You don't want sopping wet hair when you're running late, so the key is to figure out how to dry your hair fast. Read on to learn how you can spend less time getting ready and less time repairing heat damage from your styling tools.

Get Your Hair in the Right Condition
Conditioner does more than just ensure that your hair doesn't strongly resemble a Brillo pad. It also helps to keep water out. Be sure to use a lightweight conditioner on your hair before leaving the shower to help speed up the drying process.

Air Dry First
One of the more obvious methods for how to dry your hair fast is to let your hair air dry a bit first. However, you can help the process by using your fingers to separate the strands of your hair and allow air to flow through. While it's tempting to put your hair in a bun or ponytail, you should be aware that doing so will make it take longer for your hair to dry.

Use the Right Towel
The point of a towel is to absorb the moisture from your hair, but if you're using a standard towel, you're probably leaving a lot of water behind. Instead of using a rough towel that's not doing much, consider a microfiber towel like the Aquis Lisse Luxe Hair Towel, $30. Along with soaking up a lot more water, soft microfiber towels won't tear your hair the way regular towels can.

Pick the Right Products
Another key element of how to dry your hair fast is to use tools and products that will speed up the process. There are a number of products available that will not only help to protect your hair from heat, but they can also reduce drying time. Two in particular are the Not Your Mother's In A Heartbeat Blow Dry Accelerator Spray, $7, and L'Oreal's Blow Dry It Quick Dry Primer Spray, $4.99.

Choose the Right Hair Dryer
There are a lot of options when it comes to hair dryers now. In the past, you had to shoot lots of hot air at your hair until it was dry, but today, there are dryers with a variety of heat levels, attachments and diffusers to suit your hair type.

Save the Hair Dryer for Last
The more time that your hair spends air drying, the less time you'll need to use a hair dryer on it. Therefore, it's a good idea to get dressed and do your makeup before you blow-dry your hair. As long as you're not spending too much time drying, which shouldn't be an issue if you're using the other tips on how to dry your hair fast, and using low heat, you shouldn't have to worry about your makeup getting messed up.