would it be horrible to blow dry for one day?

I've been heat free for just over five months. No blow drying, no curling irons or flat irons, etc.

But it's my sister's grad on Thursday and she wants me to blow my hair straight for the occasion. The last time it was done was January 19 (and you'll notice the difference in the January pic in the timeline below).

I highly doubt one blow dry is going to totally destroy my hair, but if it could possibly end up in a huge setback, I'd rather not. I'm just looking for the honest opinions of my fellow long-haired people.

Thanks!

I'm not in the long hair club (though my hair IS long), but I can't imagine ONE day would hurt anything. I'd be surprised if anyone disagreed. Personally, though, I think your hair looks much prettier UNstraight ... like in May 2006.  Alayney2006-06-27 00:11:10

It certainly won't hurt if you use the blow dryer on the cool setting.  

[QUOTE=letmecount123]But it's my sister's grad on Thursday and she wants me to blow my hair straight for the occasion.[/QUOTE]

i personally think it looked better in May more fuller and the waves are cute. I dont think you should do it just because your sister wants you too, do it IF YOU WANT TO!

I think a lot of the decision will rest on what YOU think of blowdrying. If you are worried that it will set you back, then don't do it. If you have previous experiences with drying for special occasions and it didn't hurt your hair, then go for it. It is all what you're comfortable with.....

If you have previous experiences with drying for special occasions and it didn't hurt your hair, then go for it.

Well I don't...because I quit blow drying in January and this is the first thing that came up.

And she didn't necessarily say she wanted me to wear my hair straight, she just suggested it, as did my mother. They don't get the "no blow drying" thing.

I just need something quick because I'm styling my sister's hair and it took 2.5 hours to do.


So we'll see, I guess.

Hi Holly,

Ooooh, is that your sister's hair that you did for her? Very pretty!

nice job on her hair

I blowdry mine alot in the winter and it doesn't seem to do much harm. Since your hair is virgin it should be fine. When my hair was all virgin I could blowdry and straighten it every day without a split in sight. I totally don't reccomend this though! It depends on your strand thickness what it can put up with.Hellfrozeover2006-07-03 09:31:44

For one day? It won't hurt your hair.

I use a blow dryer with infrared heat almost everytime I wash my hair. I don't have the luxury of time to it air dry. I let mine air dry part way, then blow dry it with very low heat.

Do what you want. But IMHO, one time is not going to do permanent damage.

Hi Holly,

I let it air dry half way, tried to dry the curl out on a cool setting... didn't work at all. Tried to flat iron the waves out, also didn't work.

Ended up with relatively fuzzy hair in a half ponytail and a tigerlily to match my dress. Wasn't overly impressed.

Right now I'm in the middle of putting my yearly braids in, woo.

Holly, I bet your hair looked nice even though it wasn't overly "styled." Sometimes long hair is best on a hot day just pulled back in a simple ponytail with a pretty dress. Post a pic of your braids when you're done (didn't you say it takes you four days or something?)

Your "yearly braids"?  Yah, we'd like to see pics.

As a follow-up to the initial question, I finally broke my WO streak, and washed my hair with diluted shampoo and conditioner. Then I bit the bullet and blow-dried my hair (gently of course). As far as I can tell, this one event did not hurt my hair, and my co-worker actually said that she thought my hair was looking very healthy!

Congratulations, SpecialKitty! I would love to see a progress picture of your hair!

Thanks Ranita! I thought about posting a new photo, but my hair hasn't grown any in about three months! I will try to take a new photo at the end of this month, though.