my hair up, whether I'm awake or asleep.
christine1989
March 9th, 2011, 11:00 PM
I took a shower around 4 today, left my hair down to dry and it is now almost 10 and my hair is still damp!
MeganE
March 9th, 2011, 11:08 PM
Wow I thought my hair took a long time, but it's not as long compared to plenty of the people on here. I brush it out every five minutes or so, and the separating action seems to help it dry faster. It takes about an hour and a half for me.
HeatherJenae
March 10th, 2011, 04:31 PM
Wow! These answers are so awesomely diverse! It took mine about five hours plus. I feel like that's forever. But at least I'm not 22 hours plus! Totally teasing. :) My mom just gave me a giant fan so I'm going to try washing at night and sitting in front of the fan, then using the cap like one of the ladies suggested. Wish me luck girls!
HairStickler
March 10th, 2011, 05:59 PM
But at least I'm not 22 hours plus! Totally teasing. :)
This morning it was still a bit damp at 30 hours but dry at 32 hours. :o I'm sure it would be a lot faster if I left it down...or sat in front of a fan. ;)
skyblue
March 10th, 2011, 06:06 PM
it only takes about an hour for mine to dry but just a few minutes in summer especially if its windy lol
Zefyra
March 10th, 2011, 06:09 PM
If I leave my hair wrapped in a towel for about 20-30 minutes, its dry in an hour. If I only wring the excess water out so it doesnt drip it can take a good 2 and a half hours. If I bun it or braid it when its more than very slightly damp it can take all day to dry.
PolarCathy
March 15th, 2011, 05:27 AM
40 minutes - 1 hour 20 minutes since water-only.
5+ hours before (overnight, went to bed with damp hair).
heidihug
March 15th, 2011, 08:16 AM
At least 24 hours. I leave it down overnight, draped over my pillow to dry after washing in the evening. But it's still very damp in the morning. Then I always put it up for the day. I take it down for a bit before bedtime, and only then does it finish drying.
Mrs. D
March 15th, 2011, 08:47 AM
About 3-4 hours if I leave it down. I was once told that the longer your hair took to dry, the healthier it was. Doubt if that was true. I try to never blow dry my hair, even before finding out at LHC how damaging it really was. I have that Phyllis Diller look because I get too crazy with the hair dryer, french combing and hair spray.
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