Social media can be a great place to share ideas and learn from others, however it's worth remembering that not everyone sharing advice online is actually a specialist in the field. While we as professionals are able to spot bad hair advice a mile off, your clients might not be so lucky. The latest hair hack taking TikTok by storm sees users swapping out a standard diffuser for a sieve (or pasta strainer, as it is being referred to by many online). But what affect can this really have on your clients' hair? And what should you be telling them?
Jacqui McIntosh, European Education Director for Avlon, debunks the hair diffuser hack from the offset, explaining that what these people are doing is not diffusing, but rather moulding their hair with the mesh of the sieve. If this is your clients goal, then you should suggest they use a mesh/ sock diffuser, which is created with the appropriate materials.
As Casey Coleman, BHBA 2022 Social Stylist of the Year, points out: "When we attach a diffuser, we do so to spread out the airflow from a dryer, creating less direct heat. My concern with the strainer hair hack is that the airflow isn’t really distributed by the strainer. Instead, all people are doing is using the strainer to cup their curls whilst using a direct flow of air from the dryer." So, what are the implications of this? Casey points out: "Most strainers are metal, which of course is a conductor of heat, so could be causing heat damage. The strainer doesn’t diffuse the airflow, so using a direct airflow could cause the cuticle to be roughed up, again causing damage. Plus, the metal could be causing indirect heat damage, which is something non-professionals are unlikely to think about."
Jacqui notes: "I think hacks are fun, however consumers should be reminded that there is a skill to working with heat; professionals are trained on how to distribute heat to the hair causing minimal damage. This is achieved with skill and the correct hair prep. In this instance, the hair diffuser hack results in the consumer directing the heat source directly to their hair, and as such, I think stylists should advise their clients against this method."
Casey adds: "This hack is a cost effective way of diffusing your curls, and not everyone has a diffuser. That being said, if you have a diffuser or access to one, I would definitely recommend using that over a strainer. If you do need to use the strainer hair hack, be mindful of the possible implications."
