Blow Dry Beard: How to Do It Safely & Efficiently (Tips)

Blow drying your hair is not the same thing as blow drying your beard.

Even though it sounds similar and requires almost the same process, the actual results are quite different.

Blow drying your beard requires specific consideration and one can only do it under certain conditions.

Doing it in the wrong way may cause irreparable damage to your precious mane.

Heat damage is one of the greatest enemies of a beard and if you apply too much heat your beard may never be the same.

To stop you from doing this, we’ve created an article that’ll help you blow dry your facial hair the proper way.

You will learn when to do it and when not to do it and pro maintenance tips.

Why Should You Blow Dry Your Beard

Proper beard care is probably one of the essential parts of making bearded men look good. The reason is that their facial hair is one of the first things others see on their faces. With that, it is no longer surprising that beard care is being perceived to be just as important as hair care in women.

Now, if you grow a beard, then you are probably wondering if a blow dryer for men is a great investment. You may start asking yourself if blow drying your beard is safe and beneficial for your facial hair. The answer is actually yes. You have to ensure that you use the hair dryer or blower correctly to ensure that the heat it emits will not damage your beard or facial hair.

One possible reason why blow drying your beard is a wise move is to prevent it from appearing like a curly mess. It is a great move if you want to straighten your beard or facial hair effectively and dry it quickly (probably in just several minutes). The speed through which it dries hair makes it even more useful for men who decided to grow long facial hair.

Benefits of Doing it

Similar to when you receive several positive effects from choosing the right electric razor or a blade, your decision to invest in a blow dryer can also bring your beard a lot of good.

The following are just some of the rewarding benefits of blow-drying your beard:

Tames Your Beard

One positive effect of blow-drying your beard is that it can help in taming it. There is a wide range of products available to straighten hair and beard nowadays, and one of those that fall into such a category is the blow dryer. Your blow dryer does straighten and tame your beard, which is a good thing if it is somewhat unruly, curly, or messy. It is even the go-to solution for those who wish to tame the curls in their beard.

Dries Beard Quickly

If you are busy and do not want to spend a lot of time waiting for your beard to dry naturally, you can use your blow dryer. It can speed up the drying process, which is also beneficial if you want to hasten your beard care and grooming routines. You do not have to wait too long before you can brush your beard.

The reason is that it can dry your hair quickly, thereby preventing you from damaging your beard. Note that wet facial hair is more fragile, so it is prone to get damaged. By hastening the drying process, you can lower its chance of damage even if you brush it right away.

Easy to Use

You have to turn it on and it will perform its intended purpose, most likely drying your facial hair fast and keeping it organized. It is also much gentler than when you are using a towel for drying your beard. This is especially true if you do the towel drying aggressively, which might damage your wet hair. If your facial hair is wet, it is most likely vulnerable to damage due to the trapped water. This water may weaken your hair follicles even further due to pressure, so it is much better to use a blow dryer than aggressively drying it with your towel.

How Does It Work

Blow drying your beard is simple. It works by speeding up the process of drying your beard and removing the mess as much as possible. All it takes is to use it after a shower together with a beard comb or premium beard brush. Just point your beard toward the heat produced by the dryer and it will give you a nice-looking, dry, and straight beard in just a couple of minutes.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Dries your beard fast.
• Does not add too much pressure to your hair follicles, making it gentler compared to aggressive towel-drying.
• Works effectively in taming and straightening your beard.
• Ideal for use on the curly and unruly beard as well as those who grow a long beard.
• Trains your beard, promoting ease in styling and lowering its chance of resisting eventually.

Cons

• May damage your beard, causing symptoms like dryness, brittleness, coarseness, tangles, and split ends.
• You can mitigate such risk of damage, though, by using the right blow dryer and ensuring that you use it correctly.

How to Blow Dry Your Beard Safely

Step 1 – Invest in a high-quality blow dryer

Just like when you are buying the best hair cutting shears, it is also crucial to choose wisely when shopping for a blow dryer for a beard. Go for one that operates at around 1,300 to 1,875 watts.

Choose a ceramic-based one, too, as it produces non-damaging heat. Note that the common cause of thinning beards is overheating, so you have to be extra careful in your choice. It also needs to have a nozzle, which you can use in focusing heat.

