While you've likely heard about the benefits of air-drying your hair, did you know that air-drying your face after washing with your go-to facial cleanser or drying off sans towel after a shower can also be a good idea? Yes, that's right.
"Rubbing can lead to skin irritation and inflammation, so as long as you are using a clean towel, you always want to gently pat." Aside from the annoyance of a dripping-wet face, Zeichner attests that there's actually no real problem with air-drying.
The verdict? "Air drying your skin is a nice option to be gentle to your skin if your skin is sensitive, but it's certainly not necessary or all that beneficial," says Dr. Nazarian. So as long as your skin's somewhat moist post-cleansing, and you're not scrubbing your face with a dirty, stinky towel, you'll be alright.
It is generally considered good to let your skin air dry as it has numerous benefits. Firstly, air drying is a natural process that does not involve rubbing, which can cause irritation and inflammation to the skin. Secondly, air drying helps to retain moisture on the skin's surface, which is necessary for healthy skin.
Pat your skin dry.
Aggressively rubbing your body with a towel can cause friction and irritation to your skin. Dry skin can flake off and patches of dry skin can spread. Instead, pat or blot your skin gently. Start at the top of your body and work your way down to your toes.
The Australian Vice President of Smart Devices, Dr Tim Moore, revealed why people shouldn't leave their hair wet. He said that when hair is wet it swells, which means water puts pressure on the cuticles which could cause them to break and create split ends.
The dry air evaporates the water from your body and cools it. You will be dry and comfortable in 10 minutes.
Instead, pat yourself dry leaving your skin a little damp. But do concentrate on drying specific areas such as on skin folds, between toes, underarms, etc., to prevent future infections or rashes. After that, immediately apply moisture as it can help lock in water into your skin and nourish it.
“Skin will absorb some water during both baths and showers,” said Nazarian. “It's important to utilize the small window of opportunity — less than 30 minutes — after cleansing to apply your moisturizer to damp skin.” And it's important to make it a habit.
It's gentle on clothes.
Clothes dryers can cause wear and strain on clothing when it's tossed and tumbled in high heat. Or if it's exposed to the heat for extended periods of time. Line drying is, obviously, more gentle since there is no tossing or tumbling of clothes.
Patting is gentle on skin. Towel simply absorbs the water on your skin. This way patting proves to be softer on the skin. Rubbing the skin seems to more like our automatic method.
Hanging laundry to dry outdoors can capitalize on natural air circulation and sunlight, experts say. Beyond the fresh smell, exposure to the sun can also have antimicrobial and whitening effects on fabrics, Karpova says.
While it's hard to generalize about how long it will take your laundry to air-dry—fabric type, air temperature, and presence or absence of wind all play a part—expect it to take 2 to 4 hours for most types of fabric on a pleasantly warm day with a light breeze.
Hair is most vulnerable to damage when it is wet.
The results documented in the published paper referenced above show that letting hair dry naturally causes the cortex (the thickest layer of hair) to swell and become weaker, as the swelling puts pressure on the delicate proteins that hold hair together.
Air drying is the minimalist's match made in heaven—it can save you major time and effort with the right tricks. It's also a great way to avoid or recover from heat damage. The key to healthy air drying? Don't let your hair stay wet for too long.
Hair is more vulnerable when wet, therefore sleeping with wet hair down may result in damage, split ends, and tangles. It may also cause scalp issues, such as flakes and irritation. If you need to wet your hair at night, at least try and dry it slightly so it's damp—not sopping wet.
Many doctors say a daily shower is fine for most people. (More than that could start to cause skin problems.) But for many people, two to three times a week is enough and may be even better to maintain good health. It depends in part on your lifestyle.
Post-shower care
The best way to seal the cuticles is with a cold water shot just before stepping out of the shower. It's also the best time to detangle your hair, using a wide-tooth comb. Also set your parting at this time, so your hair will air dry naturally into this style.
Growth of fungus: Researchers in 2021 found a species of Malassezia fungus in hair follicles. This fungus can result in skin conditions such as seborrheic dermatitis. Hair being wet for long periods, such as overnight, may increase the risk of these conditions developing.
After leaving the shower, start by dabbing off excess water with a microfibre cloth. Avoid rubbing the hair vigorously, as the friction causes the strands to tangle and generate frizz. Then, keep your hair wrapped for 10 to 15 minutes.
When your cuticles are open, moisture gets into the hair strands, expanding the hair as it dries, leading to frizz. Conditioner helps to close or seal these cuticles and lock in moisture, reducing frizziness and flyaways, which is especially important when air-drying your hair.