A Guide to Perfectly Drying Your Pixie Haircut

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Content

Blow Drying for a Sleek Pixie Cut

Drying Strategies for a Curly Pixie Cut

Air-Drying Techniques for a Pixie Cut

Tips for Styling Short Hair

Warnings

Essentials for Styling

Blow-Drying Straight Hair

Styling Curly Hair with a Diffuser

Air-Drying Tips for Pixie Cuts

Discover the joy of sporting a pixie cut, a delightful expression of your unique personality and style. If you’re new to short hair, mastering the art of blow drying it into your desired style may take some practice. However, with the help of a few protective styling products, you can maintain the health of your hair and rock your pixie cut with confidence.

Steps

Blow Drying for a Sleek Pixie Cut

Gently pat your hair with a towel until it’s approximately 80% dry. After washing your hair, use a towel to softly dab away excess moisture. This accelerates the drying process, reducing the need for excessive heat from the blow dryer.

Consider using a microfiber towel to safeguard your hair from damage.
Avoid vigorous rubbing or pulling, as it could lead to hair damage or breakage.

Apply a heat protectant spray. Hold the heat protectant spray canister about 6 inches (15 cm) away from your head. Spritz a light mist evenly over your hair, then allow it to absorb for 1 to 2 minutes.

Heat protectant spray creates a barrier between your hair and the heat from the blow dryer.
You can purchase heat protectant spray at most home goods or beauty supply stores.

Use a texturizing spray. Dispense a quarter-sized amount of texturizing spray into your palms and rub them together. Concentrate on your roots as you gently massage the texturizing spray into your hair.

Texturizing spray adds volume to your hair.

Divide your hair into 4 sections. Utilize a comb to create 4 sections in your hair: 1 section on each side of your head above your ears, 1 section from your forehead to the crown of your head, and 1 section at the back of your head. Part them by combing the sections in different directions.

If you’re struggling to keep your sections in place, use bobby pins on the side sections to keep them brushed forwards.

Attach a nozzle to your hair dryer. Attaching a nozzle to your hair dryer helps concentrate the heat, resulting in faster and more efficient drying. Snap the nozzle onto the front of your hair dryer before beginning to dry your hair.

If you don’t have a nozzle attachment for your hair dryer, that’s fine. Drying may take a bit longer.
You can find hair dryer attachments at most beauty supply stores.

Smooth the back of your hair as you dry it. Start at the back of your head and use a soft-bristled hairbrush to comb through your hair. Direct the hair dryer downwards as you brush to flatten the back of your hair.

If you have a cowlick at the back of your head, focus on pointing the hair dryer downwards in that area. This will help smooth out your hair and keep it flat.

Style your hair by blow-drying the sides in alternating directions. To add volume, guide the hair on the sides of your head forward, then backward, and forward again as you dry it. Ensure your hair dryer is angled downwards for a sleek finish.

Avoid brushing upward on the sides to prevent unwanted puffiness once dry.

Enhance volume on the top using a round brush while blow-drying. Focus on adding volume to the top of your head. Employ a round brush, rolling your hair backward while directing the hairdryer downward. Continue until the top is dry.

A round brush alleviates root tension, imparting bounce to your hairstyle.

Secure your style with a light mist of hairspray. Hold the hairspray can approximately 6 inches away from your head and apply a fine mist evenly. This ensures your hairstyle retains its shape throughout the day.

Hairspray fosters volume and preserves the blow-dried effect.

Drying Strategies for a Curly Pixie Cut

Pat your hair dry with a towel until excess moisture is absorbed. Employ a microfiber towel to gently absorb water by scrunching sections of hair until dampness ceases. This step minimizes frizz.

Utilizing a microfiber towel helps control frizz.

Apply holding gel to the ends of your hair by scrunching it in. For naturally wavy or curly hair left in its natural state, take a quarter-sized amount of holding gel, rub it between your palms, and scrunch it gently into the ends of your hair.

Opt for a holding gel designed for curly hair for a softer, more natural feel without the crunchiness.

Spritz on heat protectant spray evenly across your hair. Hold the heat protectant spray bottle about 6 inches from your head and distribute a fine mist over your hair. Allow it to settle for approximately 1 minute before proceeding.

Heat protectant spray acts as a shield against the heat from styling tools.

Attach a diffuser to your hair dryer. Diffusers, circular attachments, evenly disperse heat and air from your hair dryer. Snap the diffuser onto the hair dryer until it clicks into place before starting to dry your hair.

Diffusers are commonly available at beauty supply stores.
If a diffuser is unavailable, consider air-drying your hair to prevent frizz. Using a hair dryer without an attachment can lead to frizzy hair.

Opt for low heat settings to prevent hair damage. Set your hair dryer to the lowest heat setting available. High heat can cause damage and dryness in curly or wavy hair, resulting in frizz and difficulty in managing.

Although drying may take longer at lower heat, it's gentler on your hair in the long term.

Position the diffuser against your scalp at the crown of your head. As the hair at the crown is typically longer, it requires more drying time. Begin by placing the diffuser against your scalp at the crown, ensuring all hair is enclosed within the diffuser nozzle.

Using a diffuser may take some getting used to. Don't hesitate to press it firmly against your scalp to ensure thorough drying.

Rotate the hair dryer around your head every 10 to 15 seconds. Continue drying your hair evenly across your entire head. Remember to shift the position of the hair dryer every 10 to 15 seconds to prevent overexposure to heat in one area. Apply this technique to all sections of your hair, including the front, back, and sides.

Avoid prolonged exposure to the diffuser in one spot to prevent hair damage and dryness.

Reshape your curls using your fingers if necessary. After your hair has dried, use your fingers to rearrange your curls to your desired style. If any curls appear flat or frizzy, mix a small amount of gel with water and apply it to reshape your curls.

Styling curly hair may require experimentation with different products and techniques. Explore various options to find what works best for you.

Air-Drying Techniques for a Pixie Cut

Gently pat your hair dry with a towel. Use a microfiber towel to softly pat the ends of your hair until excess moisture is removed. Removing as much water as possible at the beginning will expedite the drying process.

Microfiber towels aid in reducing frizz and retaining moisture during the drying process.

Apply holding gel or volumizing cream evenly. For curly or wavy hair, scrunch a dime-sized amount of holding gel into the ends of your curls. For straight hair, massage volumizing cream into the roots and crown of your head.

Holding gel accentuates natural curls, while volumizing cream adds lift to the roots, providing more dimension to your hair.

Part your hair in your desired style. Use a comb or your fingers to carefully position your hair as you prefer. It's essential to set your part while your hair is still wet, as it becomes more challenging once dry.

If wearing your hair curly, use your fingers to shape your curls as desired.

Avoid handling your hair as it air-dries for 1 to 2 hours. Allow your hair to dry naturally without touching it, wearing hats, or lying down, as this can cause frizz. Depending on hair thickness, drying may take 1 to 2 hours.

Avoid direct sunlight during drying, as it can lead to quick drying and frizz.
Optimal drying environments include warm indoor spaces like your home or car.