Step 2 – Take a shower while washing your beard

Once your beard is already towel-damp, put on some beard oil into it. Make sure that you use an effective beard growth oil, one which can help thicken the look of your facial hair, too. Castor oil has gained a lot of popularity worldwide, so you may also want to use it as your beard oil.

Step 3 – Prepare your beard comb and blow dryer

Use the beard comb to go through your facial hair, then point the heat into it. Point the heat to your beard, but ensure that it is from a distance, maybe around ten inches. Make sure to keep the blow dryer moving instead of letting it stay in one spot, too. Also, the heat setting should be in the medium to prevent potential damage.

Step 4 – Protect your beard

Once dry, finish the process by using organic beard wax or beard balm. This product usually has beeswax, which is protective enough as it forms a thin layer on your beard’s topmost part, thereby protecting the skin under it.

How to Straighten Your Beard Using a Blow Dryer

Step 1 – Wash your beard

Wash your beard thoroughly, as you would normally do. 

Step 2 – Dry it using the towel

Do not rub the towel vigorously, though. Be gentle and dry your beard at only around 70 to 80 percent. This means it should still be damp.

Step 3 – Apply beard oil

Around one to two drops of it would be enough. It can protect the beard plus help in taming it even better.

Step 4 – Comb your beard

Comb your beard with the help of a wide-toothed comb. Your goal is to free it from any knots or tangles.

Step 5 – Set the blow dryer at the lowest setting

Avoid exposing your beard to extremely high heat. Also, ensure that you position it at around 6-10 inches away from the beard or face. With one hand blow drying your hair, ensure that you also use the other to comb through your beard, sectioning it and making the drying process more even.

Step 6 – Complete the process

Once the beard is already dry, you will notice a positive difference in its look. You will notice a straighter, well-styled, and sleek beard. You can improve the results even further by finishing it off with a beard balm, beard oil, or beard relaxer. Beard relaxers have moisturizing qualities, so they seem to work better in making your dried and styled beard look great afterward.

Do’s and Don’ts

Do’s

• Doblow-dry and straighten your beard in front of a shaving mirror. It would be best to get a crystal-clear reflection in your shaving mirror to prevent errors in doing the process.
• Douse a beard comb. Remember how important it is to comb your beard when using a blow dryer. It helps when styling your beard and preventing it from overheating.
• Do move the dryer continuously. Avoid targeting the device in just a single spot.

Don’ts

• Don’t set your blow dryer too high. If possible, use a blow dryer with a cool setting. You can also just set it at the lowest setting. It also helps if it has a nozzle that you can use in directing heat.
• Don’t forget to use a beard balm or oil. This product aids in conditioning your beard, producing even better results from blow-drying.

FAQ

How can I straighten my beard without a blow dryer?

You actually have a couple more options in straightening your beard, even if you do not use a blow dryer. One thing that you can do is to use beard oil, wax, and comb to give you more control. You can also straighten your beard with the help of a heated beard brush or a dedicated beard straightener. Just don’t forget to use a beard balm to condition the area and retain its straight look afterward.

Can I blow dry my beard every day?

It is not highly recommended to blow dry your beard every day. The reason is it may only just expose your beard to excessive heat too frequently, causing damages in the long run, like beard dandruff, itching, and split. If possible, do it only once or twice every week and use alternative and natural beard drying methods in the remaining days.

Are beard straighteners worth it?

In most cases, yes. The reason is that these devices are truly built to remove beard curls. They are effective in making your facial hair look really straight. They may be harder and harsher on your beard, but they can produce much better results than when you are using a regular brush or comb.

Should I use beard oil before straightening?

Yes, you should. You should never leave out the step of applying beard oil every time you intend to straighten your beard. This product can simplify the process by smoothening your facial hair and making it more receptive to styling.

Conclusion

Having a messy and unruly beard can be troublesome for many men who prefer to bring out a bearded look. Fortunately, you can now deal with that problem by just investing in a high-quality blow dryer. Just make sure that you know exactly how to use it to lower the risk of potentially damaging your beard from the process.