Have you ever thought of using a hair dryer to dry your beard quicker after washing it? You definitely can, but there is a specific way to do so.

It doesn’t involve hopping around on one leg or balancing a plate on your head. However, you can easily damage the beard that you’ve poured months or years into growing if you incorrectly use a hair dryer.

The general rule of thumb for using a hair dryer on your beard, or any hair, is to use the coolest temperature setting and to keep the nozzle at least 6 inches away while continuously moving the nozzle.

Why not use the hottest setting on your hair dryer? According to a study in a 2011 article in the Annals of Dermatology (Stop laughing, it’s a medical journal), drying your hair with excessive heat damages the outermost protective layer of each hair, causing it to become brittle and more susceptible to breakage. So the hotter the air is, the more damage it will do to your hair.

So you might think that letting your wet beard air dry would be the safest option, right?

Not quite.

The same study also looked at the effects of letting hair dry at room temperature. Initial studies revealed that the cell membrane complexes — the material that holds your hair cells together — become damaged because the hair shafts swell with water as it air dries. This also leads to hair becoming weak and prone to breakage.

If using high heat or air drying your beard are bad, what should you do? Researchers concluded that setting a hair dryer to its lowest heat setting, roughly around 117 degrees Fahrenheit, is safe to use on hair as along as the drying nozzle is at least 6 inches away from the hair and the dryer is continuously moving to avoid creating hot spots.

Now that we’ve talked about the science behind how to properly use a hair dryer, let’s break down how to safely use it on your beard.

How to Blow Dry Your Beard

1. After washing your facial hair with beard shampoo and conditioner, pat dry your beard with a towel, but leave it a little damp (Not soaking wet).
2. Let your beard air dry for a few minutes until it’s slightly drier.
3. Add a few drops of beard oil on your facial hair and thoroughly work it into the hairs to hydrate it and lock in moisture.
4. Turn on your hair dryer and set it to its lowest heat setting.
5. Hold the hair dryer nozzle at least 6 inches from your beard. Start blow drying your beard while pointing the nozzle down and constantly moving the dryer to avoid creating hot spots.
6. As you blow dry your beard, use a beard comb to brush out any kinks and tangles. From under the chin, comb up and out while pointing the dryer at your facial hair. Remember to keep that blow dryer moving.
7. When you’re done blow drying your hair, comb in some beard balm to hydrate your facial hair and skin.