2w ago

Just realised you're meant to pat dry your hair after showering...

Made a massive difference when I started pat drying my hair, it became more softer and smoother instead of roughly and vigorously rub drying my hair, making my hair dry... I feel like this should be common sense but apparently not to me since I found out about this just recently 😅

30 comments

Seems like that would massively depend on the length of your hair.
- Up to a point, yeah.
  It's about the cuticle of the hair, so once it's short enough you don't notice the "roughness". It's still there, but less significant. But past maybe a half inch, you'd feel it by touch usually
My daughter learned that lesson when she was around 3 years old, the first time we let her shower by herself. She washed her long hair with her wash cloth. It was a miserable night for everyone that night.
But yes, I love discovering something that you feel is something you should have already known. I had a realization in my 30s that maybe not everyone gets little sores all over their body all the time... I changed my body wash and the problem went away. I feel like most people would have known that was a problem much sooner.
Do you mean pat the water off the top layer of hair and then leave the rest of your hair damp?
- Bold of you to assume anyone has thick and healthy enough hair to have layers
  
  I've seen them!
Yep.
Another tip is you might be shampooing too often but this will depend on your hair type. I have curly hair and shampooing more than once a week kills my hair.
- Also what I've found is that different brands can make a difference, even if they've both got the same gimmick eg. for dry hair etc.
  Sometimes a particular brand just agrees with you less than another one and it can help trying different ones for the one that works best.
  
  I recently developed psoriasis and it especially affects my scalp, so I bought a shampoo aimed at people like me. I've been shocked to find that I can use it only once or twice a week and my hair doesn't get all greasy. It's amazing. Wish I'd had this shampoo ages ago, nevermind the psoriasis.
- I don't think it's just the hair type but also your oil production. I also have curly hair and it's completely untameable if I don't shower & get it wet, but it's very oily and unpleasant if I shower and don't shampoo it.
  There might be a middle ground available with other hair products but I can't stand the feeling of product left in my hair so I've left myself with only one real option.
  
  Have you tried dry shampoo? It helps to extend the time between hair washing.
- I've found that my hair responds best to using the absolute smallest amount of shampoo I can get out of the bottle, like literally a single drop the size of the tip of my pinky. More than that and I get dried out. I've tried using none at all and the oils in my hair start forming into more complex polymers and it gets unpleasant.
- I quit washing my hair entirely, after a greasy couple months adjustment it's nicer than any shampoo/conditioner combo I've tried. It's almost like our bodies are self-regulating miracles or something :p
You just reminded me to order conditioner, a task I haven't been able to remember outside of the shower for several months now. So thank you.
- Hi, it's been 4 hours since you commented so I just wanted to remind you to order conditioner in case you haven't yet.
what now
I rub it aggressively with a towel but it's all falling out anyways so 🤷
...unless you want to dry hair below the top layer.
I just shaved my head. No hair, no problems.
Try blowdrying your hair. Just use the low setting. It will make your hair softer and have more volume. I heard it’s also better than leaving your hair damp.
What is the difference between pat drying and rub drying?
- Friction can lead to breakage
  
  Is that an actual problem? My barbers always told me that I have very thick hair, so I never thought about how rubbing might affect it.
  I guess that that is more of a problem when you have thin hair, right?
I've been told this is the less damaging way, but I think it also depends on your hair's thickness. If it can stand the violent rubbing, then you can do that. If all you have left is a few fragile thin hairs, I'd protect them as best as I can...
i do it because of atopic dermatitis, which would irritate my skin its the same for the rest of my skin.
You'll also likely benefit from drying it using an old 100% cotton t-shirt instead of a normal towel, for much the same reason (less friction).
Wait til you learn about the acv rinse:
https://coconutsandkettlebells.com/apple-cider-vinegar-hair-rinse/
You can add a little raw honey for conditioning, if needed.

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