How to Dry Makeup Brushes With a Hair Dryer

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UPDATED ON

April 16, 2025

A makeup artist carefully drying a makeup brush with a hair dryer, demonstrating the safe and cautious drying process. The artist is wearing a mask and focusing on the brush at a safe distance from the dryer.

When it comes to drying makeup brushes, we usually want them to dry as quickly as possible. A hair dryer might seem like a quick solution, but is it a good way?

In this article, we'll explore the pros and cons of drying your brushes with a hair dryer, and provide best practices to keep your brushes in top shape.

Want to explore more drying methods and tips? 👉 Check out our Ultimate Guide to Drying Makeup Brushes Efficiently

Can You Actually Dry Makeup Brushes With a Hair Dryer?

The Basics of Drying Brushes with a Hair Dryer

Hair dryers work by blowing hot air to speed up the evaporation of water. This can be effective for drying makeup brushes quickly, but it's important to use the right settings.

Advantages of Using a Hair Dryer

Speed: Hair dryers can significantly reduce drying time, making them a great option when you need brushes ready fast.
Versatility: They can be used for all types of makeup brushes and beauty tools, such as sponges.

The Risks of Using a Hair Dryer on Your Brushes

⚠️ Overheating and Brush Damage

High temperatures from the dryer can cause bristles to fray or fall out, particularly for natural hair brushes.

⚠️ Brush Shape Distortion

Strong airflow or high heat can alter the shape of your brushes, leading to an uneven application.

⚠️ Handle Damage

Excessive heat exposure can cause the handle of your brush to crack, especially wooden handles.

⚠️ Excessive Wear on Brush Hair

Repeated exposure to heat can cause permanent damage to the delicate cuticle layers of natural hair, affecting its functionality and softness.

Best Practices: How to Safely Use a Hair Dryer to Dry Your Brushes

Step 1: Prepare Your Brushes

Gently press the brush to remove excess water, making sure not to damage the bristles.

Special Note: For natural hair brushes, always use a brush net to protect the shape of the bristles after removing excess water.

Step 2: Adjust Your Hair Dryer Settings

Set the dryer to the cool or low heat mode, avoiding high-temperature settings that could damage your brush.
Ensure the air speed is moderate, so the bristles are not subjected to excessive force.

Step 3: Drying Your Brushes

Hold the hair dryer at a safe distance (around 6-8 inches) from the brush and move it gently to ensure the air flows evenly across the bristles.
Avoid blowing air directly onto the brush handle.

Important Note: While using a hair dryer is an option for drying your brushes quickly, we strongly recommend letting your brushes air-dry naturally after using the brush net. Using a hair dryer on natural hair brushes can damage the delicate cuticle structure, affecting the brush's performance and functionality.

✅ Pro Tip: Can I put makeup brushes in the dryer Like Dyson? You’re Safe.

When using a traditional hair dryer, one of the key concerns is airflow direction—especially if it's blowing against the natural grain of the brush bristles. This can cause frizzing or bristle distortion, particularly with natural hair brushes.

However, with hollow-center dryers such as the Dyson Supersonic or similar models, this issue can be avoided entirely.

As shown in the image below, brushes can be inserted into the center airflow area facing the same direction as the wind, which helps dry them evenly and gently, without lifting or disturbing the bristles:

A hollow-center hair dryer with makeup brushes inserted into the central airflow zone, showing a safe method to dry brushes without frizz. — Using a hollow-center dryer to safely dry makeup brushes

💡 Check out this quick tip on drying makeup brushes with a hair dryer in our YouTube Shorts: Watch here!

This method minimizes the risk of bristle damage, allowing you to dry your brushes faster and safer—even for delicate natural hair types.

More Alternatives for Drying Brushes

✅ Use a Drying Rack

A makeup brush drying rack allows you to:

Hang brushes bristle-down
Maintain shape and prevent water from loosening the glue

A makeup brush drying rack with a mesh material and a hanging hook, designed to allow brushes to dry naturally without damaging their bristles. — Makeup Brush Drying Rack

✅ Lay Brushes on a Mesh Drying Net

Especially helpful for natural bristles, which need airflow and support to stay fluffy and aligned.

✅ Use a Towel + Air Dry Method

Gently reshape wet bristles, lay them flat on a microfiber towel, and let them dry naturally in a well-ventilated space.

Conclusion

A hair dryer can be a helpful tool for drying makeup brushes quickly, but it comes with risks if not used properly. To ensure your brushes last and perform at their best, use low heat settings, avoid excessive drying time, and always opt for air-drying for natural hair brushes.

Want more tips on cleaning and drying makeup brushes? 👉 Complete Guide to Drying Makeup Brushes Efficiently